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 our members and volunteers across the state who lift up our issues by sending messages, making calls, and meeting with our elected leaders.

The 2025 legislative session was truly a banner year for AARP with the passage of several priority bills, including two spearheaded by AARP Iowa: the Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) bill and a cryptocurrency fraud prevention bill.

In addition to our priority pieces of legislation, we also spent significant time and effort opposing the Governor’s proposed energy bill, which would have negatively impacted consumers and resulted in higher utility rates. Though some bills did not ultimately move forward this year, we will continue to remain engaged in these issues at the Capitol and with stakeholders.

Below is a short overview of some key pieces of legislation from our advocacy efforts during the 2025 session:

· SF 592 – The Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) bill requires all cities and counties in Iowa to allow homeowners to build an ADU on their property. The governor signed this bill on May 1.

· SF449 – The cryptocurrency fraud prevention bill increases consumer protections and regulates cryptocurrency kiosks. The governor signed this bill on May 19.

· SF 266 – The gift card scam penalties bill establishes criminal penalties for gift card scams ranging from a serious or aggravated misdemeanor to a class C and class D felony. This bill was signed by the Governor on April 18.

· SF 22 – The hands-free driving bill prohibits the use of cellphones and other devices while driving unless in a hands-free mode. This bill was signed by the Governor on April 2.

· HF 834 – The Governor’s energy bill was an omnibus bill that would have had negative impacts on consumers and resulted in higher utility rates. This bill did not move forward this session.

· HF 1049 – Health and Human Services Budget, Personal Needs Allowance (PNA); in budget negotiations, an appropriation was made to increase the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) from $50 to $55 for individuals on Medicaid. PNAs can be used for personal items not covered under Medicaid, like clothes, toiletries, snacks, hair products, etc., but are still a necessity for day-to-day life. The budget is awaiting the Governor’s signature at this time.

· HF 893 – The Dementia Services Specialist bill would appropriate funds to establish a Dementia Services Specialist in each of the six Area Agencies on Aging to assist in care coordination and navigation for those living with and caring for those with dementia. This bill did not move forward this session.

· HF 986 – A Department of Insurance and Financial Services omnibus bill that would have included an additional allocation of funds to financial literacy, anti-fraud, and insurance education programming. This bill did not move forward this session.

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