Sen. Sandy Salmon

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how voters who register on election day or cast an in-person absentee ballot cast their votes. It requires these voters to cast a provisional ballot instead of a regular ballot, regardless of whether the polling place has electronic verification. The absentee and special voters precinct board must then verify the voter's eligibility (including felony conviction status and voting rights restoration) using a state database before counting the ballot. This replaces current law, which allowed some voters to receive a regular ballot if electronic verification confirmed their eligibility.

Maddy summarySF 82 requires school districts in Iowa to hold a voter election for bonds issued in anticipation of revenue if the amount is $5 million or more, changing current law where elections were only required upon receiving a petition. It mandates that such bonds must receive approval from at least 60% of voters casting ballots on the issue, rather than a simple majority. The bill also specifies notice requirements for public hearings (10-20 days prior) and applies to bonds tied to the SAVE fund. This directly affects school districts planning large bond issuances, ensuring voter approval is mandatory for these significant financial decisions.

Maddy summarySF 160 modifies Iowa's election equipment rules by requiring counties to use optical scan voting systems for all elections starting July 1, 2025. It allows small cities (under 3,500 population) and school districts to count ballots manually if election officials determine turnout will be low, but voters can petition to override this choice with 100 signatures. The bill ensures voting systems meet federal accessibility standards for disabled voters through compatible electronic ballot marking devices. It directly affects local election officials in small jurisdictions and county election administrators.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 164) changes Iowa law to automatically include voter registration when someone applies for or renews a state driver's license, nonoperator ID card, or certain public services at the Iowa Department of Transportation. It directly affects Iowans applying for these services by making voter registration a default option unless they decline it. The key provision requires applicants to submit documentation proving they are not U.S. citizens to avoid being registered to vote. The bill ensures non-citizens cannot be registered via these applications if they provide such proof.

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 summarySF 143 strengthens Iowa's consumer data protection laws by granting individuals new rights regarding automated data processing. It defines "profiling" as automated analysis of personal data to predict factors like health or behavior, requiring businesses to notify consumers and allow opt-outs for decisions affecting housing, employment, health care, or financial services. The bill expands "health data" protections and clarifies exemptions for entities already regulated under federal laws like HIPAA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. It applies retroactively to January 1, 2025, affecting businesses handling consumer data in Iowa.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Iowa veterans' organizations (specifically those exempt under IRS 501(c)(19), like military service groups) to create special decals for motor vehicle registration plates representing combat-related military awards. Eligible veterans who received specific U.S. combat medals can apply for free special plates featuring these decals, with a $5 annual fee for surviving spouses. The bill sets up a process where the state Department of Transportation designs the decals, requires organizations to meet nonprofit and eligibility standards, and directs collected fees ($10 per pair of decals annually) into the veterans license fee fund. It also ensures veterans who ordered decals before July 1, 2025, can choose refunds or receive approved decals.

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 summaryThis bill updates Iowa's address confidentiality program for domestic abuse survivors, allowing them to use shelter contact information instead of physical addresses and ensuring mail forwarding. It clarifies candidate disqualification rules for felony convictions (requiring rights restoration by governor or president) and restricts objections to federal candidates' eligibility to specific constitutional requirements. The bill explicitly bans ranked choice voting in state elections, defining it as a method where voters rank candidates and ballots are tabulated in rounds. It also establishes new definitions for absentee ballot envelopes to improve security and prevent fraud. These changes primarily affect domestic abuse survivors, election officials, candidates, and absentee voters.

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.