Sen. Cherielynn Westrich

Maddy summarySF 224 requires all Iowa Utilities Commission members to be present during live testimony at public utility, pipeline, or electric transmission line hearings. If any member is absent during testimony, the hearing must pause until all members return. For informational meetings about pipeline permits or utility projects, at least one commission member must be present, and the meeting must pause if they become unavailable until a member returns. The bill applies to hearings and meetings related to pipeline permits, electric transmission lines, and utility regulations, ensuring consistent commission presence without requiring formal meeting records.

Maddy summarySF 225 prohibits the Iowa Utilities Commission from renewing permits for pipelines transporting liquefied carbon dioxide and sets a maximum 25-year operational limit for such pipelines. The bill directly affects pipeline companies seeking to operate CO2 pipelines in Iowa and the commission responsible for issuing permits. It amends existing law to explicitly ban permit renewals and ensure no CO2 pipeline operates beyond 25 years, reinforcing a current 25-year limit already in place for all pipeline permits. The legislation does not change the existing 25-year cap but specifically prevents renewal for CO2 pipelines.

Maddy summarySF 239 requires applicants for hazardous liquid pipeline permits in Iowa to provide evidence of sufficient insurance or surety before a permit is granted. This insurance must cover damages from pipeline discharges (negligent or intentional), property damage from construction or discharges, and increased insurance costs or inability to obtain insurance for nearby residents. Pipeline owners must either purchase insurance for affected residents or reimburse them for higher premiums caused by the pipeline. The bill directly affects pipeline companies seeking permits and property owners near proposed pipeline routes. It establishes concrete insurance requirements to address financial risks tied to pipeline construction and operation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 228) changes how the Iowa Utilities Commission can impose sanctions on intervenors - third parties like consumer groups or businesses participating in utility rate cases. It requires the commission to find two specific conditions before threatening or imposing sanctions: (1) the intervenor was knowingly dishonest or violated a criminal statute, and (2) the intervenor caused quantifiable injury exceeding $500 to the commission. The bill directly affects intervenors in contested utility cases by limiting sanctions to only the most severe misconduct with clear financial harm. It does not create new sanctions but sets strict procedural barriers for their use.

Maddy summarySF 229 reorganizes the Office of the Consumer Advocate within Iowa's Department of Justice. It requires the attorney general to appoint the advocate from a list provided by a committee (secretary of agriculture, auditor, treasurer), with Senate confirmation every four years, and mandates regular reporting to that committee. The bill establishes the office as a separate division, specifies its funding through charges to utility proceedings (as detailed in Sections 476.10 and 476.10B), and ensures fiscal self-sufficiency by requiring the advocate's expenses to be covered by these assessments. This directly affects the advocate's appointment process, operational structure, and funding mechanism within utility regulation.

Maddy summarySF 115 requires Iowa school districts to obtain written parental consent before enrolling students in human growth and development courses or facilitating attendance at related educational conferences. It mandates that school boards annually provide parents with specific information about such courses, materials, and conferences. The bill prohibits schools from requiring student participation in these programs without a parent's written request for excusal. School districts must cover the costs of compliance using existing state school foundation aid, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summarySF 156 requires state entities (like government buildings, parks, and public facilities) to designate private spaces - such as restrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas - for use by individuals of the same biological sex, as defined by chromosomes, sex organs, or birth certificate. It prohibits use of spaces designated for the opposite biological sex, with exceptions for emergencies, ADA accommodations, children under 10, and single-occupancy rooms. Violations by individuals are misdemeanors (aggravated if for sexual gratification), while state entities face civil penalties up to $25,000 for repeated violations. The bill establishes a complaint process through the Attorney General and mandates enforcement actions for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits exposing minors to "obscene performances," defined as visual acts showing sexual content (like exposed body parts or extreme sexual acts) that minors shouldn't view, lacking artistic value and appealing to prurient interest under community standards. It criminalizes knowingly exposing minors to such performances (aggravated misdemeanor) or admitting minors to venues showing them (serious misdemeanor for those under 18, aggravated misdemeanor for children under 14). Parents, guardians, or affected minors (after turning 18) can now sue for at least $10,000 in damages, plus other remedies like injunctions, with a 2-year filing window for parents or up to 10 years after turning 18 for former minors. The bill also bans public institutions and funds from supporting such performances.

Maddy summarySF 118 amends Iowa law to clarify and limit emergency powers during declared disasters, affecting governors, the legislature, and healthcare providers. It requires written disaster proclamations detailing the emergency, limits initial declarations to 30 days (with 60-day extensions possible), and mandates legislative approval for extensions beyond the initial period. The bill explicitly prohibits emergency measures that infringe on constitutional rights without strict justification, ban digital surveillance without consent, prevent restrictions on healthcare professionals' licensed scope, and block mandatory disease monitoring that violates freedom of association. These provisions aim to balance emergency response with protections for individual rights during public health crises.

Maddy summarySF 143 strengthens Iowa's consumer data protection laws by granting individuals new rights regarding automated data processing. It defines "profiling" as automated analysis of personal data to predict factors like health or behavior, requiring businesses to notify consumers and allow opt-outs for decisions affecting housing, employment, health care, or financial services. The bill expands "health data" protections and clarifies exemptions for entities already regulated under federal laws like HIPAA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. It applies retroactively to January 1, 2025, affecting businesses handling consumer data in Iowa.