Rep. Bob Kressig

Maddy summaryHF 2364 requires Iowa legislators' salaries to be suspended if the state fails to enact specific budget funding levels (state percent of growth and categorical state percent of growth) within 30 days of the governor's budget transmission. This applies directly to Iowa legislators during the regular legislative session. If the required budget provisions aren't passed by the deadline, salaries are suspended starting on day 31 and remain suspended until the funding levels are enacted. Any withheld salary is forfeited and not paid retroactively upon later enactment of the budget provisions.

Maddy summaryHF 2373 proposes a state-run retirement savings program for Iowa workers. It requires employers with five or more employees to automatically enroll eligible workers (aged 18+ working 120+ days annually) in a trust managed by the Iowa Treasurer, with a default contribution rate set by the Treasurer. Participants can opt out, adjust contribution levels, or choose from low-risk investment options, including a target date fund as the default. Employers must provide annual enrollment periods and educational materials about the program. The bill is currently in committee and aims to expand retirement savings access for Iowa workers through employer-based enrollment.

Maddy summaryHF 2264 sets a minimum hourly wage of $15.20 for home health aides working under Iowa's Medicaid program, effective July 1, 2026. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adjust Medicaid reimbursement rates for home health agencies to ensure this minimum wage is met. It also appropriates state general funds to cover the cost of these higher reimbursements for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This directly affects home health aides providing Medicaid-covered services and home and community-based waiver services in Iowa.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Iowa's education savings account program eligibility. For the 2025 school year (starting July 1, 2025), it maintains current rules allowing nonpublic school students (K-12) to receive payments. Starting July 1, 2026, it adds an income requirement: households must earn 400% or less of the U.S. federal poverty income guidelines to qualify. The change directly affects families with children attending nonpublic schools who seek these state-funded education savings accounts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2267 adjusts Iowa's unemployment benefit limits. It increases the maximum total benefits for most claimants from 16 to 26 times their weekly benefit amount during a benefit year. For workers laid off due to their employer closing permanently, it raises the cap from 26 to 39 times the weekly amount. Benefits are calculated based on previous earnings, with special rules applying to business closures. This bill directly affects Iowa workers filing for unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryHF 2259 prohibits Iowa insurers from using credit information to underwrite or rate motor vehicle financial liability coverage policies. This directly affects auto insurers operating in Iowa, specifically banning the use of credit data for determining premiums or eligibility for standard liability insurance covering vehicle ownership, maintenance, or use. The bill amends Iowa law to add a new subsection (1A) explicitly banning this practice, defining "financial liability coverage" as the standard liability insurance required for motor vehicles. Current law already restricted some credit use in insurance, but this bill specifically extends the prohibition to this coverage type.

Maddy summaryHF 2217 requires all public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa to test for radon gas in school buildings at least once by July 2027 and every five years thereafter, with testing limited to October-March. It creates a state grant program within the Department of Education to help schools cover the costs of radon testing and mitigation, using funds that remain available year-to-year rather than reverting to the general fund. Schools must follow specific testing protocols and address elevated radon levels (4 picocuries per liter or higher) by conducting follow-up tests or developing mitigation plans. The bill also mandates that testing results be published online and reported to health officials, with grants intended to supplement, not replace, existing school funding for radon-related work.

Maddy summaryHF 2206 reclassifies marijuana offenses in Iowa, reducing penalties for possession while maintaining criminal penalties for larger quantities. It establishes specific penalties based on amount: possession of 4 ounces or less is now a simple misdemeanor (or a $100 civil penalty for under 1/2 ounce, with community service for minors), while amounts over 12 ounces become serious misdemeanors and over 2 kilograms are felonies. The bill also adds enhanced penalties for distributing marijuana near schools or parks. It directly affects anyone possessing or distributing marijuana in Iowa, with key changes found in sections 124F.2 and 124.401G. The bill does not legalize marijuana but modifies how possession is punished.

Maddy summaryHF 2156 modifies Iowa's unemployment insurance rules for educational staff employed between academic terms. It removes the current provision that allowed workers to receive retroactive benefits if they had "reasonable assurance" of returning to the same role but were not rehired. Under this bill, individuals performing services for an educational institution before a vacation or holiday break are ineligible for unemployment benefits during that break, even if they had assurance of continued work afterward. This change directly affects non-instructional, non-research, and non-principal administrative staff at schools who might otherwise qualify for benefits during academic transitions. The bill does not create new funding requirements, as school districts will cover costs using existing state foundation aid.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million from Iowa's general fund to the Department of Education for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to establish a therapeutic classroom incentive grant program. It directly provides funding to school districts to create therapeutic classrooms for students aged 3 to 21 whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with their success in regular school settings. The program enables school districts to receive grants to set up specialized classrooms designed to support these students' learning and development. The funding is specifically designated for this purpose and cannot be used for other educational programs.