Rep. Zach Dieken

Maddy summaryHF 2109 redirects 7% of criminal case fines collected within a county to a new victim restitution fund, instead of allocating it to county general funds. The bill establishes this fund in the state treasury, with funds administered by the Department of Justice to cover financial damages victims incur from crimes (like medical costs or lost wages), as defined by existing law. It changes the current 91% to state court administrator and 9% to county funds to an 85% to state, 8% to county, and 7% to the victim fund. Unspent funds in the victim restitution account will carry over annually instead of reverting. This directly affects victims of crime who receive restitution payments and alters how criminal fines are distributed.

Maddy summaryHF 2168 would impose a 50% tax on money transfers (remittance transfers) made within Iowa using cash, money orders, or similar physical payment methods. This tax applies only to transfers initiated with physical instruments, not those funded from bank accounts. The remittance provider collects the tax from the sender and remits it monthly to Iowa's Department of Revenue. All tax revenue will go to Iowa's general fund, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 2164 requires voters registering to vote on election day or casting an in-person absentee ballot to cast a provisional ballot instead of a regular ballot if their eligibility cannot be verified immediately. The absentee and special voters precinct board must later verify the voter's eligibility - specifically checking if they have a felony conviction without restored voting rights - before counting the ballot. This changes current law, which allowed some voters to cast regular ballots if electronic verification was possible at the polling place. The bill directly affects voters registering or voting in person on election day who cannot prove eligibility through electronic means.

Maddy summaryHF 2166 requires Iowa's state commissioner of elections to create a record of all voter registration data for every voter who cast a ballot in each election, organized by county, within 60 days after the election. This record must be retained for eight years and made available electronically at no cost to the public upon request (with physical storage options for very large files). The bill directly affects voters whose data is included in the record and the public seeking access to election-related voter registration information. It establishes a new procedural requirement for preserving and providing access to historical voter registration data.

Maddy summaryHF 2165 modifies Iowa's absentee voting process to standardize ballot handling and return procedures. It requires absentee ballots to be mailed in a specific envelope system (including affidavit, delivery, and return envelopes with matching serial numbers) and sets a strict deadline: ballots must be received by the county commissioner's office by 5:00 p.m. the day before election day, either via mail (postmarked by that date) or delivered in person. This directly affects Iowa voters who request absentee ballots, changing how they must package, sign, and return their ballots. The bill clarifies verification steps and adds a secrecy envelope requirement if ballots cannot be folded to hide votes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Staff Sergeants William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa National Guard members killed in action during a December 13, 2025, enemy attack in Palmyra, Syria. It recognizes their service, sacrifice, and posthumous promotions to staff sergeant, while also acknowledging three wounded Iowa National Guard soldiers from the same incident. The resolution formally expresses the House of Representatives' respect for their lives and sacrifice, and directs copies to be sent to their families as a gesture of recognition. This is a commemorative resolution with no policy or funding changes, solely intended to honor the fallen service members and their families.

Maddy summaryHF 2087 prohibits Iowa governors from issuing disaster emergency proclamations that unduly interfere with religious institutions or religious practices. It directly affects how the governor may regulate activities during declared emergencies, specifically banning restrictions on in-person religious gatherings or practices. Key provisions amend emergency powers (Section 29C.6) to explicitly forbid measures that infringe on constitutionally protected religious rights, restrict freedom of association, or require disease monitoring that violates privacy. The bill also limits emergency orders regarding medical exams and vaccinations by requiring individual consent and prohibiting undue pressure. These changes apply to all state disaster and public health emergencies.

Maddy summaryHF 240 requires pipeline applicants in Iowa to provide proof of sufficient insurance or surety before a hazardous liquid pipeline permit is granted. This insurance must cover damages from pipeline discharges (both negligent and intentional), property damage from construction or leaks, and increased insurance costs or inability to obtain insurance for nearby residents. Pipeline companies must either purchase insurance for affected residents or reimburse them for higher premiums caused by the pipeline's presence. The bill was recommended for passage by committees but was withdrawn on March 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 239 restructures Iowa's Office of the Consumer Advocate within the Department of Justice, establishing it as a separate division. The bill specifies that the attorney general appoints the consumer advocate (subject to Senate confirmation), sets their salary, and requires regular reports to a committee of state officials (secretary of agriculture, auditor, treasurer). It clarifies that the office's expenses and salaries are funded separately from the utilities commission, with costs for services covered by the commerce revolving fund. The bill also defines how the office may charge expenses for its services in utility proceedings, ensuring fiscal separation between the two entities.

Maddy summaryHF 191 prohibits the intentional emission of air contaminants within Iowa for the purpose of deliberately altering temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity (geoengineering). It directly affects any entity or individual conducting such emissions in the state, overriding conflicting existing laws. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Commission to adopt implementing rules, including emergency rules for immediate enforcement. Key mechanisms include a clear prohibition on weather-modification emissions and a mandate for the Commission to develop specific regulations under existing rulemaking procedures. The bill focuses solely on preventing intentional atmospheric manipulation, not general air pollution control.