Rep. Brian Meyer

Maddy summaryHF 266 requires landlords in Iowa to refund 50% of an application fee to prospective tenants if they are not selected to rent a unit. This directly affects renters who pay application fees and landlords who collect them. The key provision mandates that landlords must issue this partial refund within a specified timeframe after rejecting an applicant. The bill amends Iowa Code Section 562A.9 to establish this requirement, aiming to reduce financial burden on renters who don't secure housing.

Maddy summaryHF 216 requires Iowa child care centers that employ workers under 18 years old to provide unsupervised care for school-age children to maintain professional liability insurance coverage for those employees. The bill directs the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to create rules mandating centers provide proof of this insurance coverage. It specifically applies to centers using teen employees (under 18) for direct child care without additional adult supervision. The law aims to protect children by ensuring insurance coverage for incidents involving minor caregivers, using existing definitions of "child care" from Iowa Code section 237A.1.

Maddy summaryHF 213 limits pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) in Iowa by requiring that payments made by health plan members for prescriptions count toward their deductible. It prohibits PBMs from charging different fees based on which pharmacy a member uses or blocking members from filling prescriptions at any in-state pharmacy that accepts their plan’s terms. The bill also bans PBMs from forcing members to use mail-order pharmacies exclusively for prescription drugs. These changes directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, and health plan members in Iowa, applying to PBMs managing prescription drug benefits in the state after the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summaryHF 267 expands the definition of "cancer" in Iowa's public retirement systems to include all types of cancer, replacing specific references with a general medical definition. This change directly affects members of the Public Safety Peace Officers' Retirement System (PORS) and the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System (411 System), making more cancer diagnoses eligible for accidental disability and death benefits. The bill also extends this broader definition to the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System for in-service disability retirement. As a result, retirees or their families in these systems will now qualify for benefits for a wider range of cancer diagnoses under existing policies.

Maddy summaryHF 217 prevents health insurance companies and utilization review organizations in Iowa from requiring prior approval for cancer treatments recommended by a patient's doctor using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) protocols. This directly affects cancer patients and their healthcare providers by removing a common administrative barrier to timely care. The bill’s key provision mandates that insurers must cover these NCCN-recommended treatments without prior authorization. It changes the policy by requiring insurers to follow established clinical guidelines for cancer care, rather than imposing separate approval steps.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases hourly payment rates for court-appointed attorneys representing people who cannot afford legal help (indigent defendants) in Iowa. Starting July 1, 2025, attorneys will earn $126 per hour for class "A" felony cases (up from $86), $121 per hour for class "B" felonies (up from $81), and $116 per hour for all other cases (up from $76). The change directly affects public defenders and appointed lawyers handling these cases. The legislation aims to adjust compensation without altering the legal process or eligibility for indigent defense.

Maddy summaryHF 218 designates March 3 of each year as Triple Negative Breast Cancer Action and Awareness Day through an annual gubernatorial proclamation. The bill does not create a state holiday or alter existing laws. It directly affects public awareness efforts for triple negative breast cancer by establishing an official day for education and advocacy. The key mechanism is the governor's annual proclamation, requested by the legislature, to highlight this specific cancer type.

Maddy summaryHF 251 requires Iowa's state board of education to publish detailed information about nonpublic schools accredited by independent agencies. The board must list each school, the specific educational standards the accrediting agency required for accreditation, and any amendments or waivers to those standards. This information will be posted on the education department's website and updated annually by June 30. The bill expands transparency by making school-level accreditation details publicly available, moving beyond the current requirement that only listed accrediting agencies.

Maddy summaryHF 214 changes how Iowa school districts receive state funding for approved preschool programs. It increases the "preschool budget enrollment" from 50% to 100% of actual eligible student enrollment on October 1 (or the first Monday in October if October 1 falls on a weekend) when calculating funding. For districts newly approved to participate, it also modifies the initial year funding calculation to use 60% of eligible enrollment instead of the previous method. This bill applies to school budget years starting July 1, 2026, directly affecting school districts offering state-approved preschool programs.

Maddy summaryHF 207 modifies reporting requirements for patients involuntarily committed for mental health treatment in Iowa. It requires medical directors or treating clinicians to submit an initial report to the court within 60 days of the commitment order, followed by reports at intervals of up to six months (previously 90 days) while the court order remains active. The bill also mandates that reports detail the patient’s condition (improved, unchanged, or deteriorated) and estimated treatment duration, and requires immediate notification if a patient refuses court-ordered treatment without good cause. This directly affects patients under involuntary commitment, healthcare facilities, and the courts overseeing their cases.