Iowa Legislative Session Recap

Advocating on behalf of Iowans age 50+ and giving you a voice at the State Capitol is a top priority for AARP Iowa. Of course we can’t do it alone and are incredibly grateful for the volunteers across the state who lift up our issues by making calls, writing letters, and meeting with our political leaders. During this legislative session, we engaged on several bills with wide-ranging impacts, some of which did not ultimately pass this year and others that have been signed into law by the Governor.

More often than not, legislative victories are the product of lengthy engagement, negotiation, and compromise with lawmakers, sometimes over the course of several years. With the help of AARP members, volunteers, and stakeholders, we made important headway this year in our efforts to protect consumers from gift card scams and cap the out-of-pocket costs of insulin. We will continue to work on these issues at the Capitol and with key stakeholders behind the scenes.

Below is a short overview of some key pieces of legislation from our advocacy efforts during the 2024 session:

· HF2568 – This bill protects crosswalk users of all types including cyclists, people in wheelchairs, and kids in strollers. The previous crosswalk loophole in Iowa law excluded drivers who hit someone not “on foot” from facing the same consequences as those who injure pedestrians who are walking. This bill was signed by the Governor on May 3.
 
· HF2364 – This bill tasks the Department of Natural Resources to develop recommendations to increase the accessibility of state parks and public recreation areas for people with disabilities.

· SF295 – This bill establishes uniform and consistent reporting requirements for guardians and conservators. The bill also requires that conservators explain the purpose of expenditures, including cash withdrawals from an account, by conservators in annual reports to the court. This will enable the court to better prevent, and remedy potential and actual misappropriation and misuse of the assets of a person under conservatorship.

· SF2385 – As a part of a sweeping reorganization of state government, Governor Reynolds tasked the legislature with significantly paring down the number of advisory boards and commissions in the state. In the original proposed language, the Nursing Home Administrator's Board was set to be eliminated. AARP provided crucial testimony during the subcommittee process expressing our concern for the elimination of this oversight and ultimately this recommendation was removed and the NHA board will remain intact and fully functional.

· HF2551 – This bill would have eliminated competitive bidding for certain transmission projects, leading to direct, negative impacts on the cost of utilities for Iowans. AARP pushed to kill this bill and it did not receive a floor vote.

· SF2147 – This bill would have required retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam. It passed through its House subcommittee and its Senate subcommittee and committee but did not receive a full floor vote in either chamber.

· SF2214 – This bill would have capped out-of-pocket costs of insulin at $75 per prescription for over half a million Iowans on state-regulated insurance plans. This legislation has had broad, bipartisan support in the legislature in recent years but has yet to pass in both chambers.

We will continue to fight for policies and laws that matter to older Iowans and their families and encourage you to get involved in these efforts. Click here if you are interested in learning more about becoming an AARP Iowa advocacy volunteer.