Rep. Ken Croken

Maddy summaryHF 2397 requires Iowa's governor, working with the attorney general, to secure the return of U.S. citizens residing in Iowa who were wrongfully deported and the release of those wrongfully detained by U.S. immigration enforcement. It also authorizes affected Iowa residents to file civil lawsuits against U.S. immigration agencies for damages related to human rights violations stemming from their actions. The bill directly impacts Iowa residents who are U.S. citizens but were improperly handled by federal immigration authorities. These provisions create new state-level mechanisms for addressing wrongful federal immigration actions within Iowa.

Maddy summaryHF 263 requires all physically able students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Iowa public and accredited nonpublic schools to engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily, separate from required physical education classes. Schools must ensure this activity occurs unless a student is suspended, expelled, absent (including due to illness), or circumstances like inclement weather or early dismissal prevent it. The bill explicitly prohibits using physical education class to fulfill this 30-minute daily activity requirement. It applies directly to K-5 students and school staff responsible for implementing the activity schedule.

Maddy summaryHF 2364 requires Iowa legislators' salaries to be suspended if the state fails to enact specific budget funding levels (state percent of growth and categorical state percent of growth) within 30 days of the governor's budget transmission. This applies directly to Iowa legislators during the regular legislative session. If the required budget provisions aren't passed by the deadline, salaries are suspended starting on day 31 and remain suspended until the funding levels are enacted. Any withheld salary is forfeited and not paid retroactively upon later enactment of the budget provisions.

Maddy summaryHF 2373 proposes a state-run retirement savings program for Iowa workers. It requires employers with five or more employees to automatically enroll eligible workers (aged 18+ working 120+ days annually) in a trust managed by the Iowa Treasurer, with a default contribution rate set by the Treasurer. Participants can opt out, adjust contribution levels, or choose from low-risk investment options, including a target date fund as the default. Employers must provide annual enrollment periods and educational materials about the program. The bill is currently in committee and aims to expand retirement savings access for Iowa workers through employer-based enrollment.

Maddy summaryHF 2318 amends Iowa's unemployment benefits law to allow workers participating in strikes or labor disputes to receive benefits starting on the 15th day of the work stoppage. It removes the current disqualification for strikers and exempts them from the standard requirement to actively seek other employment during the strike. This applies to workers at the workplace where they were last employed, such as a factory or establishment. The bill does not change other eligibility criteria, like being able to work and available for work, but specifically waives disqualification and work search rules for strike participants after 14 days.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 105) urges Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act, which would remove a rule affecting medically retired veterans. Specifically, it targets veterans with less than 20 years of service and a disability rating under 50%, who currently lose $1 in retirement pay for every $1 in disability benefits they receive. The resolution does not change law itself but calls for Congress to back legislation that would allow these veterans - estimated at 50,000 - to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits simultaneously. The bill text notes this rule costs veterans an average of $1,900 monthly in reduced benefits.

Maddy summaryHF 2264 sets a minimum hourly wage of $15.20 for home health aides working under Iowa's Medicaid program, effective July 1, 2026. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adjust Medicaid reimbursement rates for home health agencies to ensure this minimum wage is met. It also appropriates state general funds to cover the cost of these higher reimbursements for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This directly affects home health aides providing Medicaid-covered services and home and community-based waiver services in Iowa.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Iowa's education savings account program eligibility. For the 2025 school year (starting July 1, 2025), it maintains current rules allowing nonpublic school students (K-12) to receive payments. Starting July 1, 2026, it adds an income requirement: households must earn 400% or less of the U.S. federal poverty income guidelines to qualify. The change directly affects families with children attending nonpublic schools who seek these state-funded education savings accounts. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2267 adjusts Iowa's unemployment benefit limits. It increases the maximum total benefits for most claimants from 16 to 26 times their weekly benefit amount during a benefit year. For workers laid off due to their employer closing permanently, it raises the cap from 26 to 39 times the weekly amount. Benefits are calculated based on previous earnings, with special rules applying to business closures. This bill directly affects Iowa workers filing for unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryHF 2260 requires video streaming services in Iowa to ensure commercial advertisements do not have a higher average audio volume than the video programming they accompany, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects video streaming services (excluding traditional broadcasters, cable operators, or ad-free providers) serving Iowa residents. The Iowa Utilities Commission enforces the rule, with penalties up to $500 per day per violation, while aligning with federal regulations. The bill explicitly excludes consumer-generated media from its definition of "video programming" and states it does not create a private right of action for consumers.