Rep. Helena Hayes

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 summaryHF 2209 requires Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to admit at least 80% of students who are Iowa residents or attended eligible Iowa colleges. It prioritizes applicants planning to work in Iowa rural communities (under 25,000 people) and specialize in mixed-animal veterinary care. Applicants must disclose their Iowa background and career intentions in their applications. The university must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing admission statistics and reasons for rejections.

Maddy summaryHF 2145 prohibits the Iowa governor from closing, mandating restrictions on, or regulating places of worship during any emergency, including disaster declarations or public health crises. It directly affects all religious buildings in Iowa with an active congregation, ensuring they cannot be subject to executive orders under emergency powers. The bill explicitly defines "place of worship" as a building where a congregation regularly gathers for religious practice, blocking any governor-led restrictions during emergencies. This is a procedural measure limiting executive authority, not creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 2122 allows teachers in Iowa public schools (including districts, charters, and innovation zones) to remove students exhibiting disorderly conduct - such as threats, violence, disruptions, or profane language - from their classrooms. Principals must then follow specific procedures, including providing written notice before readmitting students and disciplining those excluded three times in 30 days (e.g., suspension or alternative learning). The bill also grants teachers the right to appeal principal decisions about exclusions or readmissions, protects them from retaliation for using these rights, and requires school districts to provide injured teachers with five days of full-paid leave. It applies directly to educators, students, and school staff while aligning disciplinary policies with state and federal education laws.

Maddy summaryHR 110 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for the "Phoenix Declaration," a set of educational principles. It does not create new laws or policies but formally endorses the declaration's emphasis on parental choice in education, transparency in schools, teaching foundational American history and values, and curricular focus on core subjects and character development. The resolution directly affects congressional record-keeping and symbolic recognition, not actual school operations or funding. It has no concrete policy impact beyond stating the House's belief in these educational principles.

Maddy summaryHF 2722 requires Iowa's Department of Health to create a public awareness program about indoor mold risks and establish a mold remediation standard. The program mandates the department to review mold health effects by 2027, conduct five-year reviews of mold removal techniques, and run public education campaigns on identifying and addressing mold in damp indoor environments. All mold removal work in Iowa must follow the ANSI/IICRC S520 standard (or an equivalent approved by the department). This bill directly affects Iowa residents, property owners, and mold remediation contractors by setting health information requirements and professional standards for mold removal.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Iowa's Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Program, creating a state fund to reimburse veterans for specialized oxygen therapy (hyperbaric oxygen treatment) used to treat diagnosed traumatic brain injury or PTSD. It directly affects Iowa veterans with these conditions who receive treatment at approved facilities, ensuring they pay no costs for the therapy. The program requires veterans' service organizations to submit approved treatment plans detailing medical necessity and costs, with reimbursement coming from the new fund - financed through state appropriations and other designated sources - after health improvements are verified. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs administers the program, tracks participation, and reports annually on its effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (HF 2332) prohibits most elective abortions after the second trimester and creates criminal penalties for "feticide" (intentionally causing fetal death during pregnancy). It defines "elective abortion" narrowly - excluding miscarriage treatment, medical emergencies, and procedures to save the mother's life - and bans knowingly performing or aiding such procedures. Feticide is classified as a felony (class C or D depending on intent), while unintentional fetal death during non-forcible crimes is a lesser offense. The law directly affects pregnant individuals seeking later-term abortions, healthcare providers, and anyone assisting in such procedures, with exceptions only for medical emergencies or preserving maternal life.

Maddy summaryHF 2270 establishes that Iowa's public libraries receiving state funding through the "enrich Iowa" program must meet measurable goals set by the state department, but cannot be required to follow standards from private organizations unless specifically allowed by law. The bill amends existing law to prevent the state from mandating compliance with private library standards (like those from national associations) without explicit legislative approval. It maintains the existing program that provides state funds to libraries based on performance measures, aiming to improve service quality and reduce disparities between communities. This change clarifies that the state department can only use performance measures it adopts itself, not those created by outside groups.

Maddy summaryHF 2395 bans the addition of hydrofluorosilicic acid and other fluoride-based additives to both public and private drinking water systems in Iowa. It requires county health boards to set private water standards that prevent fluoride levels exceeding natural background amounts, and directs the environmental protection commission to establish public water standards with the same limit. The bill updates drinking water rules to ensure they align with federal standards while prohibiting artificial fluoride addition. This directly affects all public water utilities and private well owners subject to county health regulations. The policy change specifically eliminates the use of fluoride additives in water treatment, setting maximum allowable levels at naturally occurring background concentrations.