Sen. Jeff Taylor

Maddy summarySF 72 establishes a program to reimburse Iowa teachers up to 75% of tuition costs for obtaining a specialized dyslexia certification (an "advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement"). Teachers must work in Iowa schools or area education agencies while pursuing this certification and submit annual applications with proof of employment. The program provides two payments: 50% after the first year of teaching and the remaining 50% after the second year, with a maximum of two years of reimbursement per teacher. It is funded by a $335,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2025-2026, with unused funds carrying over to future years.

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 establishes a scholarship program to help Iowa residents with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities (age 18+) cover tuition and fees for approved postsecondary education programs. The program, administered by the College Student Aid Commission with input from vocational rehabilitation services, provides up to $5,000 per student, prioritizing Iowa residents. It creates a dedicated scholarship fund in the state treasury, with unspent funds rolling over annually instead of reverting to the general fund. The bill requires the Commission to set application criteria and adopt rules for the program’s 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 56 clarifies Iowa's "Right to Try" law to allow patients with terminal or severely debilitating illnesses to access experimental treatments not yet approved by the FDA. It directly affects patients who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatment options and meet specific criteria, including physician recommendations and written informed consent. Key provisions define "eligible patient," require documentation of exhausted treatments, mandate detailed consent disclosures about risks (including potential hastened death), and clarify that health insurers aren't obligated to cover these treatments. The bill does not change FDA approval processes but creates a framework for patient access under strict conditions.

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 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 summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 69) sets rules for releasing booking photographs - images taken by police after an arrest for identification. Generally, these photos are confidential, but they may be shared if a court approves one of three specific reasons: (1) to help catch a fugitive, (2) to address an immediate public safety threat, or (3) if the person was convicted of a serious felony (Class A/B) not involving drugs. The bill clarifies that "conviction" excludes deferred judgments unless revoked, and it does not affect police sharing photos internally between agencies. The law aims to balance public safety needs with privacy protections for individuals.

Maddy summarySF 112 would establish a new Iowa transactional currency backed by physical gold and silver stored in a state-approved depository. Individuals or other states could purchase the currency by paying for the equivalent amount of gold or silver (with fees), with each unit representing a specific fractional troy ounce of metal. Holders could redeem the currency for U.S. dollars (by selling the metal) or for physical gold/silver (by receiving the metal from the depository), and the treasurer of state would set security and fraud prevention rules. The bill directly affects currency buyers, the treasurer’s office, and approved depositories, but does not change existing state or federal currency laws.