Rep. Samantha Fett

Maddy summaryHF 2077 modifies Iowa's education funding rules to allow school districts to use money from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund for increased insurance costs associated with employing individuals who hold professional permits to carry weapons under state law. The bill expands the definition of "school infrastructure" under the SAVE fund to specifically include these higher insurance premiums. This change directly affects school districts that hire permit holders for security roles, providing funding flexibility for related insurance expenses. The policy change is purely procedural, clarifying eligible uses of existing SAVE fund resources without altering the fund's overall purpose or creating new financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHF 2395 bans the addition of hydrofluorosilicic acid and other fluoride-based additives to both public and private drinking water systems in Iowa. It requires county health boards to set private water standards that prevent fluoride levels exceeding natural background amounts, and directs the environmental protection commission to establish public water standards with the same limit. The bill updates drinking water rules to ensure they align with federal standards while prohibiting artificial fluoride addition. This directly affects all public water utilities and private well owners subject to county health regulations. The policy change specifically eliminates the use of fluoride additives in water treatment, setting maximum allowable levels at naturally occurring background concentrations.

Maddy summaryHF 2398 modifies Iowa's rules about firearms on school property by creating specific exceptions to the general prohibition. It allows school districts to authorize drivers of school vehicles to carry firearms in the vehicle during pupil transport. It also permits individuals with a valid weapon carry permit to keep a concealed pistol in their locked vehicle while on school grounds (in driveways or parking areas) during activities like dropping off students or making deliveries. Additionally, retired peace officers who retired in good standing and completed recent firearm safety training may carry firearms on school grounds. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2379 would amend Iowa law to allow individuals with a valid permit to carry weapons to possess firearms on school grounds under specific conditions. The bill creates a new exception to the current prohibition (which treats carrying weapons on school grounds as a class D felony), permitting permit holders who carry a firearm for a lawful purpose on their person, with the firearm continuously under their control. This directly affects licensed gun permit holders who wish to carry firearms on school property for permitted activities, such as security roles or personal protection during lawful school events. The key change removes the felony charge for these permit holders when meeting the defined conditions of continuous control and lawful purpose.

Maddy summaryHF 2123 prohibits state entities, including school districts, from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or providing trainings about "specific defined concepts" in curricula. If a violation occurs, the bill mandates termination of the violating employee’s employment and, if a supervisor knew of the violation and failed to act, their termination too. It also requires revocation of professional licenses for affected employees and imposes civil penalties on the entity (ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 based on budget size) payable to the state general fund. The law allows students, alumni, or employees to sue school districts for violations, with enforcement handled by the attorney general or private parties.

Maddy summaryHF 2316 amends Iowa law to define an "unborn child" as an individual organism from fertilization to fetal death or live birth, treating them as legal persons for specific purposes. It expands wrongful death damages to include the death of an unborn child, and creates new criminal provisions making homicide and assault against an unborn child subject to the same legal protections as crimes against born persons. The bill explicitly excludes unintentional harm or death resulting from life-saving medical procedures for the pregnant woman or miscarriages. This law applies only to incidents occurring on or after its effective date.

Maddy summaryHF 2052 allows Iowa school districts to partner with community-based preschool providers (like local daycares or non-profits) under Chapter 28E agreements. It requires school districts to enter these agreements with any community provider that requests one, enabling them to provide preschool instruction as part of the state's voluntary program for four-year-olds. The bill specifically prohibits these agreements from limiting the number of eligible children who can receive instruction through community providers. This expands access to preschool options for families by ensuring school districts cannot restrict participation with community-based providers. The policy directly affects school districts, community preschool providers, and families seeking early education for four-year-olds.

Maddy summaryHF 2015 requires courts to order convicted individuals to pay restitution to law enforcement agencies for the replacement, training, and related costs of police service dogs that are permanently disabled or killed due to intentional harm. It directly affects people convicted of knowingly and willfully torturing, injuring, or killing a police dog. The bill adds this restitution requirement as an additional penalty beyond existing punishments. It does not cover accidental injuries or minor harm, focusing only on severe, intentional acts against working police dogs.

Maddy summaryHF 2195 requires Iowa county election commissioners to label every ballot cast in primary and general elections with the specific method used to vote. The label must distinguish between in-person voting on election day, in-person voting before election day, and mail voting - separating standard mail ballots from those cast by military personnel or overseas citizens under federal law. This policy change aims to provide transparency about voting methods by mandating standardized ballot labeling across all counties. The state election commissioner will develop implementing rules under Chapter 17A of Iowa law. The bill is currently in the introduction stage, having been referred to the State Government committee on January 29, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 2186 modifies Iowa's education savings account program by creating a new application window for semester-based funding. Parents or guardians of students attending nonpublic schools can now apply for payments between December 1-20 (instead of the existing January 1-June 30 window for full school years). If applications are submitted in this new semester window, payments are reduced to 50% of the standard amount. The bill also requires the state to pay nonpublic schools directly within 30 days when tuition is covered by these accounts. This affects families using the program for nonpublic school expenses like tuition and educational materials.