Senate approves expanded 'right to try' measure to allow individualized investigational treatments

Senate File 233, described by the sponsor as an expansion of Iowa’s 2017 right‑to‑try law, passed the Senate after floor remarks from multiple senators in support.

Senator Alans of Woodbury opened floor discussion, describing the bill as granting patients with life‑threatening or severely debilitating conditions access to individualized investigational treatment — therapies developed specifically for an individual based on their genetic profile — provided that a treating physician attests the patient has considered approved options and gives written informed consent. "This bill provides access to individualized investigational treatment, which is a drug, biological product, or device that is unique to and produced exclusively for use by an individual based on their own genetic profile," the sponsor said.

Supporters, including Senator Walz of Johnson County and Senator Taylor, framed the bill as an expansion of individual medical freedom for patients with otherwise untreatable conditions. The sponsor noted the bill adds provisions related to a manufacturer operating within an "eligible facility," a term tied to federal law governing human‑subject research; the transcript references federal law without citing a specific federal provision.

The Senate recorded 48 ayes and 0 nays on final passage; the title was agreed to and the bill was declared passed. The transcript does not include the enrolled bill text, fiscal notes, or implementation details (including liability protections, informed‑consent form content, reporting requirements, or interactions with the FDA), nor does it record any floor amendments to the measure during this session.