Sen. Janet Petersen

Maddy summarySF 85 creates a state health equity program and fund to reimburse providers for menstrual and post-menstrual health services not covered by insurance. It directly affects uninsured patients and qualifying healthcare providers who treat conditions like endometriosis, menopause, fibroids, and incontinence. The program requires reimbursement within 10 days of billing (if the patient is uninsured or the service isn’t covered), caps administrative costs at 4% of funds, and uses state revenue previously spent on genitourinary agents for public employees. The fund is replenished annually and operates as the "payor of last resort" for eligible covered services meeting medical standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Iowa public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to publish mental health resources from "your life Iowa" (a state program) on their websites or link to them online. Schools must also collaborate with enrolled students to develop new ways to improve awareness of these mental health resources. The law directly affects students and schools by mandating accessible online resource sharing and student involvement in awareness efforts. It does not change funding or create new services, but standardizes how schools provide mental health information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa school boards to establish a process for appointing student liaisons who serve as nonvoting representatives at board meetings. School districts must create an application and selection process, and if applicants meet the criteria, the board must appoint at least one student to this role. The student liaison attends regular board and committee meetings (but not discipline-related sessions), accesses nonconfidential materials, and advocates for student perspectives on education policies. The Department of Education must provide school districts with a model application and selection process to guide implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to provide free breakfast and lunch programs to all students whose families earn at or below 300% of the federal poverty level starting July 2025, increasing to 400% for 2026-2027, and becoming universal (no income limit) beginning July 2027. It appropriates state funds to cover costs not covered by federal programs, ensuring meals meet nutrition standards. The bill directly affects all eligible schools and their students, expanding access to free meals while mandating compliance with federal and state nutrition rules. The state board of education must adopt rules to administer these provisions, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in Iowa to cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility preservation services starting July 1, 2025. It mandates coverage for up to three egg retrieval cycles with unlimited embryo transfers (using single embryo transfer when medically appropriate), and ensures fertility medications are covered at the same level as other prescription drugs. Plans must apply the same deductibles, copays, and benefit limits for infertility care as for other medical services. Religious employers may opt out of this requirement with written notice to employees. The law applies to standard health insurance plans but excludes dental, vision, short-term, and certain other specialized coverage types.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would protect reproductive care - including abortion, contraception, prenatal care, and miscarriage management - as a fundamental right in Iowa, prohibiting state interference with these decisions. It allows state regulation only when necessary for a compelling interest using the least restrictive means, and permits abortion restrictions after fetal viability only if medically necessary to protect a patient’s life or health. The amendment must be approved by voters following legislative passage, as it is currently in committee review.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 66) allows courts to permit minors (under 18) and witnesses with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities to testify remotely via two-way video equipment instead of in the same courtroom as the defendant. It requires a court to make a specific finding that this is necessary to prevent trauma that would impair the witness's ability to communicate. The testimony is recorded in a separate room and displayed in the courtroom through a video connection, with only essential personnel and those aiding the witness's well-being allowed in the testimony room. The defendant can view the witness during testimony, and the witness can see the defendant, but the defendant is not physically present in the testimony room. This change aims to reduce emotional distress for vulnerable witnesses while maintaining courtroom procedures.

Maddy summarySF 65 requires all law enforcement officers in Iowa to undergo a background investigation to prove "good moral character" before initial certification or recertification. It prohibits certification for individuals with felony convictions or certain crimes involving "moral turpitude," defined as serious misconduct contrary to justice or good morals. This includes offenses like domestic violence misdemeanors, sex crimes, child abuse, or crimes resulting in sex offender registry placement. The bill applies to all officers seeking new certification or renewal, ensuring background checks cover specific high-risk offenses outlined in the law.

Maddy summarySF 109 establishes Iowa's first state-run paid family and medical leave insurance program. It provides eligible employees at covered employers (private companies with 10+ workers, or all public employers) with up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave annually for reasons like childbirth, caring for a seriously ill family member, or their own serious health condition. Employees qualify after working 1,250 hours over 12 consecutive months. The program covers up to 16 combined weeks of family and medical leave per year, with benefits calculated based on the employee's "spendable weekly earnings."

Maddy summarySF 101 increases Iowa's state minimum hourly wage to $15.00 for most workers starting July 1, 2025, and sets a separate $14.10 minimum for new employees during their first 90 days of employment. The bill automatically raises both wage rates annually on July 1 beginning in 2026, using the same percentage as federal Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. It ensures the minimum wage never decreases and applies to all employers covered by Iowa's wage laws.