Rep. Bubba Sorensen

Maddy summaryHR 114 is a resolution that formally honors the 30 Iowans who died and the four Iowans who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. The bill recognizes the service of these individuals and the ship, which delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian before being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. This measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to the men who served from Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 2209 requires Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to admit at least 80% of students who are Iowa residents or attended eligible Iowa colleges. It prioritizes applicants planning to work in Iowa rural communities (under 25,000 people) and specialize in mixed-animal veterinary care. Applicants must disclose their Iowa background and career intentions in their applications. The university must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing admission statistics and reasons for rejections.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows heirs or successors of a deceased person (decedent) to claim unpaid child support payments held by Iowa's child support agency using a new affidavit form. It applies specifically to decedents with very small estates (valued at $50,000 or less), expanding an existing small estate procedure to include undistributed child support owed to the decedent. The key provision requires child support services to create and provide this standardized form, enabling successors to access the funds without full probate. The bill does not change the eligibility for the small estate process but streamlines how child support held by the agency can be distributed.

Maddy summaryHF 2393 allows Iowa school districts to use specific categorical funds - generated from students enrolled in the state's education savings account program - for any general school budget purpose, rather than restricted uses. This change applies only to funds tied to students participating in the education savings account program under Section 257.11B. Previously, these funds had to cover teacher salary supplements, professional development, or leadership program costs, but the bill removes those restrictions starting July 1, 2026. The policy directly affects school districts receiving these funds and provides greater budget flexibility for general operations.

Maddy summaryHF 2575 would change Iowa law to allow courts to grant visitation rights to grandparents or great-grandparents without requiring proof that a parent is "unfit" or that their judgment is "impaired." Currently, courts must find such conditions exist for grandparent visitation, but this bill removes those specific barriers. The law would directly affect grandparents seeking visitation and parents opposing it, as courts would only need to determine if visitation is in the child's best interests and if a substantial relationship exists. This simplifies the legal standard for granting such visitation rights. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Subcommittee.

Maddy summaryHF 2300 prevents Iowa counties and cities from creating or enforcing local rules that restrict where federally licensed hemp producers can operate. Specifically, it prohibits local governments from regulating, restricting, or banning hemp production on land zoned for commercial or industrial use. The bill directly affects hemp businesses seeking to locate operations in these zones by removing potential local regulatory barriers. It does not change state hemp laws or affect land zoned for residential or agricultural purposes. This is a regulatory limitation bill focused on preempting local ordinances.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Staff Sergeants William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa National Guard members killed in action during a December 13, 2025, enemy attack in Palmyra, Syria. It recognizes their service, sacrifice, and posthumous promotions to staff sergeant, while also acknowledging three wounded Iowa National Guard soldiers from the same incident. The resolution formally expresses the House of Representatives' respect for their lives and sacrifice, and directs copies to be sent to their families as a gesture of recognition. This is a commemorative resolution with no policy or funding changes, solely intended to honor the fallen service members and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 247) removes the state sales and use tax on purchases of honeybees in Iowa. It directly affects beekeepers, apiaries, and businesses that sell honeybees by eliminating the tax they would otherwise pay when buying these insects. The key provision amends Iowa’s tax code to specifically exempt honeybee sales from both the sales tax (under Code section 423.3) and the use tax (under Code section 423.5, due to existing tax code rules). This change means customers buying honeybees will pay no state tax on the purchase price.

Maddy summaryHF 102 requires Iowa schools to train all staff on recognizing seizures and providing first aid by December 2026, with biennial refresher training for those supervising students. Starting July 2025, schools must ensure at least one staff member (or a full-time school nurse) is trained to assist with approved seizure medications or vagus nerve stimulation devices. For students with epilepsy or on seizure medication, schools must create individual health plans and seizure action plans with annual parental authorization. The bill also provides liability protection for schools and staff acting in good faith under these plans.

Maddy summaryHF 127 requires Iowa counties with populations of 125,000+ (based on the latest census) or those containing a state university campus to use "Plan Three" for electing county supervisors. This means these counties must adopt a specific representation map for supervisor elections, with new maps due by October 2025 for the 2026 general election. For supervisor vacancies, the bill mandates special elections in larger counties (125k+ population or university campuses) but allows appointments in smaller counties instead. The bill directly affects county governance structures in qualifying counties, altering both election planning and vacancy procedures.