Sen. Janet Petersen

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 437) restricts former state officials and employees from certain private-sector activities for two years after leaving public service. It prohibits them from becoming lobbyists, authorizing others to lobby, or using inside knowledge for private employment involving cases they handled while in office. The bill also bans them from benefiting from state contracts they influenced during their tenure and requires state agencies to avoid contracts over $1,000 with businesses represented by recently departed officials (like legislators or agency heads). Violations are punishable as serious misdemeanors, with fines up to $2,560 and potential job sanctions.

Maddy summarySF 435 requires agricultural landowners near waterways to establish and maintain vegetated riparian buffers (riparian protection measures) along streams and rivers to improve surface water quality. It directly affects agricultural landowners adjacent to public water sources by mandating these buffers, though implementation is tied to available cost-share funding. Key mechanisms include prioritizing financing for these buffers through soil and water conservation districts, requiring districts to focus on riparian protection in their planning, and establishing enforcement through administrative orders for non-compliance. The bill defines "riparian protection measures" as buffers or approved alternatives, with penalties for failing to meet requirements after funding is made available.

Maddy summarySF 441 allows candidates for state office in Iowa to use campaign funds for dependent care expenses (like childcare or elder care) under strict conditions: the care must be directly tied to campaign activities or official duties if elected, the candidate wouldn't need it without running, payments must be reasonable, and the provider can't be a spouse or dependent child. Candidates must maintain detailed logs of each expense, including dates, purpose, cost, and provider, and preserve these records for five years. Violations may result in civil penalties up to $2,000 or, for willful violations, a serious misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $2,560. The bill directly affects candidates and their campaign committees who seek to cover dependent care costs using election funds.

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 420 prohibits Iowa public and nonpublic schools from using names, symbols, or images depicting Native American tribes, individuals, customs, or traditions as mascots, nicknames, logos, or team names after January 1, 2027. The law directly affects all Iowa schools except those controlled by Native American tribes and overseen by the Bureau of Indian Education. It requires schools to change existing branding that falls under these prohibited categories by the 2027 deadline.

Maddy summarySF 414 requires Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to review and approve acquisitions of housing or health care facilities by private equity firms. Private equity firms must notify DIAL 60 days before an acquisition and provide detailed information, including financial records and plans affecting facility operations. DIAL cannot approve an acquisition if it would reduce access to quality, affordable housing or health care services, and must post all pending acquisitions online for public comment. This bill directly affects private equity firms purchasing housing or health care facilities in Iowa, creating a new review process to protect public access to these essential services.

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.

Maddy summarySF 419 prohibits the construction or expansion of confinement feeding operation structures (including partially roofed facilities, manure storage, and egg washwater structures) in Iowa. It directly affects large livestock operations planning new or expanded facilities, while exempting small animal feeding operations and projects already underway before the bill's effective date. The bill amends Iowa's Animal Agriculture Compliance Act to update the definition of "confinement feeding operation" and establishes this moratorium as an immediate law upon enactment. It does not impact existing operations or those with pre-existing construction permits.