Sen. Kevin Alons

Maddy summarySF 207 requires commercial online platforms ("covered platforms") that publish or distribute obscene material to verify the age of users attempting to access it. If a platform fails this "reasonable age verification" and a minor accesses the material, the platform could face civil lawsuits for damages (including punitive damages up to three times attorney fees) and must not retain or sell the user's age verification data. The bill permits third-party verification using methods like government ID or cryptographic techniques to protect privacy. It explicitly excludes liability for regular internet users and providers merely connecting to content, and enforcement would only occur through private lawsuits - not by state authorities.

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 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 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 summarySF 181 requires schools, public libraries, postsecondary institutions, and state agencies providing digital resources to K-12 students to obtain written agreements with resource providers. These agreements must ensure safety policies and technology block obscene materials and visual depictions of child sexual abuse, while complying with federal child internet protection laws (CIPA). The bill mandates annual reports from providers on safety compliance and allows educational receivers to terminate agreements or withhold payments if safety requirements aren’t met. Violations can trigger civil actions by the attorney general, and failure to secure compliant resources may be classified as sexual exploitation under criminal law.

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 summarySF 226 establishes a new process for reviewing eminent domain actions in Iowa. It allows property owners whose land is at risk of being taken under eminent domain (or applicants before the Iowa Utilities Commission) to petition Polk County district court for a declaratory review before the commission makes a final decision. The court can only declare legal rights and status under eminent domain law, not change outcomes, and the bill permits a new review in a different county after 18 months or if circumstances change, requiring a fresh court evaluation. Additionally, it mandates a $10 filing fee (deposited into the state general fund) and eliminates bond requirements for appeals or enforcement of related court orders.

Maddy summarySF 224 requires all Iowa Utilities Commission members to be present during live testimony at public utility, pipeline, or electric transmission line hearings. If any member is absent during testimony, the hearing must pause until all members return. For informational meetings about pipeline permits or utility projects, at least one commission member must be present, and the meeting must pause if they become unavailable until a member returns. The bill applies to hearings and meetings related to pipeline permits, electric transmission lines, and utility regulations, ensuring consistent commission presence without requiring formal meeting records.

Maddy summarySF 225 prohibits the Iowa Utilities Commission from renewing permits for pipelines transporting liquefied carbon dioxide and sets a maximum 25-year operational limit for such pipelines. The bill directly affects pipeline companies seeking to operate CO2 pipelines in Iowa and the commission responsible for issuing permits. It amends existing law to explicitly ban permit renewals and ensure no CO2 pipeline operates beyond 25 years, reinforcing a current 25-year limit already in place for all pipeline permits. The legislation does not change the existing 25-year cap but specifically prevents renewal for CO2 pipelines.