Sen. Sarah Garriott

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to expand Medicaid and CHIP coverage for mental health services provided in schools. It ensures all children enrolled in Iowa's Medicaid or CHIP programs - regardless of whether they have a special education plan - can access covered services without needing a formal mental health diagnosis. Covered services include individual, group, and family therapy, prevention services, evaluation, and case management. The bill also mandates collaboration with schools and federal technical assistance to implement these changes, particularly in rural and under-resourced districts.

Maddy summarySF 481 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create interest-bearing accounts for foster children receiving federal Social Security benefits or court-ordered child support. It directly affects children in foster care who qualify under three categories: those committed to HHS, with custody transferred to HHS, or voluntarily placed in foster care. The bill mandates that all such benefits be deposited into these accounts, which HHS must manage as trustee until the child turns 18, when funds are released directly to them. The legislation also appropriates $1.2 million for fiscal year 2025-2026 specifically to cover foster care costs related to these benefits.

Maddy summarySF 439 allows Iowa cities to levy a tax of up to 27 cents per $1,000 in property value to fund public libraries, directly affecting city residents who vote on the tax. The tax requires voter approval through a petition and election process: a majority must approve it at a regular city election, and it can be removed the same way. This bill reestablishes a library funding mechanism eliminated by a prior law (HF 718), restoring the specific tax rate and voter approval requirements that existed before that change. The tax would be part of a city's general fund levy, supporting library operations and services.

Maddy summarySF 434 creates a state child care solutions fund within Iowa's treasury, controlled by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The fund uses $6 million in state appropriations (for FY 2025-2026) plus interest and private donations to provide a 2:1 state match for communities that secure private investment to increase child care worker wages. This directly affects child care providers and workers in designated geographic areas ("communities"), requiring communities to raise private funds to qualify for state matching dollars. HHS must track and report annually on how funds are used, including wages increased, workers retained or hired, and new child care slots created.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 454) updates how workers' compensation claims for permanent partial disability are calculated. It requires using the most recent annual update to the American Medical Association's impairment guides (currently the 2024 update to the sixth edition) instead of the commissioner's rule-based adoption of older versions. The change directly affects workers injured on the job who seek permanent partial disability benefits, ensuring their impairment percentage is determined solely by the latest medical guidelines. It also prohibits using lay testimony or agency expertise in specific disability evaluations under these guidelines. The policy applies to all claims filed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Iowa calculates workers' compensation benefits for injured workers. It requires including overtime and premium pay (like shift differentials) in the weekly earnings calculation - currently excluded under law - and adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to Social Security’s disability benefit increase. The change directly affects hourly, shift, and overtime workers, as their benefits will now reflect higher average earnings. The annual adjustment applies specifically to permanent total disability and death benefits, not all compensation. This policy update modifies existing calculation methods without altering benefit eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 456) gives Iowa workers injured on the job more control over choosing their treating physician under workers' compensation. It allows employees to predesignate a primary care doctor (who has treated them before and is within 60 miles of work) to handle their injury, and requires employers to inform workers of this right. If employers fail to provide this notice, workers can choose any doctor at the employer’s expense. Disputes over doctor choices must be resolved by the workers’ compensation commissioner within 10-14 days, with options for phone or in-person hearings.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding new constitutional provisions to Iowa that would allow citizens to directly propose and vote on constitutional amendments through initiatives. To qualify, a petition must collect signatures from 10% of voters who cast ballots for governor in the last election, including signatures from at least half of Iowa's counties (5% per county). The proposal requires the secretary of state to submit the amendment to voters at the next general election 125+ days after petition submission, alongside balanced 300-word arguments for and against it. It also restricts initiatives from changing tax classifications, creating monopolies, or specifying tax rates, requiring a "double question" ballot if such restrictions are violated.

Maddy summarySF 401 removes the legal defenses of "justification" and "diminished capacity" for individuals convicted of violent crimes (as defined in Iowa Code 915.10) or assaults (as defined in 915.10 and 708.1) committed due to a victim's sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Specifically, these defenses are unavailable when the crime results from a nonviolent sexual advance or the defendant's discovery, knowledge, or potential disclosure of the victim's identity. The bill does not alter the definitions of violent crime or assault but restricts certain legal defenses in these specific circumstances. It applies directly to defendants in such cases, limiting their ability to argue these defenses in court.

Maddy summarySF 417 requires both Medicaid and most private health insurance plans to cover annual low-dose CT lung cancer screenings for at-risk individuals aged 50 or older. It defines "at-risk" as people with a history of regular smoking or secondhand smoke exposure, a family member diagnosed with lung cancer, or occupational exposure to certain carcinogens like asbestos or radon. The bill mandates that insurers cannot impose copays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs for these screenings and requires Medicaid to provide coverage once a federal waiver is approved. This applies to most health insurance plans but excludes specialized coverages like accident-only or dental insurance.