**DES MOINES — Governor Kim Reynolds has enacted 17 new laws today, focusing on critical areas such as education, public safety, health care, and benefits for state employees.**
Among the significant legislation is SF 369, which mandates high school students to successfully complete the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Civics Test as a prerequisite for graduation. “This initiative ensures that students in Iowa are equipped to become responsible and engaged citizens,” stated Governor Reynolds.
HF 889, known as the Families First Bill, introduces paid parental leave for state employees, providing essential bonding time with their newborns. “This aligns Iowa with 24 other states and the federal government in supporting families,” Reynolds remarked.
In education, reforms include SF 278, which promotes robotics extracurricular activities through technical assistance and interscholastic competitions, and HF 393, which revises school performance metrics to consider dropout rates. Additionally, HF 835 requires health care training for school staff, specifically for addressing the needs of students with epilepsy or seizure disorders.
On the topic of public safety, SF 462 establishes mandatory minimum sentences for felons found in possession of firearms and improves information sharing regarding individuals barred from firearm possession. Furthermore, HF 615 targets the misrepresentation of animals as service animals, and HF 306 imposes penalties for distributing obscene materials to minors.
Regarding health care, new legislation includes HF 300, which implements a licensure compact for physician assistants; HF 303, which provides regulation for prior authorization; and HF 933, which advocates for pediatric palliative care facilities.
Additional bills encompass topics such as grain marketing fees (SF 608), eligibility for law enforcement academy enrollment for veterans and former officers (HF 901), anti-bullying measures in schools (HF 865), immunization exemptions (HF 299), state highway operational guidelines (HF 1025), and a prohibition on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by public entities (HF 856).
The legislation signed today includes specific provisions regarding their effective dates and applicability where applicable.
