Rep. Shannon Latham

Maddy summaryHF 2107 appropriates $2.5 million from the state general fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This funding will administer and provide matching state funds to the statewide child care solutions fund program, which matches private donations to expand child care access across Iowa. The program directly affects child care providers and families by increasing available funding for child care services through public-private partnerships. The bill creates no new regulations but allocates existing state funds to support this matching mechanism.

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 summaryThis resolution (HR 14) calls on the President and Congress to support the Adoptee Citizenship Act, which would grant U.S. citizenship to children legally adopted from abroad who were 18 or older when the 2000 Child Citizenship Act took effect. It directly affects adoptees who were excluded from automatic citizenship under the 2000 law, despite being raised in the U.S. by American citizens. The resolution urges action to prevent deportation and address barriers these individuals face, such as difficulties obtaining passports, banking services, or education benefits. It does not create new law but advocates for congressional support of the pending Adoptee Citizenship Act.

Maddy summaryHF 127 requires Iowa counties with populations of 125,000+ (based on the latest census) or those containing a state university campus to use "Plan Three" for electing county supervisors. This means these counties must adopt a specific representation map for supervisor elections, with new maps due by October 2025 for the 2026 general election. For supervisor vacancies, the bill mandates special elections in larger counties (125k+ population or university campuses) but allows appointments in smaller counties instead. The bill directly affects county governance structures in qualifying counties, altering both election planning and vacancy procedures.

Maddy summaryHF 139 modifies procedures for involuntary commitment cases involving substance use disorders or mental health treatment. It allows any interested person to file a verified application in any county, requiring courts to transfer cases to the respondent's current county if filed elsewhere. The bill explicitly authorizes law enforcement officers to take respondents into custody in any county for placement at a treatment facility under court orders. It also requires facilities to report on treatment progress to courts within 15 days and mandates law enforcement to locate and return individuals who leave treatment without authorization. These changes aim to streamline custody and treatment processes while clarifying jurisdiction and enforcement authority.

Maddy summaryHF 244 would have amended Iowa law to simplify the offense of falsely claiming a pet as a service animal. It removed two requirements needed to prove the crime: that the person received a prior warning about the law and knew the animal wasn't a service animal. The bill would have made it easier to prosecute people who intentionally misrepresent pets as service animals to access public spaces or services. This change would have kept the existing penalty of a simple misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail and a $105-$855 fine) but lowered the legal bar for conviction. The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHF 920 appropriates $1 million from Iowa's general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support the Double Up Food Bucks program. The program provides matching funds for SNAP recipients to purchase fresh produce at participating farmers markets and grocery stores across Iowa. Starting January 1, 2026, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing program participation, locations, and redemption rates. The funding does not expire at year-end but remains available for the program's continued operation.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 7) urges the U.S. President and Congress to support efforts granting citizenship to internationally adopted children who were over 18 when the 2000 Child Citizenship Act took effect. It specifically targets adoptees born abroad who were excluded from automatic citizenship under that law, despite being raised in the U.S. by American citizens. The resolution calls for passage of the Adoptee Citizenship Act, which would provide citizenship to these individuals, removing barriers they face in accessing banking, voting, education, and other services. It does not create new law but expresses Iowa's support for federal action to resolve this citizenship gap.

Maddy summaryHF 234 establishes a scholarship program for Iowa residents serving in U.S. military reserve components (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force) who are enrolled full-time at eligible Iowa colleges or universities. The scholarship covers up to 100% of tuition and mandatory fees - based on financial need - for up to eight semesters, administered by the College Student Aid Commission. To qualify, students must complete required active duty training, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and provide military certification. The program requires applicants to apply for all other available state and federal aid, and funds are distributed based on eligibility if appropriations are limited.

Maddy summaryHF 119 modifies Iowa's teacher licensing rules for two groups: content specialists (educators with advanced degrees in subject areas) and career/technical secondary educators. It eliminates the requirement for these educators to convert their initial teaching credentials to full authorizations after three years. Instead, they may continue teaching under their initial credentials for up to three years if working under a mentor with a full authorization. The bill also requires the Board of Educational Examiners to issue initial career/technical secondary credentials to eligible community college instructors who meet specific standards. These changes apply to anyone applying for these credentials before, on, or after the bill's effective date.