Rep. Dave Jacoby

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa's historical resource research centers in Des Moines and Iowa City to be maintained as publicly accessible, adequately staffed facilities within those cities. It amends existing law to specify that the Department of Administrative Services must operate these centers in buildings located in Des Moines and Iowa City, with sufficient staffing and public access. The bill directly affects the Department of Administrative Services, which manages these centers. It does not create new funding or alter historical research content, but mandates operational requirements for two existing facilities. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the State Government committee.

Maddy summaryHR 20 is a resolution that recognizes and congratulates the Wartburg College men's wrestling team for winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III wrestling championship. It honors their achievement, including individual wrestler successes and the team's overall performance.

Maddy summaryHF 497 allows Iowa taxpayers to round amounts to the nearest whole dollar when filing tax returns, but requires consistent rounding for all entries. Specifically, taxpayers may round calculated totals to whole dollars after including cents during the calculation process, but must round every entry on the return to whole dollars. The bill applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, affecting all Iowa taxpayers filing returns under the Department of Revenue's administration. This change simplifies reporting for small dollar amounts without altering tax liability calculations.

Maddy summaryHF 916 modifies Iowa's property tax credit for elderly residents by expanding eligibility. It removes the income requirement for seniors aged 65 and older who file claims, meaning they qualify regardless of household income (previously only those 70+ with income under 250% of the federal poverty level qualified). The bill directly affects Iowa residents aged 65+ who claim this property tax credit. It applies to claims filed on or after January 1, 2026, changing how the credit is calculated for this age group.

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 It removes outdated sections and updates key provisions, including requiring AEAs to provide evidence-based professional development and special education oversight through a new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 818 adjusts contribution rates for Iowa's public employees' retirement system (IPERS) and municipal fire/police retirement systems. It reduces employee contributions to 0% for members in protection occupations (fire/police) and sheriff/deputy sheriff roles starting July 1, 2025, shifting the full cost to employers (100% employer contribution). Previously, employees paid a portion (e.g., 9.4% through 2024), but this bill eliminates their required payments for these specific groups. The change applies to both the state IPERS system and municipal fire/police retirement systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Iowa state agencies to lease property to religious organizations for constructing buildings used for religious purposes. If the leased property was purchased with state funds, lease payments must be deposited into the state's general fund or the specific fund used to buy the property, then returned to the owning agency. It directly affects state property managers (like the Department of Administrative Services) and religious groups seeking facilities. The law updates existing property disposal rules to include this leasing option while requiring financial accountability for funds tied to state-owned property.

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 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.

Maddy summaryHF 671 removes gender restrictions from Iowa's marriage laws. It amends the statute to state that "a party who otherwise meets the requirements... is eligible to marry any other such party regardless of gender," replacing previous language specifying "a marriage between a male and a female." The bill also updates related provisions, including void marriage definitions and a new section stating marriage is the "legally recognized union of two eligible parties," requiring all future legal interpretations of marriage terms to align with this gender-neutral definition. This change directly affects any individuals seeking marriage in Iowa who meet other statutory requirements, regardless of gender.