Rep. Charley Thomson

Maddy summaryHF 598 establishes the Iowa State Capitol Historical Society to collect, preserve, and publicly display the history of Iowa's state capitol building, including its events, people, ideas, architecture, and art. The society will consist of 12 non-voting legislative members (appointed by chamber leaders), 18 governor-appointed Iowa residents, and the department director as secretary. It will fund its work through donations, grants, and private contributions, with money held in a dedicated state treasury fund that cannot be diverted. The society may also advise the capitol planning commission on building and grounds projects. This bill creates a permanent entity focused on preserving capitol history without requiring new state taxpayer funds.

Maddy summaryHF 475 requires Iowa financial institutions (like banks, credit unions, and savings associations) to accept any negotiable instrument (such as checks or drafts) in exchange for a conditional credit. It mandates institutions to make a good-faith effort to collect payment from the instrument's issuer and remit cash to them within two days, while capping fees at $20 or 1% of the instrument's value. The bill prohibits institutions from requiring tendering parties to open accounts or provide identification. Violations can result in penalties of up to five times the instrument's value or $10,000-$25,000 for repeated denials. This directly affects individuals and businesses using payment instruments and financial institutions operating in Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 483 requires Iowa's state architect (appointed by the governor with Senate confirmation) to approve all state-funded public buildings costing over $1 million, including schools, government offices, and community college facilities. The bill mandates that building designs must follow a policy favoring "traditional" and "classical" architecture (like Greek Revival or Georgian styles) to "uplift public spaces" and reflect Iowa's civic identity, while discouraging styles like brutalism or deconstructivism. Before approving a project, the state architect must verify it meets genuine public needs, uses state resources prudently, and complies with architectural preferences - submitting a detailed report if non-compliant designs are approved. The law also requires examining redesign options for existing non-compliant buildings to align with preferred styles when feasible. This is a procedural bill focused on design standards, not funding or outcomes.

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 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 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.