Sen. Mark Lofgren

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Iowa's special landowner turkey hunting license rules. It allows farm owners or tenants (and their immediate family members) to receive a free license valid only on their specific farm unit, without needing to reside there. The license permits hunting during any open season using authorized methods (bow or firearm) and authorizes harvesting exactly one turkey per license. This updates current law by removing the requirement to designate a specific season for use, while maintaining the one-turkey limit.

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 Iowa bill (SF 83) allows landowners who suffer $1,000 or more in crop, horticultural product, tree, or nursery damage from deer to obtain depredation permits. It establishes a dedicated deer hunting season from January 11-31 annually for permit holders, permitting the use of rifles (with department-approved cartridges), shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, crossbows, or bows. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources must issue these permits to qualifying landowners. The law directly affects agricultural property owners facing significant deer-related damage.

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.

Maddy summarySF 4 restricts lobbying activities for specific government roles in Iowa. It prohibits former executive or administrative heads of 32 defined licensing boards from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving their position. Conversely, it also bars former lobbyists from serving in these leadership roles for two years after stopping lobbying. Violations are classified as serious misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in jail and fines between $430 and $2,560. The bill does not apply to board executive directors lobbying in their official capacity.

Maddy summarySF 92 amends Iowa law to require landowner consent before utilities can use eminent domain to condemn agricultural land for constructing hazardous liquid pipelines carrying liquefied carbon dioxide. The bill explicitly excludes such pipelines from being classified as a "public use" or "public purpose" for condemnation purposes, reversing a current exception that allowed utilities to bypass consent for similar projects. This directly affects Iowa agricultural landowners, who must now approve pipeline construction on their property. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to condemnation cases filed after that date.

Maddy summarySF 98 prohibits discharging a firearm from within or on a motor vehicle on any public roadway. This directly affects drivers, passengers, and anyone operating a vehicle on public roads in Iowa. The bill adds a new provision to state law making it a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $30 fine to fire a gun from a vehicle on public roads, expanding existing restrictions that previously covered specific weapons on certain routes. The law aims to prevent dangerous gun use while traveling on public roads.

Maddy summarySF 95 amends Iowa's eminent domain laws to raise the evidence standard for pipeline projects. It requires agencies seeking to condemn agricultural land for hazardous liquid pipelines (under Chapter 479B) to prove "public use" by "clear and convincing evidence" instead of the lower "preponderance of evidence" standard. This directly affects pipeline companies and landowners in agricultural areas, making it harder to acquire farmland for such projects without owner consent. The bill also clarifies that agricultural land cannot be condemned for "private development" without the owner's agreement. It takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to condemnation cases filed after that date.

Maddy summarySF 104 requires courts to order surgical castration as a condition of release (probation or parole) for individuals convicted of specific serious sex offenses against children under age 12, including crimes like sexual abuse in the first degree or lascivious acts with a child. The bill mandates that a court-appointed medical expert must first determine the person is a suitable candidate and the procedure is medically appropriate, within 60 days of sentencing. If sentenced to probation without confinement, the presentence investigation must include a plan for castration to occur as soon as possible after sentencing; if confined, it must happen within one week before release. This requirement applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date and does not apply if the individual chooses an approved alternative medical procedure.

Maddy summarySF 44 extends the deadline for claiming historic preservation tax credits from January 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023. It ensures taxpayers who received credits before July 1, 2023, can still apply them against individual/corporate income taxes, franchise tax, or insurance premiums tax. The bill expands an existing provision protecting pre-July 2023 credits from changes to refundability rules established by prior legislation. It does not alter the credit amount or future refundability terms.