Rep. Dan Gosa

Maddy summaryHR 114 is a resolution that formally honors the 30 Iowans who died and the four Iowans who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945. The bill recognizes the service of these individuals and the ship, which delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian before being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. This measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to the men who served from Iowa.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (HF 2378) sets a phased increase to the state minimum wage: $10.00 per hour starting July 1, 2026; $12.50 on July 1, 2027; and $15.00 on July 1, 2028. It also establishes a lower minimum wage of $9.10, $11.60, and $14.10 for employees in their first 90 days of work, effective on the same dates. Beginning July 1, 2029, the wage will automatically rise each year by the same percentage as the federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, with no decreases allowed. The bill removes a tip credit for certain workers and allows counties or cities to set higher local minimum wages than the state rate.

Maddy summaryHF 2384 increases Iowa's maximum unemployment benefits for eligible workers. It raises the cap from 16 to 26 times a worker's weekly benefit amount during a benefit year. For workers laid off due to an employer's business closure, it increases the cap from 26 to 39 times the weekly benefit amount. This change directly affects unemployed Iowans who qualify for benefits, ensuring they receive more total support under these specific circumstances. The bill modifies how benefit limits are calculated based on prior earnings.

Maddy summaryHF 2380 establishes a community-based wage enforcement program in Iowa to strengthen enforcement of state wage payment and minimum wage laws. The bill requires the director of the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing to contract with qualified community-based organizations (nonprofits with five years of employee advocacy experience) to provide free services directly to workers. Key services include employee education about wage rights, direct advocacy for filing complaints, legal assistance, and tailored support for marginalized communities or non-English speakers. All program activities must be accessible to any Iowa employee at no cost, aiming to improve resolution of wage disputes under state law.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee Iowa workers the right to form unions, negotiate wages and working conditions through their chosen representatives, and protect workplace safety. It specifically prohibits state laws that interfere with collective bargaining or require union membership as a condition of employment. The amendment would directly affect all Iowa workers and employers, adding these protections to the state constitution. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it would become part of Iowa's fundamental law.

Maddy summaryHF 2385 prohibits employers in Iowa from willfully misclassifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees, which would deny them benefits like unemployment insurance. It uses current federal IRS guidelines to determine worker classification and applies to misclassifications occurring after the bill's effective date. Employers violating this law face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per misclassified worker for repeat offenses, plus a Class D felony charge (up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $10,245). The Iowa Department of Workforce Development enforces the law, collects penalties for the general fund, and refers violations to county attorneys.

Maddy summaryHF 2631 establishes Iowa's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, creating a paid, job-protected leave system for eligible employees. It directly affects workers at covered employers (private businesses with 10+ employees year-round or public employers) who need leave for bonding with a newborn/adopted child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, taking medical leave for their own serious health issue, or addressing qualifying circumstances as a crime victim (e.g., seeking medical care, legal assistance, or safety measures). The program is funded through employee premiums, with benefits calculated based on spendable weekly earnings, and is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. This legislation expands on existing federal protections by adding specific coverage for crime victim-related leave and standardizing definitions for eligibility and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, and foreign governments, to register their agricultural land holdings in Iowa with the Secretary of State, with specific information about the land and owners to be filed. The key mechanism establishes that this registration data and related reports will remain confidential records, accessible only to the attorney general for law enforcement purposes and to state government officials for oversight. The legislation mandates an annual summary report of foreign landholdings to be provided to the governor and General Assembly, while maintaining restrictions on public access to these details. The bill applies to land interests acquired on or after January 1, 1980, and requires registration within 60 days of acquisition or the specified date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes funding and programs to improve water quality in Iowa through agricultural best management practices, tax credits, and monitoring initiatives. It allocates approximately $28 million to support a water quality monitoring network and the water quality initiative, which will help farmers implement practices that reduce nutrient pollution in watersheds. The legislation creates a tax credit for agricultural operations that install eligible water quality practices and expands funding for the Iowa Clean Water Farm Program to encourage voluntary adoption of conservation measures. Additionally, the bill provides for water quality practices loans and establishes a cost-share program where the state may contribute up to 50 percent of the cost for eligible projects, while also supporting urban soil and water conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Iowa calculates and distributes funding to area education agencies and school districts, primarily adjusting the foundation base percentages used to determine regular program and special education support services funding. It establishes new formulas for calculating professional development supplements starting in 2026 and requires that at least 90% of special education support services funds received by districts after 2025 be used for services contracted from area education agencies. The legislation also ensures that certain teacher and professional development supplements are paid in full even if the governor orders budget reductions, protecting these specific funding categories from cuts. Additionally, the bill clarifies rounding rules for most funding computations and includes a legislative intent statement linking school funding quality to student education quality.