Sen. Tom Townsend

Maddy summarySF 505 codifies Iowa's existing Firsthome program under the Iowa Finance Authority, providing financial assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers. The program offers down payment/closing cost grants (capped at $10,000), second loans (repayable upon home sale or refinance), and free title certificates. To qualify, applicants must be first-time homebuyers (including military members with specific service requirements), meet income/price limits, maintain a 640+ credit score, have ≤45% debt-to-income ratio, and occupy the home as a primary residence within 60 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Iowa's state registrar of voters to use data from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to automatically update the state's voter registration system. It mandates updates for specific records including duplicate registrations, address changes, deceased voters, and eligible citizens who haven't registered. The ERIC, a nonprofit shared by 24 states, provides this data to help maintain accurate voter rolls without adding new requirements for voters or election officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 561) allows Iowa cities, towns, counties, school districts, and other local governments to use ranked choice voting (RCV) or instant runoff voting (IRV) for local elections. It amends election laws to permit voters to rank candidates in order of preference, with ballots counted in rounds: if no candidate gets a majority, the least-preferred candidate is eliminated and their votes transferred until one candidate achieves a majority or all seats are filled. Local governments may choose to adopt this method for their elections, but the bill does not require any specific jurisdiction to do so. The change directly affects voters and candidates in local races across Iowa’s municipalities and school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment for Iowa that would limit consecutive service for state legislators. It would prevent anyone first elected to the Iowa General Assembly after 2028 from serving more than 12 consecutive years in either the House or Senate, and require a mandatory two-year break after reaching that limit. The amendment applies only to legislators first elected for terms beginning January 1, 2029, or later. If adopted by the next legislature and approved by voters, it would change the state constitution to impose this term limit.

Maddy summarySF 557 prohibits Iowa legislators, legislative staff, and their immediate family (spouse or child) from buying, selling, or trading financial instruments using nonpublic information gained from their official government roles. It requires these individuals to report all such transactions to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board within 30 days, including details like the instrument type, value, and any relevant legislative matters. The board must publicly post these reports online in a searchable format for transparency. Violations are classified as a class C felony, with penalties including fines, disgorgement of profits, and potential disciplinary action by the ethics committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers with 15 or more employees to continue health insurance coverage for workers injured on the job (with valid workers' compensation claims) for at least six months after they leave employment, if the employer provided coverage at the time of injury. Employers failing to comply must reimburse employees for uncovered medical costs related to the injury. The bill also clarifies definitions of "independent contractor" in Iowa law (amending Sections 85.61 and 91A.2), specifying criteria like worker independence from employer control and excluding such workers from "employee" definitions for benefits purposes. These provisions apply to injuries occurring on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySF 463 amends Iowa's drug paraphernalia law to expand exemptions. It explicitly states that hypodermic needles or syringes sold or possessed for any lawful purpose (not just medical use) are no longer considered drug paraphernalia. The bill also adds a new exemption for equipment used to test for fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, or drug adulterants in controlled substances. These changes directly affect individuals using needles lawfully (e.g., for medical treatment or harm reduction programs) and organizations testing for dangerous substances. The bill does not change penalties for other drug paraphernalia uses.

Maddy summarySF 485 requires nonpublic schools receiving tuition payments through Iowa's education savings account program to meet specific standards. These schools must follow public school board accountability rules, submit required data reports, maintain accreditation like public schools, and comply with teacher licensing requirements. The bill modifies the definition of "qualified educational expenses" to include these new requirements for participating nonpublic schools. It also removes a previous provision that prevented the state from requiring schools to adjust their educational programs to receive payments.

Maddy summarySF 438 establishes a state-funded 988 emergency service fund to support suicide and crisis lifeline services in Iowa. It allocates $3 million annually from the state general fund starting in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the fund, controlled by the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund will provide financial support to organizations operating the 988 service if federal funding for these services is interrupted, delayed, or reduced. This directly affects crisis hotline providers who rely on the 988 system (accessible by dialing 9-8-8 or texting) to maintain uninterrupted emergency mental health support.

Maddy summarySF 452 amends Iowa's public employee collective bargaining laws, directly affecting state and local government workers (including educators) and their unions. Key provisions include requiring written member consent for dues checkoff, specifying negotiable topics like health and safety (while excluding retirement systems), and revising election rules to prevent frequent union representation changes. The bill updates procedures for union certification, decertification, and collective bargaining agreements, with new rules limiting election petitions for one year after a certification or decertification. It also clarifies that public employers must negotiate in good faith on agreed-upon topics without forcing concessions.