Rep. Dan Gehlbach

Maddy summaryHF 371 requires organizations sponsoring high school athletic contests to allow member schools to compete with non-member schools. Public schools in Iowa cannot participate in or allow students to compete in such contests unless the sponsoring organization is registered with the state education department and complies with state rules. The bill modifies the definition of "organization" to specifically prohibit groups from blocking schools from competing with non-member schools, addressing concerns about exclusive athletic networks. This directly affects public high schools and athletic organizations operating under state oversight. The change aims to ensure broader participation opportunities for student-athletes across different school groups.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 3) is a symbolic statement by Iowa's House of Representatives affirming the state's support for Israel. It does not create new laws or directly affect individuals or entities; instead, it expresses solidarity through shared values, condemns antisemitism and terrorism, and encourages cultural and economic collaboration between Iowa and Israel. The resolution highlights Iowa's partnership with Israel's Western Galilee region, economic ties in agriculture and technology, and support for Israel's sovereignty following the October 7 attacks. It was adopted unanimously (76-10) on February 13, 2025, with no binding policy changes.

Maddy summaryHF 104 allows minors to consent to medical care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like testing, treatment, or prevention, but creates an exception for STI vaccinations. It specifically states minors cannot legally consent to receiving STI vaccines without parental or guardian involvement. The bill modifies existing law (Code 139A.35) to clarify that consent for vaccinations requires a parent or guardian, while other STI-related care (diagnosis, treatment, prevention) remains accessible to minors without parental consent. This directly affects minors seeking STI-related health services in Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 90 modifies continuing education requirements for licensed professionals in Iowa. It requires that all continuing education credits must directly relate to the licensed profession, prohibiting boards from imposing unrelated requirements. The bill also exempts licensed practitioners with at least ten years of experience and a master’s or doctoral degree from renewal requirements (unless they hold an evaluator endorsement needing ten-year renewal). Additionally, it mandates the Iowa Supreme Court to update attorney continuing education rules to ensure they only include practice-related requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 106 amends Iowa law to allow parents to pursue wrongful death claims if an unborn child dies due to another party's negligence or misconduct. The bill expands the definition of "person" in wrongful death statutes to include an unborn child, defined as a human embryo or fetus from fertilization until birth. This change enables legal claims to survive the death of an unborn child, meaning parents could seek compensation for the loss as they could for a born child. The policy directly affects families who experience the death of an unborn child due to accidents or negligence, providing a legal pathway for compensation under existing wrongful death laws.

Maddy summaryHF 67 modifies Iowa's school calendar start date for the 2025-2026 school year. It changes the earliest permitted start date from August 23 to August 20, applying to all public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa. This bill directly affects school administrators and families by allowing schools to begin classes up to three days earlier than currently permitted under section 279.10 of Iowa law. The change is specific to the 2025-2026 school year (beginning July 1, 2025, ending June 30, 2026).