Rep. Jeff Shipley

Maddy summaryHF 242 creates a new court review process for property owners and applicants involved in Iowa Utilities Commission eminent domain cases. It allows individuals whose property is subject to eminent domain to petition Polk County district court for a declaratory judgment about legal rights and status before the commission makes a final decision, with a $10 filing fee paid to the court clerk (deposited into the state general fund). The bill prohibits bond requirements for appeals or injunctions related to these reviews and sets conditions for new actions after 18 months or changed circumstances, requiring a different county and judge to review the case anew without relying on prior decisions.

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 709 removes a requirement that cities in Iowa with populations of 29,000 or more maintain independent local civil rights agencies or commissions. The bill amends Iowa Code Section 216.19, subsection 2, by deleting the existing mandate. This change directly affects larger cities by eliminating a specific administrative obligation related to civil rights oversight. The legislation does not create new requirements but modifies an existing one, focusing solely on the structure of local civil rights bodies. The bill was introduced on March 3, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary committee.

Maddy summaryHF 563 requires Iowa county and city assessors to use standardized metrics developed by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) to ensure equitable property valuations. Specifically, it mandates that assessments maintain a coefficient of dispersion (COD) below 15.99% and a price-related differential (PRD) between 0.98 and 1.03 for each property class, unless justified by "good cause." The bill also defines "like property" as all property within the same class for appeal purposes and limits the use of special counsel in assessment litigation to cases involving business entities. These changes directly affect local assessors, property owners appealing valuations, and taxing districts handling assessment disputes.

Maddy summaryHF 625 sets specific expiration dates for existing Iowa tax credit programs, with most ending between 2027 and 2041. It also establishes that any new tax credit program enacted after January 1, 2026, will automatically expire six years after its effective date. The bill preserves tax credits issued or awarded before January 1, 2031, ensuring taxpayers can still claim or redeem them. This affects Iowa taxpayers who currently use or may later claim these credits, but does not alter existing agreements or credits issued prior to the specified dates.

Maddy summaryHF 664 allows nursing home residents or their representatives (such as family members or legal guardians) to use electronic monitoring devices (like cameras) in their rooms, with strict consent requirements. Residents must provide written consent or have their representative consent if they lack capacity, and roommates in shared rooms must also consent in writing. If a roommate objects, the facility must try to move one resident to an available shared room (with the resident paying a private room rate if they choose a private space). The bill requires facilities to document consent and allows residents to withdraw consent or adjust monitoring conditions at any time.

Maddy summaryHF 666 defines "elective abortion" as any act intending to terminate a pregnancy with knowledge it will likely cause the death of an unborn child, excluding emergency contraception, in vitro fertilization, and certain medical treatments like miscarriage care. It creates civil penalties for abortion providers, "abortion funds" that help pay for abortions, and anyone who "aids or abets" abortions, including civil lawsuits under federal RICO laws for abortion pill distribution. The bill explicitly excludes emergency contraception (like Plan B), medical treatments for ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage care from its restrictions. It applies to individuals and entities facilitating abortions, with penalties enforced through civil actions rather than criminal prosecution.

Maddy summaryHF 609 amends Iowa's religious freedom law to explicitly include the use of psychoactive substances like psilocybin and peyote in religious or spiritual ceremonies as part of "exercise of religion." It prohibits state actions (including enforcement under drug laws) from substantially burdening this religious practice unless the government proves it's necessary for a compelling interest and uses the least restrictive method. This bill directly affects religious groups that incorporate these substances into their ceremonies, providing legal protection against state drug enforcement for those specific religious uses. The law does not legalize these substances generally but creates an exemption for religious contexts under existing religious freedom protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a state-issued currency backed 100% by physical gold and silver stored in approved depositories (like the Texas bullion depository or a state-controlled vault). Holders could use the currency for payments or redeem it for actual metal or U.S. dollars, with the Iowa treasurer managing the system and charging fees for transactions. It directly affects Iowa residents, businesses accepting the currency, and the treasurer’s office, which would oversee the depositories and redemption process. The policy establishes a new state-authorized payment method backed by physical assets, requiring the treasurer to maintain reserves matching all issued currency units.

Maddy summaryHF 326 establishes a pilot program in Iowa to provide hyperbaric oxygen treatment (for diabetic foot ulcers, traumatic brain injury, or PTSD) to eligible veterans through a dedicated reimbursement fund. It directly affects veterans diagnosed with PTSD or traumatic brain injury who require this treatment, as well as authorized treatment facilities. The bill creates a Veterans Recovery Fund to reimburse facilities for treatment costs and related travel/living expenses after a treatment plan is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Facilities must submit proposed treatment plans for approval before providing care, and veterans cannot be charged for services under the program. The program requires biennial reports to the legislature evaluating participation and effectiveness.