Sen. Tom Shipley

Maddy summarySF 48 requires hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and pregnancy resource centers in Iowa to report specific serious medical incidents to the state Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing within 15 working days. Facilities must report events like wrong-site surgery, medication errors, patient disappearances, falls, device failures, or serious injuries from contaminated products. The law specifies 15 distinct incident types that qualify as "serious reportable events," excluding certain situations like emergencies requiring immediate action. Reports must not include identifying details about patients, staff, or healthcare professionals. Failure to report could result in penalties established under the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Iowa's requirement for farm units to qualify for special turkey and deer hunting licenses. Currently, a farm unit must consist of "two or more contiguous acres," but the bill amends this to require "40 or more contiguous acres." This directly affects farmers or landowners seeking these special hunting licenses, as only larger farm units meeting the new size threshold would qualify. The change modifies a specific definition in state code without altering other license terms or costs.

Maddy summarySF 421 amends Iowa's landlord-tenant laws to clarify notice requirements, strengthen tenant protections, and update eviction procedures. It specifies that mail notices are deemed delivered four days after mailing (Sections 2, 5), defines "rent" to include utilities and late fees (Section 1), and makes prohibited rental terms unenforceable with tenant remedies for damages (Sections 3, 6). The bill also requires notices to be posted at the property entrance and mailed, with records sealed for residential eviction cases under specific conditions (Sections 4, 7, 11). These changes directly affect tenants and landlords by standardizing communication, limiting unfair terms, and creating record-sealing options for tenants after eviction judgments.

Maddy summarySF 292 amends Iowa law to require vehicle recyclers to verify there is no outstanding lien on vehicles 12 model years or older acquired for scrap or junk at under $1,000. This affects vehicle recyclers licensed under Chapter 321H and owners disposing of older vehicles without a title. The key provision adds a mandatory verification step before recyclers can accept such vehicles, ensuring no lienholder has a security interest. Violating this requirement would be a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $135 fine. The bill does not change the existing $1,000 price threshold or the 12-year age requirement for disposal without a title.

Maddy summarySF 321 prohibits Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools using state funds from paying dues or participating with high school athletic organizations that don’t classify schools based on enrollment for sports competitions. Organizations must use actual enrollment numbers (with a 1.5 multiplier for nonpublic schools using education savings accounts, but not moving schools more than one classification up) to determine competition divisions. The rule takes effect January 1, 2027, though organizations could begin using the system for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill excludes eight-person football from this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill reallocates 50 special nonresident deer hunting licenses in Iowa. It directs 40 licenses to Iowa conservation organizations (as defined by law) and 10 licenses to the governor, who may accept all, part, or none of the governor's allocation. Unaccepted governor licenses by September 1 are transferred to conservation organizations. The licenses are issued without application upon purchasing a standard nonresident hunting license and waive hunter education requirements, with media from hunts prohibited for political campaigns. The change updates current law to specifically prioritize conservation groups while maintaining the licenses' purpose of promoting Iowa's natural resources to nonresident visitors.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits railway crossing closures for repairs or upgrades to a maximum of 20 consecutive days, reducing the previous 30-day limit. Railroad companies must provide local governments (county boards or city councils) with advance notice detailing the work, completion date, and closure procedures before closing a crossing. Local authorities may approve an additional 20-day extension if the railroad provides updated notice 17 days after the initial closure. Violations carry penalties of $500 to $5,000 per day beyond the allowed closure period, up from the previous $100 daily penalty. The bill directly affects railroad companies and local jurisdictions managing railway crossings.

Maddy summarySF 309 creates a tuition grant program for dependents of Iowa veterans with a 100% service-connected disability. It provides up to $10,000 annually for full-time students (max 8 semesters) or proportionally less for part-time students (max 12 semesters) to cover tuition and mandatory fees at eligible Iowa colleges. To qualify, students must be Iowa residents under 27, claimed as dependents on the veteran’s prior tax return, and enrolled full- or part-time at a state-regulated institution. The program requires annual reapplication, pays grants directly to institutions, and is funded by a $500,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2025-26.

Maddy summaryThis Iowa bill (SF 290) requires railroads to immediately report train accidents causing injury or death to the state transportation department. The department must investigate and report to the governor on whether the accident resulted from railroad mismanagement or neglect, but this report cannot be used in court or disclosed publicly. The bill also mandates that personal information of deceased train crew members remains confidential, with access limited to the railroad, authorized court orders, or law enforcement for official duties. Violations carry a $100 fine per incident.

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.