Maddy summaryHF 185 requires Iowa state agencies to consider using project labor agreements (PLAs) for large-scale public construction projects costing $25 million or more. A PLA is a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement between the project owner and labor organizations that sets working conditions and prevents disruptions. State agencies may require a PLA for such projects only if they determine it advances the state’s interest, weighing factors like project urgency, labor disruption risk, safety, and cost efficiency. The bill does not mandate PLAs but ensures any required agreement must include dispute resolution, safety standards, and allow all contractors to compete fairly. It directly affects state agencies managing major construction projects and contractors working on those projects.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHF 188 requires Iowa to automatically mail absentee ballots to registered voters who apply for them within 24 hours after ballots are printed, but no more than 45 days before an election. The bill mandates that ballots be sent in secure envelopes with serial numbers and include clear instructions on returning them via mail, drop box, or in-person delivery. Voters also receive a statement explaining how to track their ballot's status online through the secretary of state's website. This policy applies to all registered voters requesting absentee ballots, streamlining the voting process while maintaining ballot security.
Maddy summaryHF 187 modifies Iowa's education savings account program eligibility rules. It requires that students attending nonpublic schools must have household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for payments, starting July 1, 2024. The bill removes a prior provision that would have eliminated this income requirement for school years beginning July 1, 2025. This change directly affects Iowa students in nonpublic schools seeking state-funded education savings accounts. The bill takes effect upon enactment.
Maddy summaryHF 184 creates strict liability for employers who hire minors in Iowa. It requires employers to pay for any injury or death a minor employee suffers while working, without needing to prove the employer was negligent. This law directly affects businesses employing minors, such as retail or agricultural employers, by shifting the legal burden to them for workplace harm. The bill overrides previous rules (section 92.24) to ensure minors can seek compensation for work-related injuries or deaths.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows Iowa pharmacists to order, administer, and dispense point-of-care HIV tests and HIV preventive drugs (pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis) under statewide protocols developed with the health department. It directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking rapid HIV testing or prevention services, and health insurance plans. The key mechanism requires health insurance plans to cover these pharmacist-provided services, even if their standard policies exclude pharmacists, as long as the services follow the approved protocols. The bill defines key terms like "HIV-related test" and "health benefit plan" to clarify implementation.