Sen. Jesse Green

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2172) allows couples applying for a marriage license in Iowa to voluntarily waive the option of "no-fault divorce" based solely on a breakdown of the marriage relationship. If they sign this waiver at the time of license application, they must later prove specific fault-based grounds - such as adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, abuse, or two years of separate living - to obtain a divorce. The waiver is presumed valid unless proven invalid through fraud, duress, or coercion. It affects couples who choose this path, replacing the standard no-fault dissolution process with these specified fault grounds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa's public universities (regents institutions) to freeze tuition for in-state undergraduate students after their first year of enrollment, starting with students beginning in 2027 or later. It applies only to the first three consecutive academic years following a student's initial enrollment, including students with transfer credits who can complete degrees faster. The freeze does not apply to any years beyond those three, and it specifically covers tuition charged in the student's initial year of enrollment. This policy directly affects Iowa resident undergraduate students at public universities, aiming to stabilize costs during their early academic years.

Maddy summarySF 2013 would classify kratom (any part of the Mitragyna speciosa plant, including its compounds) as a Schedule I controlled substance in Iowa. This would directly affect anyone possessing kratom, with penalties escalating based on prior offenses: first offenses face a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail, up to $2,560 fine), subsequent offenses become aggravated misdemeanors (up to 2 years, up to $8,540), and third+ offenses would be class D felonies (up to 5 years, up to $10,245). The bill establishes these specific penalty tiers through amendments to Iowa's controlled substances code. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Judiciary Committee for review.

Maddy summarySF 2134 updates Iowa's gambling laws to clarify social gambling rules and establish a new licensing system for poker card rooms. It expands social gambling to include card and parlor games like poker, bridge, and checkers (previously limited to games of skill), while creating a separate category for licensed poker venues. These venues must operate exclusively with poker variants (e.g., Texas hold 'em), charge a "rake" fee (capped by the gaming commission), and follow strict regulations on licensing, facility standards, and anti-money laundering measures. The bill directly affects social gamblers playing permitted games and operators seeking licenses for poker-only rooms, with licensing fees deposited into the state general fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require couples applying for a marriage license in Iowa to complete one hour of premarriage legal counseling provided by an attorney before receiving their license. The counseling must cover basic legal topics including marriage rights, divorce procedures, and child custody issues, as defined by the judicial branch in consultation with a legal organization. Marriage licenses cannot be issued without documentation proving completion of this required session. The bill directly affects all individuals applying for a marriage license in Iowa.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 2082) changes implied consent rules for drivers involved in fatal car accidents. It deems drivers who cause accidents resulting in death to have automatically consented to blood, breath, or urine tests for alcohol or drugs, removing the prior requirement that officers must have reasonable suspicion of intoxication at the time of the crash. The bill updates license revocation penalties for refusing testing or testing positive under these circumstances, maintaining existing timelines (e.g., 60 days for first offense with a .02-.08 BAC). It applies directly to drivers in fatal collisions, not to other accident types or testing scenarios.

Maddy summarySF 2003 prohibits Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from offering any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction related to gender theory or sexual orientation to students in grades seven through twelve. The bill amends existing education laws to extend a current prohibition (previously limited to grades K-6) to cover all middle and high school students. Key mechanisms require schools to comply with this restriction when developing or implementing human growth and development instruction, including health education standards. The policy change directly affects school curricula and instructional materials in the specified grades.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Iowa's transportation rules for students participating in open enrollment. It removes a distance restriction for smaller school districts (under 2,000 total students), allowing them to transport students from their residence to school regardless of proximity to the assigned school in the sending district, as long as the student's home is closer to the receiving district's school. For larger districts (2,000+ students), the bill maintains existing requirements (like contiguous district boundaries and prior vehicle use) but removes the distance limitation for transportation. The changes directly affect open enrollment students and the school districts that transport them. The bill does not alter the existing agreement requirement between sending and receiving districts for transportation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa National Guard members killed in action during a December 2025 attack in Syria. It recognizes their military service, posthumous promotions, and sacrifices, while also acknowledging three wounded Iowa Guard soldiers from the same incident. The resolution directs that a copy be sent to the families of the two fallen soldiers as a formal tribute. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy or legal effect but serves to memorialize their service.

Maddy summarySF 8 prohibits Iowa school districts and charter schools from disciplining employees, contractors, or students for using legal names, names listed in school registration records, or for not using personal pronouns in official communications (like emails or forms). It specifically bans actions like termination, suspension, or fines for these reasons and defines "disciplinary action" broadly to include all such penalties. Employees wrongfully terminated under this law can seek reinstatement, back pay, and up to three times their annual wages through civil court. The bill applies directly to all public and charter schools in Iowa, affecting staff, contractors, and students in daily school interactions.