Sen. Jesse Green

Maddy summarySF 229 reorganizes the Office of the Consumer Advocate within Iowa's Department of Justice. It requires the attorney general to appoint the advocate from a list provided by a committee (secretary of agriculture, auditor, treasurer), with Senate confirmation every four years, and mandates regular reporting to that committee. The bill establishes the office as a separate division, specifies its funding through charges to utility proceedings (as detailed in Sections 476.10 and 476.10B), and ensures fiscal self-sufficiency by requiring the advocate's expenses to be covered by these assessments. This directly affects the advocate's appointment process, operational structure, and funding mechanism within utility regulation.

Maddy summarySF 244 requires Iowa's regents institutions (public universities) to establish standardized general education requirements for undergraduate students. It mandates specific credit hours: six each for English composition, world language, math/stats, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, plus three each for western heritage (e.g., Western civilization) and American heritage (e.g., American history or Iowa history), totaling no more than 40 credits. The bill prohibits courses from distorting historical events or teaching theories about systemic racism, sexism, or oppression as inherent in U.S. or Iowa institutions, while preserving academic freedom. Exceptions apply for three-year degree programs or complex majors, and anyone can report violations to the attorney general for enforcement. The requirements apply to students enrolling at regents institutions starting in academic years beginning July 1, 2027.

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 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 bill revises Iowa's license fee structure for food processing plants based on their annual gross sales. It establishes three fee tiers: $150 for plants with under $200,000 in annual sales, $300 for $200,000-$2 million in sales, and $500 for sales over $2 million. A separate flat $75 fee applies to farms or residences processing meat/poultry on-site for direct consumer or business sales. The bill affects all commercial food processing facilities regulated under Iowa Code chapter 137F, replacing the previous fee schedule that had a $75 fee for sales under $50,000. The change takes effect upon enactment and applies to annual license renewals.

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.

Maddy summarySF 136 establishes new safety rules and requirements for hazardous liquid pipeline projects in Iowa. It allows counties to set stricter setback and safety standards than state or federal law, requires pipeline companies to disclose safety studies when applying for permits, and mandates they negotiate voluntary easements with landowners before seeking eminent domain rights (especially for liquefied CO2 pipelines). The bill also updates compensation rules for landowners, ensuring payment for crop damage and soil erosion caused by pipeline construction. Additionally, it requires pipeline companies to obtain all necessary local and state permits before construction and sets specific safety conditions for liquefied CO2 pipelines, including minimum burial depth.

Maddy summarySF 92 amends Iowa law to require landowner consent before utilities can use eminent domain to condemn agricultural land for constructing hazardous liquid pipelines carrying liquefied carbon dioxide. The bill explicitly excludes such pipelines from being classified as a "public use" or "public purpose" for condemnation purposes, reversing a current exception that allowed utilities to bypass consent for similar projects. This directly affects Iowa agricultural landowners, who must now approve pipeline construction on their property. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to condemnation cases filed after that date.

Maddy summarySF 95 amends Iowa's eminent domain laws to raise the evidence standard for pipeline projects. It requires agencies seeking to condemn agricultural land for hazardous liquid pipelines (under Chapter 479B) to prove "public use" by "clear and convincing evidence" instead of the lower "preponderance of evidence" standard. This directly affects pipeline companies and landowners in agricultural areas, making it harder to acquire farmland for such projects without owner consent. The bill also clarifies that agricultural land cannot be condemned for "private development" without the owner's agreement. It takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to condemnation cases filed after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an "establishment training program" allowing licensed barbering and cosmetology businesses (including home-based operations) to register with the state board and employ unlicensed staff for specific services like shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling hair. Unlicensed staff must complete two hours of state-mandated education on laws, sanitation, and safety before working under the direct, on-site supervision of a licensed employee. Businesses must disclose in writing to customers that unlicensed staff are providing services, comply with all facility safety and equipment standards, and undergo state inspections. The program aims to expand workforce opportunities while maintaining oversight through mandatory education, written consumer notices, and board enforcement powers.