Sen. Sarah Garriott

Maddy summarySF 2326 modifies Iowa's first-time homebuyer savings account program to allow employers to contribute to accounts for employees. It makes employer contributions deductible for employees when used for eligible home purchases, while employers cannot claim tax deductions for their contributions. The bill also imposes a 10% penalty on non-qualified withdrawals from these accounts, with exceptions for death, job changes, or legal orders. These changes apply retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects employees receiving employer-sponsored contributions and employers establishing these accounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates nonmedical pregnancy resource centers in Iowa, which provide pregnancy counseling without medical services or abortion referrals. It requires these centers to visibly disclose they are not licensed medical providers, include nearby hospital information in all materials, ensure ultrasounds are performed by licensed providers, and comply with HIPAA confidentiality rules. The bill terminates the existing "More Options for Maternal Support" (MOMS) program by August 2026, redirecting unspent funds to increase reimbursement rates for labor and delivery services under Iowa's medical assistance program. A $1 million appropriation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year supports this reimbursement increase.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2322) requires most health insurance plans in Iowa to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription insulin at $35 per prescription for up to a 31-day supply. It directly affects diabetes patients covered by health insurance plans that include prescription drug coverage, limiting their cost-sharing for four types of insulin: rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting. The cap applies to any covered insulin prescribed as medically necessary by a healthcare provider, though insurers may choose to set lower cost-sharing amounts. The rule takes effect for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and excludes certain specialized insurance types like Medicare supplements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Iowa Right to Repair Act," requires manufacturers of cell phones, home appliances, and motor vehicles to provide independent repair shops and consumers with diagnostic and repair information, software updates, and necessary tools after the product is six years old. Manufacturers must make this information available at no charge or on the same terms as provided to their own authorized repair shops. Additionally, manufacturers must sell diagnostic tools to independent repair providers at "fair and reasonable terms," considering costs and affordability. This law aims to expand repair options by reducing barriers for independent shops and consumers.

Maddy summarySF 2324 creates a new customer class for large energy use facilities in Iowa, defined as facilities using 20+ megawatts primarily engaged in specific commercial services (NAICS 518210). It requires the utilities commission to establish separate rates and charges for these facilities, directly assigning their service costs and preventing unfair cost-shifting to other customers. The bill mandates that any approved rates must ensure equitable contributions to grid reliability and avoid increasing costs for non-large facility customers. This applies only to facilities built or expanded on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySF 2244 amends Iowa's education savings account program to establish clearer rules for qualified nonpublic schools and increase transparency. It requires these schools to meet accreditation standards, adhere to teacher licensing rules, and report student admissions/denials confidentially. The bill also mandates third-party administrators to submit detailed annual reports on fund spending (including educational materials and services) and undergo annual audits. School districts must notify families of approved students and report enrollment data, while contracts with vendors must include competitive bidding and limit fees to 3% of funds. These changes directly affect families using savings accounts, participating nonpublic schools, and third-party program administrators.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Iowa's education savings account program, which provided state-funded vouchers to families for nonpublic school expenses like tuition, tutoring, and learning materials. It removes the program from state law (repealing Section 257.11B) and adjusts related funding calculations in school finance codes to exclude students who previously used these accounts. The program directly affected families enrolling children in nonpublic schools who received these state-funded payments. The bill makes no new funding changes but eliminates the program's structure and its impact on school district cost formulas.

Maddy summarySF 2328 requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools (under chapters 256E and 256F), and innovation zone schools to provide free lunches to every student in attendance, regardless of family income, starting July 1, 2026. The bill appropriates state funds from the general fund to the Department of Education to cover costs not covered by federal school lunch program funds. It mandates that schools comply with existing free lunch program requirements under section 283A.6 and directs the state board of education to create administrative rules. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summarySF 2329 modifies Iowa's area education agencies (AEAs), which provide educational services to schools across the state. The bill requires AEAs to adjust their boundaries to avoid splitting school districts and to align with school district mergers, while mandating that they offer educational services to accredited public and nonpublic schools at least comparable to those available in 1974. It also establishes new budget rules requiring AEAs to submit annual budgets for approval by the Department of Education and the State Board of Education, and caps AEA administrator salaries at 125% of the average superintendent salary in their region. Additionally, the bill creates a special education division within AEAs led by a director appointed by the Department of Education to oversee special education services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $250 annual stipend for eligible public school teachers in Iowa, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. Eligible teachers are those providing primarily in-person instruction and employed by a school district before the school year begins. The stipend must be paid automatically by school districts by September 15 each year and can only be used for classroom supplies directly supporting student learning (e.g., books, technology, materials), not personal items. Funding comes from the state general fund, and the stipend is exempt from Iowa income tax.