Rep. Mary Madison

Maddy summaryHF 2364 requires Iowa legislators' salaries to be suspended if the state fails to enact specific budget funding levels (state percent of growth and categorical state percent of growth) within 30 days of the governor's budget transmission. This applies directly to Iowa legislators during the regular legislative session. If the required budget provisions aren't passed by the deadline, salaries are suspended starting on day 31 and remain suspended until the funding levels are enacted. Any withheld salary is forfeited and not paid retroactively upon later enactment of the budget provisions.

Maddy summaryHF 2373 proposes a state-run retirement savings program for Iowa workers. It requires employers with five or more employees to automatically enroll eligible workers (aged 18+ working 120+ days annually) in a trust managed by the Iowa Treasurer, with a default contribution rate set by the Treasurer. Participants can opt out, adjust contribution levels, or choose from low-risk investment options, including a target date fund as the default. Employers must provide annual enrollment periods and educational materials about the program. The bill is currently in committee and aims to expand retirement savings access for Iowa workers through employer-based enrollment.

Maddy summaryHF 2383 creates a program to help certified nurse aides transition into health care facility inspector roles. It requires the state department to establish continuing education for dual certification as both a nurse aide and inspector, and funds a grant program offering up to $2,000 per applicant to cover training costs based on their experience and training needs. The bill also mandates community colleges to develop a 30-40 hour certificate program on inspection processes, abuse prevention, and incident reporting, designed to complement nursing assistant training. These provisions aim to expand the pool of qualified inspectors while providing structured pathways for current nurse aides to advance their careers.

Maddy summaryHF 2313 prohibits coal-fired power plants and coal ash landfills from discharging toxic pollutants - including mercury, arsenic, and cadmium - from specific wastewater streams (like flue gas desulfurization water and ash transport water) into water sources. It directly affects existing coal power facilities operating before July 1, 2026, requiring them to comply by December 31, 2029, while new facilities must comply before starting operations. The bill mandates that the environmental department create implementing rules and aims to protect drinking water, groundwater, and communities from avoidable coal ash pollution linked to serious health risks. The law focuses on preventing toxic discharges using existing technology, with clear compliance deadlines for different facility types.

Maddy summaryHF 2322 regulates towing motor vehicles without the owner's consent in Iowa. It requires towing companies to notify law enforcement within 2 hours, the owner and lienholders within 48 hours, and provide vehicle location details. The bill prevents towing companies from charging excessive storage fees, prohibits selling vehicles for 45 days (except to demolishers), and ensures owners can retrieve personal items without fees. It also mandates payment plans for low-income owners and requires proceeds from vehicle sales (after towing/storage costs) to be paid to the owner within 90 days. The bill applies specifically to non-abandoned vehicles towed without consent, not to vehicles handled under separate abandonment laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new constitutional right to Iowa's constitution, guaranteeing every person access to clean water and air free from health-harming pollutants. It requires the state, acting as a trustee of natural resources, to conserve and restore public waters and air for current and future generations. The amendment is self-executing (taking effect immediately upon ratification) and mandates strict judicial review for any government action infringing on this right. It directly affects all Iowans and state agencies, fundamentally changing how environmental protections are legally enforced.

Maddy summaryHF 2318 amends Iowa's unemployment benefits law to allow workers participating in strikes or labor disputes to receive benefits starting on the 15th day of the work stoppage. It removes the current disqualification for strikers and exempts them from the standard requirement to actively seek other employment during the strike. This applies to workers at the workplace where they were last employed, such as a factory or establishment. The bill does not change other eligibility criteria, like being able to work and available for work, but specifically waives disqualification and work search rules for strike participants after 14 days.

Maddy summaryHF 2264 sets a minimum hourly wage of $15.20 for home health aides working under Iowa's Medicaid program, effective July 1, 2026. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adjust Medicaid reimbursement rates for home health agencies to ensure this minimum wage is met. It also appropriates state general funds to cover the cost of these higher reimbursements for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This directly affects home health aides providing Medicaid-covered services and home and community-based waiver services in Iowa.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Iowa's education savings account program eligibility. For the 2025 school year (starting July 1, 2025), it maintains current rules allowing nonpublic school students (K-12) to receive payments. Starting July 1, 2026, it adds an income requirement: households must earn 400% or less of the U.S. federal poverty income guidelines to qualify. The change directly affects families with children attending nonpublic schools who seek these state-funded education savings accounts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2267 adjusts Iowa's unemployment benefit limits. It increases the maximum total benefits for most claimants from 16 to 26 times their weekly benefit amount during a benefit year. For workers laid off due to their employer closing permanently, it raises the cap from 26 to 39 times the weekly amount. Benefits are calculated based on previous earnings, with special rules applying to business closures. This bill directly affects Iowa workers filing for unemployment benefits.