Rep. Austin Harris

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 summaryHF 2044 strengthens Iowa's campaign finance rules by prohibiting foreign nationals from influencing ballot issue campaigns (like voter referendums). It defines "foreign national" broadly to include non-U.S. citizens, foreign governments, and U.S. entities controlled by foreign entities, and requires political committees to verify through written affirmations that donors are not foreign nationals and have not accepted over $100,000 in foreign funds in the past four years. The bill also bans foreign nationals from directing campaign decisions or soliciting contributions for ballot issues, with violations subject to investigation by Iowa's ethics board. These provisions directly affect political committees, donors, and campaign treasurers involved in ballot measure campaigns.

Maddy summaryHF 2438 sets new rules for health insurance companies (health carriers) regarding claim payments, audits, and conduct. It requires health carriers to pay clean claims within 30 days (electronic) or 45 days (paper), prohibits retroactive denials without evidence, and mandates reimbursement of providers' costs for responding to audits. The bill also establishes strict timelines for audits (15-day notice, 45-day completion) and appeals (30-day window), with automatic approval and interest for missed deadlines. These provisions directly affect health insurance companies, Medicaid programs (like Iowa's Medical Assistance and Hawki), and healthcare providers (doctors, hospitals) who submit claims.

Maddy summaryHF 2213 requires Iowa counties and cities to transfer any mineral rights they own or control to the current surface owner of the land. This applies to perpetual mineral interests (like coal, oil, gas, or geothermal resources) that counties or cities hold separately from surface ownership. The transfer must occur without cost to the surface owner within five years of the bill's effective date. The bill directly affects county/city governments and landowners who hold surface rights but lack mineral ownership.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (HF 2332) prohibits most elective abortions after the second trimester and creates criminal penalties for "feticide" (intentionally causing fetal death during pregnancy). It defines "elective abortion" narrowly - excluding miscarriage treatment, medical emergencies, and procedures to save the mother's life - and bans knowingly performing or aiding such procedures. Feticide is classified as a felony (class C or D depending on intent), while unintentional fetal death during non-forcible crimes is a lesser offense. The law directly affects pregnant individuals seeking later-term abortions, healthcare providers, and anyone assisting in such procedures, with exceptions only for medical emergencies or preserving maternal life.

Maddy summaryHF 2484 creates a public online portal managed by Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing to track permit applications. It requires all state agencies issuing permits (like building or business licenses) to map their processes, set clear timelines, and integrate with the portal. The portal must let applicants track applications, view fees and processing times, submit documents electronically, and access historical data. Agencies must also conduct an audit within 180 days to identify unnecessary permits or redundant steps for potential elimination. This directly affects agencies and applicants by making permit processes more visible and standardized.

Maddy summaryHF 2073 requires that for candidates running for offices with the authority to propose, approve, levy, or vote on taxes, their political party name must appear directly after their name on the ballot in at least six-point type. This applies specifically to partisan races involving tax authority, such as state legislature or local government roles that handle tax decisions. The bill also allows for party abbreviations on the ballot, provided both the full name and abbreviation are listed in the voter instructions. It directly affects voters by changing ballot presentation for these specific offices and candidates seeking those positions. The law aims to provide clearer information about candidates' party affiliations in tax-related elections.

Maddy summaryHF 2126 extends the time limit for filing dental malpractice lawsuits in Iowa from two years to five years. Patients can now file claims within five years of knowing (or reasonably knowing) about the injury, but no later than six years after the dental incident occurred. The bill applies to claims against dentists, dental surgeons, dental hygienists, and dental assistants for injuries arising on or after July 1, 2026. This change specifically affects dental malpractice cases, while leaving the existing two-year limit for non-dental medical malpractice unchanged.

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.