Sen. Sandy Salmon

Maddy summarySF 2118 allows high school students (grades 9-12) in Iowa to participate in non-school-sponsored athletic events - including those involving college students - as "unattached competitors," meaning they cannot represent their school or wear school uniforms. The bill prohibits schools from providing any coaching, transportation, or financial support for students competing in these events. It directly affects students seeking to join outside athletic opportunities and schools that must cease supporting such participation. The law defines clear rules for student eligibility and school conduct in non-school athletic contexts.

Maddy summarySF 2166 requires anyone publishing electioneering communications (ads about candidates or ballot issues within 90 days of an election) that contain AI-altered content to include a clear disclosure stating "THIS CONTENT HAS BEEN MANIPULATED OR GENERATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DOES NOT DEPICT REAL EVENTS." The bill specifies disclosure requirements based on format - like on-screen text for videos, spoken words for audio, or "AI generated" labels for social media posts - to ensure visibility. It excludes bona fide news reporting (if authenticity is questioned), satire, and platforms that provide AI content labeling tools. Violations carry civil penalties up to $5,000 per offense or a serious misdemeanor if intended to defraud, with enforcement handled by Iowa's ethics board.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 2159) requires commercial online platforms (like social media) to implement age verification for users under 18 when hosting content deemed "harmful to minors" or prohibited material. It defines prohibited material as child sexual abuse material, obscene content, and content harmful to minors that lacks age verification. Platforms must use approved methods (e.g., digital ID checks or third-party verification) to block minors from accessing such content, with strict rules against retaining user data after verification. Violators face civil lawsuits by minors or their guardians for actual damages, attorney fees, and minimum $5,000 penalties per violation.

Maddy summarySF 2124 expands Iowa's disabled veteran homestead tax credit to include more veterans with lower disability ratings, phased in over time. It allows eligible veterans (with permanent service-connected disability ratings of 70%+ starting July 2027, 40%+ starting July 2028, and 10%+ starting July 2029) to claim a credit equal to the greater of the standard homestead credit or a percentage of their property tax matching their disability rating. The credit applies to property taxes due for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2027, and retroactively covers claims filed since January 1, 2026. This bill directly affects disabled veterans and National Guard members meeting specific service and disability criteria who previously did not qualify under the existing 100% disability threshold.

Maddy summarySF 2066 requires Iowa school districts to obtain written parental consent before enrolling students in human growth and development courses or arranging attendance at related educational conferences or seminars. It mandates that school boards annually provide parents with specific information about such courses and conferences, including how to request their child's exemption. The bill prohibits school districts from requiring student participation without this written consent, which must be submitted to the principal. This policy directly affects parents/guardians, school districts, and students in Iowa public schools, with implementation funded through existing state school foundation aid.

Maddy summarySF 2061 creates a dedicated fund within Iowa's state treasury to provide competitive grants for school safety and security infrastructure projects at accredited nonpublic schools. Starting fiscal year 2027, $1 million annually will be transferred from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund into this new program. The Department of Education will administer the grant program, using funds exclusively for defined safety infrastructure improvements at eligible nonpublic schools, with unawarded funds rolling over to future years. The bill establishes clear rules for grant eligibility, application processes, and project types without specifying outcomes or policy preferences.

Maddy summarySF 2097 requires all Iowa state law enforcement agencies and officers to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration agencies when requested. It specifically mandates that if law enforcement has custody of a person named in an immigration detainer request from ICE, they must fully comply with that request and any related legal documents. The bill directly affects Iowa police departments, sheriff's offices, and state troopers by changing how they handle federal immigration detainer requests. This policy change shifts responsibility to state agencies to comply with federal immigration holds rather than allowing them to independently decide whether to honor such requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time period for minors to file civil lawsuits related to sexual abuse or exploitation that occurred during their childhood. It allows victims to file claims within 10 years of discovering the injury and its connection to the abuse, or until they turn 18 - whichever is later. The bill also revives previously time-barred cases (filed before the law's effective date) for a three-year window, and grants these cases priority in court scheduling. These provisions specifically apply to civil actions against counselors, therapists, school employees, or others providing training/education.

Maddy summarySF 2093 modifies Iowa's emergency powers during disaster and public health crises. It requires governors to issue written declarations detailing affected areas and justifications, limiting initial emergencies to 30 days (extendable by 60 days by the governor), with legislative oversight allowing 60-day extensions via concurrent resolution. The bill explicitly prohibits emergency measures that infringe constitutional rights, restrict religious interactions in healthcare, use surveillance tech without consent, deploy drones/AI for enforcement, or limit licensed health professionals' practice. These provisions directly affect governors, the legislature, and public health authorities during declared emergencies.

Maddy summarySF 2072 prohibits state entities and school districts in Iowa from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or curricula covering specific "defined concepts." It requires termination of employees who violate these prohibitions, revocation of professional licenses for licensed individuals, and imposes civil fines of $50,000 or $100,000 on affected schools or state entities based on their budget size. The bill allows students, alumni, or employees to sue school districts for violations, with prevailing parties triggering these penalties. It directly affects school staff, state employees, and licensed professionals (like teachers or attorneys) who work in programs deemed non-compliant.