Rep. Megan Jones

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes and commends the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) for its 50th anniversary. It highlights NCSL's role as a bipartisan organization supporting state legislatures through research, idea-sharing, and fostering cooperation. The resolution has no policy impact; it simply expresses congressional appreciation and directs the House Chief Clerk to send a copy to NCSL.

Maddy summaryHF 951 appropriates $2 million from Iowa's 911 emergency communications fund to provide grants for counties with populations between 16,000 and 16,500 (per the 2020 census) to repair or replace E911 systems damaged by natural disasters in 2024. The funds are specifically allocated for counties meeting this population threshold and must be used for disaster-related E911 system repairs or replacements. Unspent funds remain available until June 30, 2026, to ensure timely implementation. This bill directly affects eligible counties and ensures dedicated funding for critical emergency communication infrastructure recovery.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (HF 56) expands a tax exclusion for farm tenancy income. It allows farmers who receive net income from farm tenancy agreements through certain business structures - like partnerships, S-corporations, trusts, or disregarded entities - to claim the same exclusion currently available only to those receiving income directly. The key change treats income from these entities as if received directly by the farmer, provided the farmer has the right to withdraw it. The exclusion applies retroactively to tax years starting January 1, 2024, directly affecting farmers operating through such business entities.

Maddy summaryHF 60 would allow Iowa school districts impacted by federally or state-declared natural disasters to receive an additional year of budget adjustment funding. Specifically, if a disaster occurred in the base year or the year before, districts would get a second adjustment equal to the amount they received in their base year. This applies to districts already eligible for standard budget adjustments under existing law. The bill directly affects school districts in Iowa that experience qualifying natural disasters with official disaster declarations. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, and did not become law.)

Maddy summaryHF 64 amends Iowa Code 728.2 to increase penalties for distributing or displaying obscene material to minors, excluding parents or guardians. The bill upgrades the offense from a serious misdemeanor to a class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of $1,025-$10,245. Convicted individuals must also register as sex offenders for 10 years. The bill was withdrawn on March 14, 2025, after committee approval.

Maddy summaryHF 94 exempts up to $500,000 of income from nonqualified deferred compensation plans (like certain deferred pay for select employees) from Iowa's individual income tax for eligible individuals. This applies to people who are disabled, at least 55 years old, or surviving spouses of someone who qualified under the same rules. The exemption covers both the principal amount and earnings from these plans, mirroring existing retirement income exclusion rules. The bill applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 958 creates a tax credit for Iowa individual income taxpayers who pay for premarital counseling, reducing their tax bill by up to $500 per couple. The credit covers the full cost of counseling services (defined as preparation for marriage), with any unused portion carried forward to future tax years but not refunded. This credit applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, meaning couples can claim it for 2025 and later tax filings. It directly affects Iowa residents seeking premarital counseling services who file individual income tax returns.

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 summaryHF 366 prohibits state agency employees from using official materials like badges, uniforms, or work email when interacting with legislators on matters unrelated to their job duties. It expands ethics oversight to cover these employees by adding them to the jurisdiction of each legislative chamber’s ethics committee, allowing complaints about violations to be filed directly with the committee. Violations are classified as a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and fines between $430-$2,560. The bill applies to employees of most state departments, boards, and agencies (excluding certain agricultural boards), clarifying that using official credentials for unrelated legislative activities is strictly forbidden.

Maddy summaryHF 362 designates emergency medical services (EMS) as an "essential county purpose" in Iowa, directly affecting counties that provide EMS. This change would allow county boards to issue general obligation bonds for EMS funding without requiring voter approval at an election - unlike general county purposes, which typically need voter consent. The bill amends Iowa Code section 331.441 to include EMS under the definition of "essential county purpose," referencing the statutory definition in section 147A.1, subsection 5. This policy change streamlines funding for EMS services by removing a voter approval hurdle for bond issuance.