Rep. Mary Madison

Maddy summaryHF 333 requires Iowa public school districts to provide free feminine hygiene products (such as tampons and sanitary pads) in at least half of the restrooms serving students in grades 6-12, with regular refilling. The bill applies directly to all Iowa public schools educating middle and high school students. It appropriates state funds from 2025-2028 to reimburse school districts for the full cost of compliance, with the Department of Education managing the reimbursement process. The funding ends June 30, 2028, after which schools would use other state aid for ongoing costs.

Maddy summaryHF 283 raises Iowa's minimum hourly wage to $10.00 starting July 1, 2025, then to $12.50 on July 1, 2026, and $15.00 on July 1, 2027. It establishes a lower starting wage of $9.10 for new employees during their first 90 days of employment, increasing to $11.60 and $14.10 in 2026 and 2027 respectively. After 2027, the minimum wage will automatically increase annually on July 1 by the same percentage as the federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. The bill ensures the wage never decreases and affects all hourly workers in Iowa, including new hires during their initial 90-day period.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Iowa's unemployment benefits rules to protect workers who participate in strikes. It ensures that employees taking part in a strike or labor dispute at their workplace are not denied benefits if they otherwise qualify. Specifically, it removes the requirement for these workers to actively search for jobs or meet other standard eligibility conditions during the strike. Currently, such workers often face disqualification, but this bill explicitly exempts them from those restrictions under Iowa law.

Maddy summaryHF 273 requires Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a policy by December 31, 2025, prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices (like cell phones or smartphones with internet access) during classroom instruction. The policy must allow exceptions for educational use by teachers, emergencies, health management, and students with IEPs or 504 plans. Schools must make the policy publicly available online, include it in student handbooks, and notify parents through email, mail, or a note. This bill directly affects all public and accredited nonpublic schools, students, and their families by establishing clear rules for device use during learning time.

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 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 225 increases the monthly personal needs allowance for residents in specific Iowa facilities from $50 to $75. It directly affects individuals living in nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for intellectual disabilities or mental illness, or psychiatric medical institutions for children under Iowa's medical assistance program. The bill requires the state to supplement residents with income below $75 to reach the $75 allowance and mandates annual adjustments tied to federal cost-of-living increases for Social Security and SSI benefits, capping the allowance at $200 per month. This change aims to better cover personal expenses not covered by medical assistance.

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 151 requires Iowa agricultural landowners to establish and maintain riparian protection measures - such as vegetation buffers along rivers and streams - to reduce soil erosion and protect surface water quality. It defines "permanent" practices (like planting trees or grasses) and "temporary" practices (like crop rotations), making riparian buffers mandatory regardless of cost-share program availability. The bill prioritizes state funding for these measures and directs soil and water conservation districts to focus on riparian protection in their planning, aligning with Iowa's nutrient reduction strategy. It applies directly to landowners with agricultural land adjacent to waterways.

Maddy summaryHJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish new rules for Iowa citizens to directly propose constitutional changes or new laws through petitions, and to refer bills passed by the legislature to voter approval. It requires petition signatures equal to 8% of the previous gubernatorial vote in at least three-fourths of congressional districts for constitutional amendments, and 5% for proposed laws or referendums on bills. Petitions must be submitted 6 months before elections for initiatives or within 90 days of a legislative session for referendums, and initiatives cannot create new spending without new revenue. The amendment also excludes emergency bills, current spending, and school funding from referendum, and states that referendum-approved bills take effect without governor approval. This is a proposed constitutional change, not yet enacted, requiring voter ratification after legislative approval.