Rep. Brian Lohse

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Iowa's minimum insurance coverage requirements for motor vehicle liability. It raises the required coverage to $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person per accident (up from $20,000), $100,000 for two or more people (up from $40,000), and $25,000 for property damage (up from $15,000). These changes apply to all drivers in Iowa who must carry liability insurance, aligning the minimums with existing requirements for transportation network company drivers. The bill updates insurance policy standards, judgment limits, and penalties for failing to maintain required coverage.

Maddy summaryHF 31 creates two new Iowa tax credits: one for "new residents" (individuals who moved to Iowa for full-time employment with no prior residency in the state) and one for "new graduates" (Iowa-educated individuals under 30 working full-time in Iowa). Both credits reduce state income tax by 100% for up to four consecutive tax years, starting with the first or second year of eligibility. The credits are non-refundable if they exceed tax liability, expire if recipients receive public assistance after the first claimed year, and apply retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2025. Eligibility is limited to one-time lifetime use per individual.

Maddy summaryHF 126 modifies Iowa's sentencing for cocaine-related offenses to create consistent penalties between powdered cocaine and cocaine base (crack). It sets clear thresholds: possession of over 500 grams of either substance becomes a Class B felony (max 50 years, $1 million fine), 100-500 grams is a Class B felony (max 25 years, $5k-$100k fine), and under 100 grams is a Class C felony (max 10 years, $1k-$50k fine). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of manufacturing, delivering, or possessing specified amounts of these substances, as well as law enforcement and courts applying these sentencing guidelines. It eliminates prior inconsistencies where different weight thresholds applied to similar substances. The changes apply to all violations under Iowa Code §124.401 involving cocaine, its salts, isomers, or cocaine base.

Maddy summaryHF 8 requires Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to create procedures allowing school nurses to provide broad-spectrum cannabidiol (CBD) products to students during the school day. The bill only permits products containing no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), as defined in the bill, and mandates that parents or guardians must provide the product, supply manufacturer documentation confirming no THC, and complete a specific form with usage instructions and medical contact details. School nurses may only administer the product per the parent's written instructions, and the product must be stored securely when not in use. This directly affects students needing such products, school staff, and parents/guardians who must provide the product and documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 18) changes Iowa's unemployment benefits system for workers who accept part-time or lower-paying jobs before their benefits run out. If someone takes a job paying less weekly than their unemployment benefit amount, they can receive the difference between their job pay and their benefit amount. Benefits continue until the total earnings from the job plus the received benefits equal the maximum yearly benefit amount. This directly affects unemployed Iowans who accept lower-wage employment during their benefit year.

Maddy summaryHF 16 modifies liability rules for court-appointed defense attorneys in Iowa. It states that noncontract attorneys appointed by a court (without their consent) who face claims of ineffective counsel will be treated as state employees under Iowa’s tort claims law. This means the state will defend and cover legal costs if such attorneys are sued, provided the ineffective representation directly caused harm. The bill specifically applies to criminal, juvenile, and civil cases involving indigent defense.