Rep. David Blom

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense for approaching or staying within 25 feet of first responders after they have issued a verbal warning not to approach. It directly affects individuals who might interfere with law enforcement officers, probation or parole officers, firefighters, or emergency medical providers performing their duties. The law prohibits approaching within the specified distance with the intent to impede the responder's work, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them. Violating this provision is classified as a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine between $430 and $2,560. The bill defines harassment as conduct that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress without a legitimate purpose.

Maddy summaryHR 114 is a resolution that formally honors the 30 Iowans who died and the four Iowans who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. The bill recognizes the service of these individuals and the ship, which delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian before being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. This measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to the men who served from Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 2145 prohibits the Iowa governor from closing, mandating restrictions on, or regulating places of worship during any emergency, including disaster declarations or public health crises. It directly affects all religious buildings in Iowa with an active congregation, ensuring they cannot be subject to executive orders under emergency powers. The bill explicitly defines "place of worship" as a building where a congregation regularly gathers for religious practice, blocking any governor-led restrictions during emergencies. This is a procedural measure limiting executive authority, not creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 2476 allows Iowans with nonapparent disabilities - such as autism spectrum disorder, mental disabilities, or developmental disabilities - to request a special mark on their driver’s license or nonoperator ID card. The mark would feature a butterfly design approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation or another method the department deems sufficient to indicate the disability. Individuals must apply when renewing or initially obtaining the license/ID and may need to provide medical proof. The department will note this status in its electronic database for law enforcement access and create educational materials about the option.

Maddy summaryHF 2478 designates a 5-mile segment of U.S. Highway 30 within Marshalltown's corporate limits as the "Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard Highway" in honor of an Iowa Army National Guard veteran who died in Syria in 2025. The bill permanently applies this designation to that specific highway segment, regardless of future changes to the highway's federal designation. This is a naming resolution with no new funding or regulatory changes, solely recognizing the veteran through official highway signage.

Maddy summaryHF 2480 requires Iowa employers with 50+ full-time employees to display a poster in the workplace providing veterans with key resources. The poster, created by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing in coordination with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, must include information on mental health services, education/training programs, tax benefits, vehicle registration, unemployment insurance, and legal services. Employers must display the poster in an easy-to-see location accessible to all employees. This bill directly affects covered employers and ensures veterans have clear access to available benefits and services.

Maddy summaryHF 2450 expands Iowa's statewide preschool program to include five-year-olds who turn five between June 1 and September 15 of the school year, while maintaining priority for four-year-olds (born by September 15) when enrollment space is limited. It modifies funding rules so children previously counted for four-year-old programming cannot be counted again as five-year-olds, and updates compulsory attendance rules to include preschoolers in the program. The bill changes all references to "four-year-old" in related laws to "young children" and applies to school budgets beginning July 1, 2027. This directly affects Iowa children aged 4-5, school districts offering preschool, and state education funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHF 2180 establishes a state-funded grant program to help Iowa veterans obtain service animal training. It appropriates $100,000 annually starting in 2026 to provide eligible veterans with grants of up to $5,000 per lifetime, paid directly to accredited Iowa-based training organizations. To qualify, veterans must be state residents meeting department-defined criteria, and organizations must maintain a physical Iowa location and meet accreditation standards. The program requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to set rules for accreditation, application processes, and fund oversight, while coordinating outreach with local veteran service offices.

Maddy summaryHF 2341 creates a partial property tax exemption for residential properties sold by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in areas declared major disaster zones by the president or state disaster emergencies by the governor. It applies specifically to properties sold to owners already receiving Iowa's homestead tax credit, providing a phased tax reduction over four years: 80% exemption in the first assessment year, 60% in the second, 40% in the third, and 20% in the fourth. The exemption expires after the fourth year, meaning homeowners pay full property tax starting in the fifth year. This bill directly affects HUD-sold homeowners in disaster-affected areas who qualify for the homestead tax credit.

Maddy summaryHF 2225 creates a tax credit for Iowa residents who paid nonresident tuition at state universities and later work in the state as health care professionals, teachers, licensed veterinarians, or professional engineers. The credit equals 100% of the difference between the nonresident and resident tuition rates they paid during their studies, available within three years of graduation while employed in Iowa. Unused credit can be carried forward for up to five years to offset future income tax, but it is not refundable and does not apply to nonresidents. The bill requires the Board of Regents to publish historical tuition rates online and applies retroactively to tax years starting January 1, 2026.