Rep. Ken Croken

Maddy summaryThis bill increases hourly payment rates for court-appointed attorneys representing people who cannot afford legal help (indigent defendants) in Iowa. Starting July 1, 2025, attorneys will earn $126 per hour for class "A" felony cases (up from $86), $121 per hour for class "B" felonies (up from $81), and $116 per hour for all other cases (up from $76). The change directly affects public defenders and appointed lawyers handling these cases. The legislation aims to adjust compensation without altering the legal process or eligibility for indigent defense.

Maddy summaryHF 218 designates March 3 of each year as Triple Negative Breast Cancer Action and Awareness Day through an annual gubernatorial proclamation. The bill does not create a state holiday or alter existing laws. It directly affects public awareness efforts for triple negative breast cancer by establishing an official day for education and advocacy. The key mechanism is the governor's annual proclamation, requested by the legislature, to highlight this specific cancer type.

Maddy summaryHF 251 requires Iowa's state board of education to publish detailed information about nonpublic schools accredited by independent agencies. The board must list each school, the specific educational standards the accrediting agency required for accreditation, and any amendments or waivers to those standards. This information will be posted on the education department's website and updated annually by June 30. The bill expands transparency by making school-level accreditation details publicly available, moving beyond the current requirement that only listed accrediting agencies.

Maddy summaryHF 222 allocates hotel and motel tax revenue collected between August 23 and Labor Day to schools that begin their academic year after Labor Day. It creates an "alternate school start date fund" in the state treasury, managed by the Department of Education, which distributes funds to qualifying schools based on enrollment. Schools must meet the standard 1,080 hours of instruction (as if starting August 23, excluding weather-related closures) to receive funding. The funds are deposited into school districts' general funds as "miscellaneous income" but are not counted toward district costs.

Maddy summaryHF 207 modifies reporting requirements for patients involuntarily committed for mental health treatment in Iowa. It requires medical directors or treating clinicians to submit an initial report to the court within 60 days of the commitment order, followed by reports at intervals of up to six months (previously 90 days) while the court order remains active. The bill also mandates that reports detail the patient’s condition (improved, unchanged, or deteriorated) and estimated treatment duration, and requires immediate notification if a patient refuses court-ordered treatment without good cause. This directly affects patients under involuntary commitment, healthcare facilities, and the courts overseeing their cases.

Maddy summaryHF 168 requires nonpublic schools in Iowa that accept tuition payments through the state's education savings account program to provide parents and guardians with a specific list. This list, developed by the state education director (with input from teachers' and school board organizations), details rights and services available to students in public school districts that are not available to students in nonpublic schools. The bill mandates that nonpublic schools receiving funds from the education savings account program must give this list to parents when they enroll their child. It directly affects nonpublic schools using the education savings account program and aims to provide transparency about differences in student support between public and nonpublic school settings.

Maddy summaryHF 158 removes a current legal restriction that prevents Iowa counties and cities from banning landlords from refusing to rent to tenants using federal housing choice vouchers (like Section 8). The bill strikes existing code sections that prohibit local governments from adopting ordinances that would stop such discrimination. This change would allow counties and cities to create their own rules about whether landlords can refuse voucher users. The bill directly affects local governments' regulatory authority, landlords, and tenants using federal housing vouchers. It focuses on altering local housing regulation powers, not on new benefits or funding.

Maddy summaryHJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish new rules for Iowa citizens to directly propose constitutional changes or new laws through petitions, and to refer bills passed by the legislature to voter approval. It requires petition signatures equal to 8% of the previous gubernatorial vote in at least three-fourths of congressional districts for constitutional amendments, and 5% for proposed laws or referendums on bills. Petitions must be submitted 6 months before elections for initiatives or within 90 days of a legislative session for referendums, and initiatives cannot create new spending without new revenue. The amendment also excludes emergency bills, current spending, and school funding from referendum, and states that referendum-approved bills take effect without governor approval. This is a proposed constitutional change, not yet enacted, requiring voter ratification after legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHF 152 directs Iowa to apply for and participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children program, which provides food assistance to children during summer months when school meals are unavailable. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (with Education) to submit an application to the USDA by February 2025 and appropriates state funds to cover administrative costs for the summer 2025 program. It directly affects approximately 240,000 Iowa children eligible for the program, which is funded by an estimated $29 million in federal resources. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment but applies retroactively to July 1, 2024, ensuring state funding covers costs from that date.

Maddy summaryHF 172 allows Iowa cities to levy specific voter-approved taxes for cultural, community, and infrastructure projects. It reinstates limits for taxes up to 13.5 cents per $1,000 valuation to support musical groups, symphony orchestras, or public libraries, and up to 81 cents per $1,000 for memorial buildings or monuments. Cities must submit these tax proposals to voters at regular or special elections, with details like tax rates and project specifics included in election notices. The bill recodifies these tax options after they were previously eliminated, maintaining the same voter approval requirements and rate limits. It directly affects city residents through property tax changes and local organizations receiving funding for cultural or public facilities.