Rep. Eric Gjerde

Maddy summaryHF 661 creates a comprehensive child care package in Iowa. It expands the state's child and dependent care tax credit to match the federal credit amount (retroactive to 2025), establishes a state grant program to raise wages and provide health insurance/benefits for child care workers, and introduces a new small business tax credit for employers offering on-site or nearby child care (capping at $3,000 per employee annually, with a total $2 million annual limit). The bill also adjusts state child care assistance eligibility, raising required work hours for parents and increasing income thresholds to 265% (basic care) and 290% (special needs) of the federal poverty level, while requiring state reimbursement rates to match private-pay rates. These changes directly affect child care workers, small employers providing child care benefits, and low-income families seeking state assistance.

Maddy summaryHF 662 allocates $2.5 million from Iowa's general fund to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for fiscal year 2024-2025 to support refugee resettlement services. The funds are specifically for nonprofit resettlement agencies partnering with the U.S. Department of State to assist refugees in Iowa, covering costs like housing, employment, and healthcare. HHS must distribute the money proportionally to each agency based on the number of refugees they sponsor, and all funds must be disbursed within seven days of the bill taking effect. This direct funding supports refugees and the nonprofits providing their resettlement services in Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 684 requires all Iowa state agencies to purchase only steel manufactured in the United States. This bill directly affects every state agency that buys steel for projects or operations, such as construction or manufacturing. The key provision mandates that agencies cannot purchase foreign-made steel, changing current procurement practices to prioritize domestically produced materials. The bill is currently in the early stages, having been introduced and referred to committee on February 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 685 requires state agency contracts involving steel to include a provision mandating that any steel purchased with state funds or tax credits must be manufactured in the United States. This directly affects state agencies purchasing steel and their suppliers when using state money. The key mechanism is a mandatory contractual clause specifying U.S. manufacturing for covered steel purchases. The bill does not apply to contracts funded by non-state sources.

Maddy summaryHF 688 requires Iowa state agencies to prioritize purchasing American-made products and materials from American-based businesses when their life cycle costs (total costs over the product's lifetime) are comparable to foreign alternatives. This directly affects state agencies that buy goods or materials for government operations, such as office supplies or equipment. The bill amends existing law to clarify that agencies must choose American products if they meet the agency's needs and cost similarly to foreign options, rather than just considering them. It does not change current cost-based requirements but strengthens the preference for domestic products. The bill aims to support U.S. manufacturing and jobs within state procurement.

Maddy summaryHF 229 prohibits placing a GPS tracker on someone else's vehicle without their consent or accessing location data from such a device. It directly affects individuals who install or use trackers on vehicles they don't own or lease. The law includes key exceptions for vehicle manufacturers, insurance companies (with owner permission), law enforcement, parents tracking minors, and employers monitoring company vehicles. Violating the bill is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,560 fine.

Maddy summaryHF 233 amends Iowa's traffic laws to clarify how drivers must position their vehicles when turning at intersections. It specifies that right turns must be made close to the right curb, left turns from two-way streets must stay near the center line while entering and exiting, and turns between laned highways (with three or more marked lanes) must be completed in the same corresponding lane. The bill directly affects all drivers operating vehicles in Iowa who make turns at intersections, particularly in multi-lane areas. Violating these rules would result in a $135 fine under current penalties.

Maddy summaryHF 504 establishes a robotics grant program within Iowa's STEM collaborative initiative to provide funding for school robotics programs. It appropriates $400,000 to offset costs like team stipends, competition fees, kits, and travel for public school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. The bill also allocates $100,000 to the University of Northern Iowa to develop a public-private partnership supporting the Iowa regional FIRST robotics competition. These provisions directly support K-12 robotics education and competition participation through targeted financial assistance.

Maddy summaryHF 228 expands Iowa's prostitution law by making it a class D felony to buy sex from someone you reasonably believe is under 18, including when law enforcement officers pose as minors. This specifically targets individuals purchasing sex services from minors or undercover officers, building on existing law that already criminalized buying sex from actual minors. The penalty includes up to 5 years in prison and fines between $1,025 and $10,245. The bill directly affects people who buy sex services involving minors or undercover operations.

Maddy summaryHF 227 provides licensed veterinarians in Iowa with immunity from administrative, civil, or criminal liability when acting in good faith while handling cases involving alleged animal mistreatment. This includes cooperating with law enforcement on suspected abuse (under Iowa’s animal cruelty laws), assisting in animal rescues, or providing evidence in related court cases. Veterinarians who knowingly make false reports or provide false information, however, lose immunity and face disciplinary action, civil liability, or a simple misdemeanor charge (up to 30 days in jail and a $855 fine). The bill directly affects licensed veterinarians by clarifying their legal protections and responsibilities when involved in animal welfare investigations.