Sen. Bill Dotzler

Maddy summarySF 439 allows Iowa cities to levy a tax of up to 27 cents per $1,000 in property value to fund public libraries, directly affecting city residents who vote on the tax. The tax requires voter approval through a petition and election process: a majority must approve it at a regular city election, and it can be removed the same way. This bill reestablishes a library funding mechanism eliminated by a prior law (HF 718), restoring the specific tax rate and voter approval requirements that existed before that change. The tax would be part of a city's general fund levy, supporting library operations and services.

Maddy summarySF 434 creates a state child care solutions fund within Iowa's treasury, controlled by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The fund uses $6 million in state appropriations (for FY 2025-2026) plus interest and private donations to provide a 2:1 state match for communities that secure private investment to increase child care worker wages. This directly affects child care providers and workers in designated geographic areas ("communities"), requiring communities to raise private funds to qualify for state matching dollars. HHS must track and report annually on how funds are used, including wages increased, workers retained or hired, and new child care slots created.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 454) updates how workers' compensation claims for permanent partial disability are calculated. It requires using the most recent annual update to the American Medical Association's impairment guides (currently the 2024 update to the sixth edition) instead of the commissioner's rule-based adoption of older versions. The change directly affects workers injured on the job who seek permanent partial disability benefits, ensuring their impairment percentage is determined solely by the latest medical guidelines. It also prohibits using lay testimony or agency expertise in specific disability evaluations under these guidelines. The policy applies to all claims filed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Iowa calculates workers' compensation benefits for injured workers. It requires including overtime and premium pay (like shift differentials) in the weekly earnings calculation - currently excluded under law - and adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to Social Security’s disability benefit increase. The change directly affects hourly, shift, and overtime workers, as their benefits will now reflect higher average earnings. The annual adjustment applies specifically to permanent total disability and death benefits, not all compensation. This policy update modifies existing calculation methods without altering benefit eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 456) gives Iowa workers injured on the job more control over choosing their treating physician under workers' compensation. It allows employees to predesignate a primary care doctor (who has treated them before and is within 60 miles of work) to handle their injury, and requires employers to inform workers of this right. If employers fail to provide this notice, workers can choose any doctor at the employer’s expense. Disputes over doctor choices must be resolved by the workers’ compensation commissioner within 10-14 days, with options for phone or in-person hearings.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 437) restricts former state officials and employees from certain private-sector activities for two years after leaving public service. It prohibits them from becoming lobbyists, authorizing others to lobby, or using inside knowledge for private employment involving cases they handled while in office. The bill also bans them from benefiting from state contracts they influenced during their tenure and requires state agencies to avoid contracts over $1,000 with businesses represented by recently departed officials (like legislators or agency heads). Violations are punishable as serious misdemeanors, with fines up to $2,560 and potential job sanctions.

Maddy summarySF 435 requires agricultural landowners near waterways to establish and maintain vegetated riparian buffers (riparian protection measures) along streams and rivers to improve surface water quality. It directly affects agricultural landowners adjacent to public water sources by mandating these buffers, though implementation is tied to available cost-share funding. Key mechanisms include prioritizing financing for these buffers through soil and water conservation districts, requiring districts to focus on riparian protection in their planning, and establishing enforcement through administrative orders for non-compliance. The bill defines "riparian protection measures" as buffers or approved alternatives, with penalties for failing to meet requirements after funding is made available.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding new constitutional provisions to Iowa that would allow citizens to directly propose and vote on constitutional amendments through initiatives. To qualify, a petition must collect signatures from 10% of voters who cast ballots for governor in the last election, including signatures from at least half of Iowa's counties (5% per county). The proposal requires the secretary of state to submit the amendment to voters at the next general election 125+ days after petition submission, alongside balanced 300-word arguments for and against it. It also restricts initiatives from changing tax classifications, creating monopolies, or specifying tax rates, requiring a "double question" ballot if such restrictions are violated.

Maddy summarySF 420 prohibits Iowa public and nonpublic schools from using names, symbols, or images depicting Native American tribes, individuals, customs, or traditions as mascots, nicknames, logos, or team names after January 1, 2027. The law directly affects all Iowa schools except those controlled by Native American tribes and overseen by the Bureau of Indian Education. It requires schools to change existing branding that falls under these prohibited categories by the 2027 deadline.

Maddy summarySF 414 requires Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to review and approve acquisitions of housing or health care facilities by private equity firms. Private equity firms must notify DIAL 60 days before an acquisition and provide detailed information, including financial records and plans affecting facility operations. DIAL cannot approve an acquisition if it would reduce access to quality, affordable housing or health care services, and must post all pending acquisitions online for public comment. This bill directly affects private equity firms purchasing housing or health care facilities in Iowa, creating a new review process to protect public access to these essential services.