Rep. Elinor Levin

Maddy summaryHF 684 requires all Iowa state agencies to purchase only steel manufactured in the United States. This bill directly affects every state agency that buys steel for projects or operations, such as construction or manufacturing. The key provision mandates that agencies cannot purchase foreign-made steel, changing current procurement practices to prioritize domestically produced materials. The bill is currently in the early stages, having been introduced and referred to committee on February 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 685 requires state agency contracts involving steel to include a provision mandating that any steel purchased with state funds or tax credits must be manufactured in the United States. This directly affects state agencies purchasing steel and their suppliers when using state money. The key mechanism is a mandatory contractual clause specifying U.S. manufacturing for covered steel purchases. The bill does not apply to contracts funded by non-state sources.

Maddy summaryHF 681 creates a dedicated wage and hour division within Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. This division will directly enforce state wage laws under chapters 91A (wage payment), 91D (minimum wage), and 92 (child labor) for workers and employers across Iowa. Key provisions require the division to investigate wage violations and prioritize state-level enforcement over referring cases to the federal Department of Labor. The bill mandates that the division handle enforcement activities, including penalties, for these specific labor laws rather than relying on federal authorities. This establishes a permanent state mechanism for wage enforcement previously managed under broader departmental responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHF 682 requires Iowa state departments to recapture tax incentives (such as credits, exemptions, or rebates) from businesses that violate state or federal child labor laws (under Iowa Code chapter 92 or the Fair Labor Standards Act). It applies to businesses receiving state tax benefits and extends to their contractors, subcontractors, or third parties working at the business's facility. Beginning July 1, 2025, if a violation occurs, the business must notify the administering department within 30 days of the appeal period ending, and the state will reclaim the tax benefits using the same process as for unpaid taxes. This bill directly affects businesses receiving state tax incentives who breach child labor protections.

Maddy summaryHF 560 repeals a provision (Section 147.164) that previously prohibited gender transition-related medical care for minors in Iowa. It amends parental rights law to explicitly state that parents or guardians have the fundamental right to make decisions about their minor child's medical care, including gender transition-related activities, subject to strict judicial review. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies retroactively to March 22, 2023. This change directly affects parents/guardians making healthcare decisions for minors and minors seeking gender transition care.

Maddy summaryHF 504 establishes a robotics grant program within Iowa's STEM collaborative initiative to provide funding for school robotics programs. It appropriates $400,000 to offset costs like team stipends, competition fees, kits, and travel for public school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. The bill also allocates $100,000 to the University of Northern Iowa to develop a public-private partnership supporting the Iowa regional FIRST robotics competition. These provisions directly support K-12 robotics education and competition participation through targeted financial assistance.

Maddy summaryHF 462 removes time limits for civil lawsuits by victims of sexual abuse in Iowa. It eliminates the previous 5-year deadline for cases involving counselors, therapists, school staff, or instructors, and establishes no statute of limitations for all sexual abuse civil actions. The bill also revives previously dismissed cases where lawsuits were barred by expired deadlines or failure to file. This applies only to civil claims for damages, not criminal matters, and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 455 changes Iowa's unemployment benefit rules by increasing the maximum total benefit amount an individual can receive in one benefit year. Currently, benefits are capped at 16 times the weekly benefit amount; this bill raises that cap to 26 times the weekly amount. The bill directly affects Iowa workers who qualify for unemployment benefits, ensuring they can receive up to 26 weeks' worth of benefits based on their prior earnings. The key change simplifies the calculation by removing the previous lower limit tied to wage credits, though benefits remain tied to the individual's base period earnings. This adjustment applies to all eligible claimants, including those laid off due to employer closures.

Maddy summaryHF 368 updates Iowa's water quality laws to regulate large livestock operations. It specifically requires medium and large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) - like major dairy or hog farms - to obtain federal-style NPDES permits for managing manure and wastewater. The bill establishes state rules for manure storage, treatment, and facility inspections, aligning with federal Clean Water Act standards. These permits aim to prevent pollution from runoff into rivers and streams, directly affecting agricultural operations that meet the CAFO size definitions.

Maddy summaryHF 412 modifies Iowa's child care assistance program to better support unhoused parents. It defines "unhoused" as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (including living in motels, shelters, cars, or transitional housing) and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to extend the 30-day employment-based eligibility limit for parents of children under six years old who are unhoused. The bill also exempts unhoused children from program waiting lists and mandates an expedited process for approving assistance and extensions for unhoused applicants. These changes directly affect low-income parents experiencing housing instability who are seeking work.