Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes various regulations for state and local governments and finances in Iowa.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Workforce Development to use up to $12 million from incentive payments for the unemployment compensation insurance program for fiscal year 2026 (Sec. 3).

• Appropriates the following amounts from the information technology fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for fiscal year 2027 (Sec. 5):

• $31 million for the Medicaid management information system;

• $30.5 million for the eligibility determination for essential needs information technology modernization project; and

• $34 million for information technology projects associated with child support services.

• Authorizes certain funds to remain available to the departments they were appropriated to rather than reverting to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year (Sec. 8-9).

• Extends the sunset date on certain obligated funds by one calendar year (Sec. 13-16).

• Amends requirements for certain electric outlets and receptacles in dwelling units (Sec. 36).

• Prohibits a political subdivision of the state from adopting a local electrical code that is more restrictive than the national electrical code (Sec. 37).

• Prohibits city or local governments from enforcing any ordinance or law regarding discriminatory practices that is more restrictive than state law (Sec. 40).

• Prohibits a state party constitution or bylaws from prohibiting an elected official from serving on a state party central committee (Sec. 41).

• Increases the number of nonresident deer hunting licenses required to be provided from 25 to 26, and specifies that the additional license shall be allocated by the Iowa State Fair Foundation (Sec. 43-44).

• Establishes additional regulations for proprietary treatment systems, and requires the Department of Natural Resources to review reports regarding the regulations enacted (Sec. 46-50).

• Establishes a health care access and innovation tax credit for tax years starting January 1, 2026 (Sec. 55).

• Prohibits the revenue from additional taxes on alternative nicotine and vapor products that goes to pediatric cancer research and clinical therapy from being used for administrative or overhead costs (Sec. 57-59).

• Authorizes a private party to bring civil action for civil litigation abuse against another private party who initiated a civil legal process for an ulterior purpose (Sec. 76).

• Requires additional screening in cases of suspected child sex trafficking (Sec. 78).

• Expands disclosure requirements regarding departmental grant applications for the office of grants enterprise management (Sec. 83).

• Requires each institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents to require undergraduate students to complete an introductory course in American history and American government (Sec. 89).

• Specifies that the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa is the sole academic unit responsible for offering such courses at that university (Sec. 89).

• Authorizes school districts whose taxable value decreased at the start of the 2025 school year by $100 million or more to increase the school district’s proposed cash reserve levy (Sec. 101).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 102).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes various regulations for state and local governments and finances in Iowa.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Workforce Development to use up to $12 million from incentive payments for the unemployment compensation insurance program for fiscal year 2026 (Sec. 3).

• Appropriates the following amounts from the information technology fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for fiscal year 2027 (Sec. 5):

• $31 million for the Medicaid management information system;

• $30.5 million for the eligibility determination for essential needs information technology modernization project; and

• $34 million for information technology projects associated with child support services.

• Authorizes certain funds to remain available to the departments they were appropriated to rather than reverting to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year (Sec. 8-9).

• Extends the sunset date on certain obligated funds by one calendar year (Sec. 13-16).

• Amends requirements for certain electric outlets and receptacles in dwelling units (Sec. 36).

• Prohibits a political subdivision of the state from adopting a local electrical code that is more restrictive than the national electrical code (Sec. 37).

• Prohibits city or local governments from enforcing any ordinance or law regarding discriminatory practices that is more restrictive than state law (Sec. 40).

• Prohibits a state party constitution or bylaws from prohibiting an elected official from serving on a state party central committee (Sec. 41).

• Increases the number of nonresident deer hunting licenses required to be provided from 25 to 26, and specifies that the additional license shall be allocated by the Iowa State Fair Foundation (Sec. 43-44).

• Establishes additional regulations for proprietary treatment systems, and requires the Department of Natural Resources to review reports regarding the regulations enacted (Sec. 46-50).

• Establishes a health care access and innovation tax credit for tax years starting January 1, 2026 (Sec. 55).

• Prohibits the revenue from additional taxes on alternative nicotine and vapor products that goes to pediatric cancer research and clinical therapy from being used for administrative or overhead costs (Sec. 57-59).

• Authorizes a private party to bring civil action for civil litigation abuse against another private party who initiated a civil legal process for an ulterior purpose (Sec. 76).

• Requires additional screening in cases of suspected child sex trafficking (Sec. 78).

• Expands disclosure requirements regarding departmental grant applications for the office of grants enterprise management (Sec. 83).

• Requires each institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents to require undergraduate students to complete an introductory course in American history and American government (Sec. 89).

• Specifies that the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa is the sole academic unit responsible for offering such courses at that university (Sec. 89).

• Authorizes school districts whose taxable value decreased at the start of the 2025 school year by $100 million or more to increase the school district’s proposed cash reserve levy (Sec. 101).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 102).

Full Bill Text