Rep. Zach Dieken

Maddy summaryHF 237 sets clear conditions under which the Iowa Utilities Commission can impose sanctions on people or groups (intervenors) participating in contested cases. The bill prohibits the commission from threatening or imposing sanctions unless it determines an intervenor was knowingly dishonest or violated a criminal law AND caused actual, quantifiable injury exceeding $500 to the commission. This directly affects intervenors in utility commission proceedings by requiring specific, documented misconduct and harm before penalties can be applied. The bill does not change utility regulations but modifies the commission's sanction process to require stricter proof.

Maddy summaryHF 238 prohibits the Iowa Utilities Commission from renewing permits for pipelines transporting liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2). It sets a strict 25-year maximum operational limit for all CO2 pipelines, meaning they cannot operate beyond this period even if initially permitted for less time. This bill specifically targets CO2 pipelines, reinforcing a 25-year cap that already applies to other pipelines under current law but explicitly prevents renewal for CO2-specific projects. The bill directly affects CO2 pipeline operators and the commission responsible for issuing and reviewing permits.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets specific minimum following distances for drivers based on highway speed limits: 50 feet for speeds of 35 mph or less, 100 feet for 35-55 mph, 150 feet for 55-65 mph, and 200 feet for speeds over 65 mph. It directly affects all drivers operating vehicles on Iowa highways under clear conditions, replacing the general "reasonable and prudent" standard with defined distances. Violating these rules is a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $135 fine, with additional penalties of up to $1,000 or license suspension if injury or death occurs. The bill updates existing traffic law to clarify safe following distances through clear, speed-based thresholds.

Maddy summaryHF 241 requires all Iowa Utilities Commission members to be present during live testimony at hearings related to public utilities, pipelines, or electric transmission lines. If any member is unavailable during such a hearing, the meeting must pause until all members return. The bill also mandates that at least one commission member attend all informational meetings about pipeline permits, electric transmission lines, or hazardous liquid pipelines, pausing the meeting if no member is present. This applies to meetings held by pipeline companies or the commission itself, directly affecting commission operations and how companies conduct required public meetings.

Maddy summaryHF 242 creates a new court review process for property owners and applicants involved in Iowa Utilities Commission eminent domain cases. It allows individuals whose property is subject to eminent domain to petition Polk County district court for a declaratory judgment about legal rights and status before the commission makes a final decision, with a $10 filing fee paid to the court clerk (deposited into the state general fund). The bill prohibits bond requirements for appeals or injunctions related to these reviews and sets conditions for new actions after 18 months or changed circumstances, requiring a different county and judge to review the case anew without relying on prior decisions.

Maddy summaryHF 350 prohibits Iowa's Department of Corrections from using state funds to distribute or make available any commercially published material featuring sexually explicit content to inmates in state correctional facilities. It specifically bans materials depicting acts like genital contact, oral sex, penetration, ejaculation, or artificial sexual devices. The bill directly affects inmates in Iowa's correctional institutions by restricting access to such content through department-funded channels. It does not address inmate possession of personal items but limits the department's use of public funds for distributing explicit material. The law takes effect upon enactment and applies to all institutions under the department's control.

Maddy summaryHF 453 defines an "unborn child" as a human organism from fertilization to fetal death or live birth. It expands wrongful death damages (under Code 633.336) to include unborn children, applies homicide and assault criminal laws (via new sections 707.1A and 708.1A) to unborn children as legal victims, and ensures these cases receive the same legal protections as cases involving born individuals. The bill explicitly excludes life-saving medical procedures for the pregnant person and natural miscarriages from its application. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 429 requires Iowa's National Guard, Air National Guard, and Civil Air Patrol to not be deployed into active combat or hazardous foreign service unless the U.S. Congress has officially declared war specifically to repel an invasion, suppress an insurrection, or enforce federal laws. This bill directly affects state military units by adding a new condition for their deployment abroad, aligning with Iowa's legislative finding that Congress alone should declare war under the U.S. Constitution. It does not restrict the governor's authority to deploy troops for domestic purposes like disaster response or civil support. The bill aims to ensure state military units are only sent overseas when the federal government has formally declared war for defined national defense purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 279 clarifies procedures for declaring and managing state disaster emergencies, including public health disasters. It requires governors to issue written proclamations detailing the affected area, basis for the emergency, and specifically noting public health designations. The bill explicitly prohibits emergency measures that infringe constitutional rights without strong justification, restrict religious interactions, use surveillance without consent, or limit healthcare professionals' licensed practices. It also bans mandatory disease contact monitoring that violates freedom of association and ensures individuals retain final authority over medical exams and vaccinations during emergencies. These provisions aim to balance emergency response with protected rights and healthcare access.

Maddy summaryHF 280 prohibits the governor from closing, mandating, or regulating places of worship during disasters or public health emergencies, including under emergency proclamations. It directly affects religious congregations using buildings designated as active places of worship. The bill defines "place of worship" as a building where an active congregation gathers for worship. This law would prevent executive actions restricting religious gatherings during declared emergencies. The bill is currently in the Judiciary committee after being introduced on February 10, 2025.