Sen. Mark Lofgren

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 249) creates a legal right for people or property within 25 miles of a carbon dioxide pipeline or facility release to seek compensation from the pipeline or facility owner. It establishes strict liability, meaning owners must pay for all damages - both past and future - without needing to prove fault. Victims must file claims within one year of the release, and any court judgment against the owner gets priority over other debts or liens. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Iowa Carbon Dioxide Disaster Relief Fund to provide immediate response and long-term recovery for communities affected by CO2 pipeline incidents, such as leaks or ruptures. It imposes a tax on CO2 pipeline operators and facilities to fund the relief efforts, requiring a minimum $10 billion balance in the fund before pipelines can operate in Iowa. The fund will cover emergency cleanup, victim compensation, rebuilding, and environmental restoration. Two oversight boards - the Oversight Board (managing fund integrity) and Victim Assistance Board (distributing aid) - will administer the fund and ensure resources reach affected individuals and communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 117) protects pharmacists and licensed healthcare practitioners (like doctors, nurses, and dentists) from employer or licensing board restrictions that interfere with their professional judgment when prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications. It prohibits boards or employers from creating rules that deter professionals from using treatments they deem appropriate based on their expertise and scope of practice. Any such restriction - whether in contracts, handbooks, or policies - is declared unenforceable and cannot lead to disciplinary action. The bill ensures professionals using medication decisions within their scope and best judgment cannot face license discipline for those choices.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Iowa's real estate licensing process by requiring the application form to let brokers or salespersons switching license types (e.g., broker applying for salesperson or vice versa) choose whether their new license takes effect immediately upon approval or when their current license expires. It directly affects real estate professionals seeking to upgrade or downgrade their licenses. The key provision adds a simple checkbox or option on the application form to specify the desired effective date. This change streamlines the transition between license types without altering other licensing requirements.

Maddy summarySF 115 requires Iowa school districts to obtain written parental consent before enrolling students in human growth and development courses or facilitating attendance at related educational conferences. It mandates that school boards annually provide parents with specific information about such courses, materials, and conferences. The bill prohibits schools from requiring student participation in these programs without a parent's written request for excusal. School districts must cover the costs of compliance using existing state school foundation aid, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits exposing minors to "obscene performances," defined as visual acts showing sexual content (like exposed body parts or extreme sexual acts) that minors shouldn't view, lacking artistic value and appealing to prurient interest under community standards. It criminalizes knowingly exposing minors to such performances (aggravated misdemeanor) or admitting minors to venues showing them (serious misdemeanor for those under 18, aggravated misdemeanor for children under 14). Parents, guardians, or affected minors (after turning 18) can now sue for at least $10,000 in damages, plus other remedies like injunctions, with a 2-year filing window for parents or up to 10 years after turning 18 for former minors. The bill also bans public institutions and funds from supporting such performances.

Maddy summarySF 97 amends Iowa law to expand the definition of "general county purpose" to include purchasing vehicles or vehicle equipment for specific county departments: sheriff's offices, county attorneys, jails, maintenance, conservation, and public health. This change means counties can acquire these vehicles without needing voter approval for bond issuance, which is typically required for general county purposes. The bill directly affects county governments by simplifying funding for essential equipment across multiple departments. It makes no other policy changes beyond this specific administrative adjustment to bond authorization rules.

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 summarySF 103 requires Iowa's Board of Medicine to adopt the most recent version of the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics through formal rules by July 1, 2026. This bill directly affects physicians and medical practitioners in Iowa, as it mandates the state board to formally incorporate the AMA's established ethics standards into its regulations.