Sen. Doug Campbell

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Iowa public school districts to offer elective high school courses (grades 9-12) focused on biblical texts, including the Old Testament, New Testament, or both. School boards must approve such courses after a school improvement committee recommends them by majority vote. Courses must teach biblical content to help students understand culture and society, while strictly following religious neutrality rules - no endorsement of any faith, and students may use alternative Bible translations. The bill also permits displays of religious materials in class if educationally appropriate, without requiring students to engage with texts conflicting with their family's beliefs.

Maddy summarySF 405 creates a voluntary program allowing individuals to exclude themselves from purchasing alcohol at retail stores. People can request exclusion for 5 years or life, and stores must check an electronic list (with names and Social Security numbers) kept confidential, except when required by court order. The bill requires stores to provide information about substance use disorder treatment programs to anyone who requests exclusion, and protects stores and the state from liability if they follow the process. This directly affects individuals seeking to limit their alcohol access and retailers who sell alcohol.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits administering gene-based vaccines in Iowa, defined as vaccines using mRNA, modified mRNA, self-amplifying mRNA, or DNA technology. Violators face a $500 fine per incident and potential license review by health licensing boards for professionals licensed under Iowa's health professions code (Chapter 147). It directly affects healthcare providers who administer such vaccines, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The law creates a clear legal restriction on the use of these specific vaccine technologies within the state.

Maddy summarySF 416 adopts the Oxford English Dictionary as Iowa's official state dictionary under Code section 1.18. This bill does not apply to commerce, public health and safety, education, or government communication, meaning the dictionary adoption primarily affects state legal and administrative terminology without altering existing policies in those areas.

Maddy summarySF 400 reclassifies misoprostol, mifepristone, and methotrexate as Schedule III controlled substances in Iowa. This means anyone who manufactures, distributes, or dispenses these medications would face a class C felony charge, with fines between $1,000 and $50,000. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who prescribe or dispense these specific medications, which are commonly used for medical abortions and other treatments. The policy change would significantly restrict access to these drugs by imposing criminal penalties on their distribution. The bill is currently in the Judiciary committee subcommittee for review.

Maddy summarySF 335 prohibits public schools, community colleges, and state universities from including sexual orientation or gender identity instruction in curricula and restricts diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It allows parents or school employees to file lawsuits against school districts to stop alleged violations, with the school district facing a $50,000 civil penalty per violation if sued successfully. The bill also requires school administrators to report known violations of these restrictions to the district. These provisions apply to all public K-12 schools, community colleges, and state universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents.

Maddy summarySF 347 prohibits public libraries in Iowa counties and cities from purchasing or providing materials depicting sex acts (as defined in Iowa law) to minors. It requires librarians to avoid knowingly sharing obscene material or hard-core pornography with minors, and allows parents/guardians to file complaints after 30 days of continued violations. If a court rules in favor of the complainant, the library entity faces civil penalties of at least $5,000 plus $500 per day, plus $10,000-$20,000 in damages to the parent, with fines paid to the state general fund. The bill applies to all public library districts and city libraries, creating a civil enforcement path for alleged violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds dozens of specific synthetic drugs to Iowa's list of prohibited controlled substances, primarily targeting dangerous fentanyl variants and synthetic steroids. It directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and possessors of these newly classified substances by making their possession or distribution illegal under state law. Key provisions include adding precise chemical names (like "alpha'-Methyl butyryl fentanyl" and "ADB-BUTINACA") and their street aliases to the state's controlled substance schedules. The bill also updates reporting requirements for precursor chemicals and establishes penalties for violations, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summarySJR 6 is a constitutional amendment proposing to repeal Iowa’s natural resources and outdoor recreation trust fund (which funded parks, trails, and conservation) and replace it with a new property tax relief trust fund. The amendment would dedicate a portion of increased sales and use tax revenue (capped at 0.375% of taxable sales) to lower school district property tax levies uniformly across the state. This fund would replace revenue previously generated from the foundation property tax levy, directly reducing property taxes for homeowners and businesses that fund public schools. As a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval after legislative passage.

Maddy summarySF 186 modifies how school boards in Iowa operate by requiring them to annually elect a separate executive officer (not the superintendent) to lead the board. It also creates a new process allowing any resident or employee to request a county auditor to review a school district’s finances if they suspect improper spending. The bill changes current law, which previously made the superintendent the default executive officer, and establishes clear steps for initiating financial audits. These changes directly affect school board governance and provide new oversight tools for community members and staff.