The following is a legislative update from Republican State Rep. Shannon Latham, representing portions of Franklin, Hamilton, Story and Wright counties in Iowa House District 55:
Funnel Survivors Are Focus of House Debate
Two headline-making bills that were passed by the Iowa House of Representatives in week seven of the 2026 legislative session include improving election laws and requiring commercial drivers to demonstrate English proficiency.
With the first funnel date behind us, this week the Iowa House of Representatives debated several bills that made it through an Iowa House committee by Feb. 20. We’re focused on passing bills off the House floor, so they may be considered by Senate subcommittees and committees before the second funnel deadline. March 20 is the final date for House bills to be reported out of Senate committees.
Below are summaries of a few bills that survived the first funnel and are eligible for floor action.
Agriculture
HF 2444 removes unnecessary hoops for serving Iowa-grown foods at farm-to-table events on Iowa farms by allowing a special-use permit. This bill also expands market opportunities for raw milk producers by allowing them to sell their own milk in their own on-farm stores.
HF 2340, the Iowa Farm Act, addresses biodiesel access in the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program while eliminating non-compete language in the Choose Iowa program. It makes changes to the Beginning Farmers program and the Butchery Revitalization Program. The bill gives the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) the authorization to lease facilities for quick control of infectious animal diseases. In addition, it increases agricultural tourism options and expands farm exemptions from county zoning to encourage rural tourism.
Commerce
HF 2580 makes it clear that eminent domain cannot be used for battery storage, solar and wind. This bill establishes statewide siting standards for renewable energy facilities but allows local authorities to maintain a moratorium or additional standards if they hold a public hearing and notify property taxpayers of lost revenue.
HF 2633 prohibits life, disability and long-term care insurance from limiting coverage for living organ donors.
HSB 691 allows landowners to renegotiate for continued yield losses.
Economic Growth and Technology
HSB 742 establishes a framework for America’s 250th celebration in Iowa including sales tax holiday over the 4th of July, Constitution day instruction, public broadcasting of events and Capitol complex monuments. This bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
HSB 727 requires a data center business that claims a sales tax exemption or sales and uses tax refunds to invest a minimum of 5% of the total value of the exemption or refund claimed for the previous year. This can be done as an equity investment in a qualifying business or innovation fund. The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Education
HF 2493 allows five-year-olds to be eligible for statewide preschool programs.
HF 460 establishes that pre-kindergarten will include at least 90 minutes of play-based learning during each half school day and at least 180 minutes of play-based learning during each full school day. Kindergarten shall include at least 45 minutes of play-based learning during each school day and defines “play-based learning.”
HF 2508 extends the summer noncontact period to 10 days and creates a fall, winter and spring noncontact period. This applies to club sports.
Health and Human Services
HF 2292 doubles the beds at state Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) in Cherokee and Independence one year after federal approval of the IMD waiver. This will add 92 beds. Because I’ve been contacted by constituents whose family members have complex behavioral health needs — and have difficulty getting their loved ones into Independence — I was glad to see this bill pass off the House floor.
HF 2468 establishes a fund with the state for all monies received from the One Big Beautiful Bill Rural Health Transformation Program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide regular reports on expenditures from the fund and what cities in Iowa have received those funds.
Higher Education
HF 2310 creates a Pediatric Cancer Research program at the University of Iowa.
HF 2466 provides more clarity to apprenticeship training providers. It also creates the Career Training Physical Expansion Program to provide financial assistance for the construction of new facilities that will expand the capacity of community colleges and private sector apprenticeship programs for education and training in high-demand fields in Iowa.
Judiciary
HF 2542 creates a system of points for individuals with criminal convictions. Felonies and some aggravated misdemeanor convictions result in one point; most aggravated misdemeanors and some serious misdemeanors result in half a point. Once a person has three points, they must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison. However, if the sentence for the crime is longer than 20 years, they shall serve that sentence.
HF 2599 clarifies that a service animal in training is allowed where a service animal is allowed under state or federal law. This already exists elsewhere in code and the addition in this bill ensures that a person who is training a service animal does not have to pay a pet fee or other upfront animal fees required in a living situation, just like those who have service animals.
