Rep. Rob Johnson

Maddy summaryHF 910 provides Iowa disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating (certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) with two key benefits: (1) exemption from vehicle title fees and annual registration fees for up to three vehicles, including free standard license plates; and (2) a property tax credit equal to the full property tax owed on their primary residence. The bill also allows the state to waive administrative vehicle fees for qualifying veterans and creates a confidential tax credit program requiring county auditors to certify claims annually. Funds for the tax credit are allocated from the state general fund and distributed to taxing districts based on their share of property taxes. These provisions directly affect eligible Iowa veterans, aiming to reduce their costs for vehicle ownership and housing.

Maddy summaryHF 828 requires Iowa's child welfare agency to create a public internet registry for confirmed cases of child abuse involving sexual abuse where the perpetrator was convicted of a serious sex offense. The registry will display specific details about convicted individuals (including name, photo, residence, and offense details) but exclude victim information, details about minors, and sensitive data like Social Security numbers. The site must be searchable by location and updated within five business days of a case being confirmed as "founded" and meeting the conviction criteria. The bill explicitly prohibits disclosing information about alleged perpetrators who were minors at the time of the offense or about victims, ensuring privacy protections for vulnerable individuals.

Maddy summaryHF 829 amends Iowa law to provide new options for people with unpaid traffic fines and court costs related to motor vehicle violations. It allows individuals to create income-based installment plans with county attorneys or the state revenue department, or to pay through community service at minimum wage rates. The bill also lets people adjust existing payment plans if their financial situation changes, without counting it as a new agreement. These changes primarily affect drivers whose licenses were suspended for unpaid traffic debts, offering more flexible ways to resolve the debt and avoid extended license suspensions.

Maddy summaryHF 812 requests the Iowa legislative council to form an interim study committee to plan a state education summit for 2026. The committee, with specific membership including educators, administrators, and education officials, must determine the summit’s location, agenda, and speakers by December 2025. It will focus on identifying best practices in education, such as active learning and technology use, and develop speaker recommendations. The committee’s final report will propose the summit’s details to the legislature and governor.

Maddy summaryHF 740 limits rent increases for current tenants in Iowa residential rentals and mobile home parks. Landlords cannot raise rents more than three times the Midwest consumer price index (CPI) increase over the past year or the assessed property value increase (whichever is higher), whichever is greater. Mobile home park tenants must receive written notice of any rent increase at least 90 days before it takes effect. The bill directly affects existing renters in these housing types by capping annual rent hikes based on economic or property value metrics.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Archie and Nancy Martin for their historical support of Black students at Iowa State University. It recognizes their role in addressing housing discrimination by hosting students at their Ames home (the Martin House, now a historic landmark) and advocating with university leadership. The resolution also references existing honors, including Martin Hall (named in 2004) and scholarships established in 2008 to support students of color. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the Martin family’s contributions to educational equity.

Maddy summaryHF 727 caps the annual finance charge for consumer credit sales at 10% on unpaid balances. It applies to both open-end credit (like credit cards) and other installment credit, limiting how much lenders can charge in interest. The bill directly affects consumers who take out credit for purchases and the lenders who provide those loans. Key provisions set a strict 10% annual rate ceiling, replacing previous higher thresholds. This is a concrete policy change to limit interest costs for borrowers.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would establish a fundamental right to reproductive care in Iowa's Constitution, protecting services like contraception, abortion, prenatal care, and infertility treatment. It prohibits the state from interfering with these personal health decisions unless a "compelling state interest" is proven through the "least restrictive means," with specific exceptions allowing post-viability abortion restrictions only when medically necessary to protect a patient's life or health. The amendment directly affects all Iowans seeking reproductive healthcare by enshrining these rights at the constitutional level. If adopted by the legislature and voters, it would replace current state abortion laws with this new constitutional standard, though it remains a proposal pending ratification.

Maddy summaryHF 659 creates a state-administered Iowa Housing Tax Credit Program to support affordable housing development. It allows developers of qualifying low-income housing projects to claim tax credits against certain state taxes, with a $15 million annual cap (plus carryover from previous years). The bill also establishes neighborhood renovation grants and increases tax incentives for first-time homebuyers. These provisions directly affect housing developers, low-income residents, and homebuyers by providing financial tools to build and purchase housing in Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 671 removes gender restrictions from Iowa's marriage laws. It amends the statute to state that "a party who otherwise meets the requirements... is eligible to marry any other such party regardless of gender," replacing previous language specifying "a marriage between a male and a female." The bill also updates related provisions, including void marriage definitions and a new section stating marriage is the "legally recognized union of two eligible parties," requiring all future legal interpretations of marriage terms to align with this gender-neutral definition. This change directly affects any individuals seeking marriage in Iowa who meet other statutory requirements, regardless of gender.