Passed Senate Committees
Below are bills that have passed the House and then have passed through the full committee in the Senate. They only have to pass the full Senate and then they can be sent down to the governor for her signature…..unless the Senate changes them, and then they have to go back to the House so that the same version is passed by both chambers.
CO2 Pipeline Bill-HF 639: This bill was amended in committee to take out most of the good provisions that came over from the House. It removed the requirement to meet a certain legal standard of proof that the project has a public use in order to use eminent domain and the requirement to be a common carrier to be able to exercise the right of eminent domain. It also removed certain intervenor rights, insurance requirements placed on the pipeline company, and prohibition on renewal of a CO2 pipeline that was in the original bill.
The good thing about the bill was that it kept the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) meeting requirements. It added requirements for landowners to recover from damages, including drainage tile repair for the life of the pipeline and expanded crop loss and soil restoration. It also allows the pipeline company to replace the land agent if a landowner requests.
It allows a pipeline company to seek voluntary easements outside the notification corridor without starting the process over, thus allowing the company to skip over important due process and notification requirements. It forces the IUC to make a final decision within 1 year of receiving an application from a pipeline company requesting eminent domain authority. This shortens the amount of time landowners have to organize, understand the project, and prepare a defense.
It expands the bill to cover not only CO2 pipelines but also oil, natural gas, and hydrogen pipelines, electric transmission lines, and electric generation (wind & solar). There is a large difference between these as some are public use and some are not, some are common carriers and some are not, and so therefore they cannot be treated the same.
Most importantly, the amended bill does not give landowners protection from the use of eminent domain by a company with a private use project. It does not require proof of a public use, nor does it require the company to be a common carrier in order to exercise the power of eminent domain. And that is what is needed.
Election Integrity Bill-HF 954: Implements a number of technical changes to help the elections process run more smoothly, but the major thing the bill does is to allow the Secretary of State (SOS) to verify the U.S. citizenship status of both registered voters and those who will register to vote. In conjunction with changes made at the federal level, the SOS will be able to use federal databases to help determine if someone is a citizen or not.
School Chaplains-HF 884: Outlines requirements for schools that want the support and services of a chaplain for their staff and students. The chaplain can be an employed as a paid position or as a volunteer. Students or staff cannot be required to use the services of a chaplain; it must be voluntary. The chaplain shall be certified from the National School Chaplains Association, a nationally recognized credentialing organization which requires background checks, school safety training – active shooter, stop the bleed and behavioral threats; specialized training for school environment; at least 2000 hours of verified ministerial service, continuing education, and ecclesiastical letters of endorsement. A school may establish other qualifications, or requirements for chaplains. The school may not employ a chaplain instead of a qualified guidance counselor. A chaplain would also be required to be a mandatory reporter.
Some have expressed concern about this issue, but they should know that schools can already have chaplains now; nothing in the law prevents them from doing that. This bill just sets some guidelines and standards to govern how chaplains in schools would work should schools want to have them.
Some have also had questions about the constitutionality of having chaplains in schools since schools are a public institution. The military and many police and fire departments, also public institutions, have chaplains. Courts have found this practice to be legal and constitutional. The key is student involvement with chaplains must be purely voluntary and not required by the school. Chaplains are in many schools and there are no lawsuits, so if this was unconstitutional, that would not be the case.
Prohibition on DEI in state entities and at community colleges-HF 856: A state entity, which means a public school, city, county, state agency, board, commission, etc., must not establish or maintain a DEI office and must not hire or assign an employee to perform the duties of a DEI office. This is subject to enforcement by the Attorney General (AG) or by civil action by a student or employee.
Community colleges are required to comply with the prohibition on DEI passed last year for the Regents universities. Community colleges, unless required by federal or state law or accreditation standards, must not establish or maintain a DEI office, must not hire or assign an employee or contract with a 3rd party to perform the duties of a DEI office, must not compel or require any individual to provide a DEI-affirmation statement or to give preferential consideration to any person based on a DEI-affirmation statement. This is subject to enforcement by the AG just as Regents universities are currently.
For a more detailed explanation of DEI please see my last week’s newsletter: https://irp.cdn-website.com/c2e95eab/files/uploaded/My_Newsletter_3-29-2025.pdf
Released Time for Religious Education-HF 870: Requires school districts to excuse students to attend released time religious education programs for at least one hour per week if requested by the parents. The released time program must provide the school with attendance records. No school district funds can be used to support the released time program. Transportation to and from the place of instruction, including transportation for students with disabilities, is the complete responsibility of the sponsoring entity and parents. The sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the students while under the control of the sponsoring entity. The student assumes responsibility for any missed schoolwork.
Again, some may have concerns about the constitutionality of this bill. The U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized that it is constitutionally permissible for public schools to permit students (with the permission of their parents) to attend privately-sponsored religious instruction during the school day. Doing so “respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs.” Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306, 314 (1952).
The reason for this bill is that unfortunately, some school officials are unwilling to accommodate families’ desire for their children to participate in released time religious education. This bill ensures that no family is denied the opportunity for their child to attend a released time class.
Similar laws requiring school officials to permit students to attend released time have been on the books for decades in several other states, including New York, Florida, Kentucky, and Hawaii.
Core Curriculum Act-HF 401: Outlines general education requirements that must be implemented at the Regents universities: 6 credit hours of English, 3 credit hours of math, 4 credit hours of natural science, 6 credit hours of social studies, 6 credit hours of humanities, 3 credit hours of Western heritage, and 3 credit hours of American heritage. Other rules apply. This would begin in the 27-28 academic year. Critical race theory (CRT) and identity politics are prohibited from being promoted and indoctrinated, however, academic freedom, as always has been, is maintained to be able to have free discussion. Regarding discussion of CRT, it is to be conducted as though from an outside vantage point. This is subject to enforcement by the AG.
College Affordability Act-HF 440: Requires the Board of Regents to make a final decision on tuition increases for the next fiscal year by April 30th of the previous fiscal year. Requires the Regents universities to offer at least one bachelor’s degree program that can be completed in 3 years starting in the 27-28 academic year. Directs the board to conduct a study on a policy of freezing student tuition for a student’s last 3 years at the level it was when the student entered as a freshman.
Private School Students Participation in Student Athletics-HF 189: Requires public schools to allow students who reside in the school district or a contiguous district who enroll in a private school that does not provide extracurricular athletics to be able to participate in any extracurricular athletics offered by the public school. Any fees for participation must be the same for both public and private school students. The private school student must abide by the public school’s student code of conduct requirements.
Pediatric Palliative Care-HF 933: Allows pediatric palliative care centers (PPCC) to be set up as a licensed hospice program. This is for those under 21 years of age and diagnosed with a chronic, complex, life-threatening illness. A PPCC would provide hospice services and respite care services. It would also use an LPN and may provide accommodation and board for family members.
Birth Centers-HF 887: Repeals the Certificate of Need (CON) requirement for birth centers, thus removing the red tape currently hindering the establishment of birth centers, especially in the rural areas where they are needed.
U of I Medical Doctor Program-HF 516: Requires the University of Iowa to have their Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dentistry programs composed of 80% of students from Iowa or have gone to undergraduate school in Iowa. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics are required to give priority in assigning residencies and fellowships to students from Iowa and who attended an Iowa school for their prior education. They shall also be provided the opportunity to participate in rotations in rural areas to expose them to the rural areas of the state. The goal of this bill is to ensure taxpayer funded residency slots and loan repayment programs are benefiting Iowans first.
Psilocybin Bill-HF383: This is a “trigger” bill, which means if the federal government reschedules psilocybin or synthetic mushrooms, as it is most commonly known as, that Iowa would automatically reschedule it as well, following the recommendations of the FDA and its listing in the controlled substances registry. Upon its rescheduling the drug would be lawful to prescribe, distribute, and market as any other therapeutic drug would be.
Medical Coverage for Cancer-HF 969: Allows all cancers to be covered for accidental and in-service disability benefits for state troopers, police and firefighters, sheriffs and deputies and other protection occupations. It increases the contribution rates of employees and decreases them for employers.
Year-Round School-HF 392: Allows a school to apply to the Dept. of Ed. For permission to maintain a year-round school for PK-12. Current law only allows year-round school for grades PK-8.
National Guard Credentials Scholarship Program-HF 117: Allows the National Guard to use its tuition assistance funding given to national guard members for bachelors or associates degrees to be also used for credentialing programs.
The National Guard is finding more and more prospective guard members seeking a certificate credential instead of a degree. The workforce is evolving and wants options in post-secondary education such as STEM fields or a career in the advanced trades. Not all want to get a 4-year degree. Examples of fields in demand are technology, cyber, and health care. The guard uses this as a recruiting tool and they believe it will be more advantageous if they can offer scholarships to both degree-seeking and credential-seeking individuals.
37 states have this flexibility to use state tuition assistance programs for accredited certifications and credentialing. Offering this program will help our National Guard be able to better recruit individuals and assist them with an education that will help meet the needs of the Guard as well as the desires of the service members.
School Bullying-HF 865: This bill changes the definition of bullying and harassment to be any repeated and targeted electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student that creates an objectively hostile school environment. It removes the requirement that the act be based on an actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and also removes the list in code of such traits and characteristics.
The problem has become that some schools only believe that behavior qualifies as bullying and harassment when the behavior is based on certain traits of characteristics. Therefore those schools don’t believe they are required to act unless the behavior is based on one of the traits listed, those school officials believing their hands are tied. This has resulted in unequal treatment of students. This bill removes that confusion and clarifies that all students should receive an equal level of protection no matter what their particular traits or characteristics are.
Minimum Age for Firearms-HF 924: Changes the minimum age to possess and carry firearms to 18 (from 21). Under current Iowa law, persons 18 and over can carry a long gun but you have to be 21 to carry a handgun.
Paid Parental Leave-HF 889: Provides 4 weeks of maternity leave and leave for adoption for a state employee and one week of paternity leave.
