Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 106) urges Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act, which would change current rules affecting medically retired veterans. It directly impacts approximately 50,000 service members who retired before completing 20 years of service due to medical conditions and have a disability rating below 50% - they currently lose $1 of retirement pay for every $1 of disability pay received. The resolution does not change the law itself but calls for Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act, which would eliminate this offset and allow these veterans to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits. It is a symbolic action, not a policy change, referencing the case of Major Richard Star, an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran who died of burn pit-related lung cancer.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHF 2589 modifies Iowa's property tax exemption rules for religious institutions. It states that for tax years beginning January 1, 2027, an IRS 501(c)(3) exemption letter will be conclusive proof that a religious institution qualifies for property tax exemption. The bill also clarifies that property tax exemptions remain valid after property transfers if the property continues to be used for religious purposes, and requires county recorders to notify both parties about exemption continuation requirements. This primarily affects religious organizations seeking property tax relief in Iowa.
Maddy summaryHF 2445 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources to create and publish an interactive digital map showing areas vulnerable to manure pollution from animal feeding operations (AFOs). The map identifies risks based on terrain, weather patterns, and proximity to water sources like rivers or wells. Farmers applying manure from AFOs must verify they consulted this map before application, as part of their required manure management or nutrient management plans. This affects all AFO operators, including those with confinement feeding operations and open feedlots, by adding a mandatory step to reduce runoff risks. The map is designed to help farmers apply manure more efficiently while protecting water quality.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal framework for terminally ill Iowa residents to request physician-prescribed medication for self-administration to end their life, known as "medical aid in dying." It requires patients to make two oral requests to their attending provider, obtain medical confirmation from a second provider, and undergo a 15-day waiting period. The law mandates that providers discuss all end-of-life care options (including hospice and palliative care) and confirms the patient's mental capacity to make an informed decision. The "Iowa Our Care, Our Options Act" establishes safeguards against coercion and requires providers to honor patient autonomy in end-of-life care planning.
Maddy summaryHF 2460 requires Iowa's Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality (within the Department of Agriculture) to publish regular online reports on state-funded clean water projects. These reports must track progress toward water quality goals using data collected before, during, and after projects that monitor surface water for nutrient levels, runoff, or stormwater discharges. The reports, hosted on a joint agency website, must include benchmark measurements established to measure progress toward clean water objectives. This bill directly affects state agencies managing water quality programs funded by state money.
Maddy summaryHF 2432 regulates "natural reduction" services, which convert human remains to soil through contained, accelerated decomposition. The bill requires funeral directors (not others) to provide these services in licensed "natural reduction establishments" and mandates a 500-foot setback from drinking water sources. It establishes licensing rules for these facilities, requires cemeteries to follow specific interment rules for naturally reduced remains, and imposes civil penalties for violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, with rulemaking allowed prior to that date.
Maddy summaryHF 2424 requires counties and cities in Iowa to hold a public hearing before implementing any settlement agreement resolving legal disputes involving monetary damages, equitable relief, or rule violations. The county board or city council must publish a hearing notice 4-20 days in advance and approve the settlement at that hearing before any payments are made or the agreement is implemented. This bill directly affects local government bodies (county boards and city councils) when they resolve lawsuits or disputes. The key mechanism ensures public transparency and local elected official approval for settlement terms before funds are disbursed.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 from Iowa's general fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The funds will support the Iowa Nutrient Research Center in operating the Iowa Water Quality Information Systems. Specifically, the money will be used to deploy sensors that collect data on nutrient levels in the state's surface waters. This directly affects water quality management efforts across Iowa, providing data to track how agricultural and other nutrient sources impact rivers and lakes.
Maddy summaryHF 2423 would change Iowa law to allow courts to grant grandparent or great-grandparent visitation rights when a parent is deceased, without requiring proof that the surviving parent is unfit or that parental judgment is impaired. It maintains existing requirements that the grandparent had a substantial pre-existing relationship with the child and that visitation serves the child's best interests. The bill directly affects grandparents or great-grandparents seeking court-ordered visitation with a grandchild after a parent's death. This simplifies the legal standard for courts deciding such cases by removing a specific barrier under current law.
Maddy summaryHF 2433, the "Iowa Veterans’ Claims Protection Act," prohibits non-accredited individuals from charging fees to assist veterans, service members, or their dependents with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits claims. It bans misrepresenting VA accreditation, using personal information for unauthorized claims, or making false promises about claim outcomes. Violations carry $10,000 civil penalties per offense, collected into a veterans trust fund, and allow affected individuals to sue for damages. The bill also requires the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs to maintain a public list of accredited representatives and educate veterans about predatory practices.