Rep. Aime Wichtendahl

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 914 modifies Iowa's education structure by changing how area education agencies (AEAs) operate and interact with the Department of Education. It removes outdated sections and updates key provisions, including requiring AEAs to provide evidence-based professional development and special education oversight through a new "division of special education" within the Department (not AEAs). The bill also revises budget processes, mandating that AEA annual budgets must be approved by both the Department of Education and the State Board of Education before final adoption. These changes directly affect AEAs, local school districts, and students - particularly those with disabilities - by clarifying service responsibilities and oversight for educational programs.

Maddy summaryHF 811 repeals Iowa's school tuition organization (STO) tax credit, which allowed taxpayers to reduce their individual or corporate income tax by 75% of donations to STOs. The bill ends this credit for contributions made on or after July 1, 2025, and reduces the 2025 credit cap from $20 million to $10 million. It fully repeals the tax credit provision on July 1, 2031, removing all future eligibility and references to the credit in tax law. This directly affects individuals, corporations, and STOs that previously used or issued these tax credits.

Maddy summaryHF 812 requests the Iowa legislative council to form an interim study committee to plan a state education summit for 2026. The committee, with specific membership including educators, administrators, and education officials, must determine the summit’s location, agenda, and speakers by December 2025. It will focus on identifying best practices in education, such as active learning and technology use, and develop speaker recommendations. The committee’s final report will propose the summit’s details to the legislature and governor.

Maddy summaryHF 406 requires device companies (manufacturers of smart devices) and AI application developers to provide clear, upfront notices when users initialize devices or start apps with AI. These notices must explain exactly what private data the AI accesses, how it will be used, and give users interactive options to refuse specific data access or uninstall the AI before it collects data. The bill mandates that all data usage must align with a "statement of purpose" disclosed to users, prohibiting companies from accessing or using data in ways not previously explained. It directly affects consumers using smart devices (like smartphones or tablets) sold in Iowa after July 2025, as well as manufacturers and developers of AI-enabled products.

Maddy summaryHF 744 requires counties and cities to make required forms (like licenses or filings) available on a public online portal. The portal must accept digital submissions while protecting personal information and cannot use Social Security numbers as identifiers. This applies directly to county officers (e.g., auditors, sheriffs) and city clerks handling public service requests. The bill does not mandate electronic signatures for all agencies but specifically updates county and city requirements for digital form access.

Maddy summaryHF 743 would allow Iowa cities to require new buyers of single-family homes to live in the property as their primary residence for at least two years before selling it. The bill defines "occupy" as physically residing in the home as a primary dwelling and permits cities to grant exceptions for "good faith" reasons like job loss or health issues. This requirement would directly affect homebuyers in cities that choose to implement this rule. Cities would have the option to adopt this policy but are not required to do so. The bill focuses on regulating short-term resale activity to promote community stability.

Maddy summaryHF 740 limits rent increases for current tenants in Iowa residential rentals and mobile home parks. Landlords cannot raise rents more than three times the Midwest consumer price index (CPI) increase over the past year or the assessed property value increase (whichever is higher), whichever is greater. Mobile home park tenants must receive written notice of any rent increase at least 90 days before it takes effect. The bill directly affects existing renters in these housing types by capping annual rent hikes based on economic or property value metrics.

Maddy summaryHF 746 renames Iowa's law enforcement academy to the "Gil Hansen law enforcement academy" for public communication, signage, and other public-facing materials. The bill amends Iowa Code sections 80B.3 and 80B.4 to officially adopt this name, allowing the academy director to use it in all public interactions. This is a procedural change that does not alter the academy's operations, funding, or training programs. The bill directly affects how the academy is identified to the public and in official communications.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Archie and Nancy Martin for their historical support of Black students at Iowa State University. It recognizes their role in addressing housing discrimination by hosting students at their Ames home (the Martin House, now a historic landmark) and advocating with university leadership. The resolution also references existing honors, including Martin Hall (named in 2004) and scholarships established in 2008 to support students of color. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the Martin family’s contributions to educational equity.