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Senate adopts a package of bills on education, victims' protections, cannabis, palliative care and parental leave
Summary
The Senate concurred on amendments and passed several bills across education, criminal‑justice, health and labor topics, including changes to gifted‑education policy, victim protections, expanded medical cannabis dispensaries, palliative care and a fix to paid parental leave for state employees; most measures were passed and messaged to the House.
The Iowa Senate completed a multi‑item floor session and approved a number of bills across policy areas. Key outcomes include:
- Senate File 2220 (talent and gifted education modifications): The Senate concurred with a House amendment (51‑32) and passed the bill as amended. Vote recorded on the floor: 44 ayes, 3 nays. Supporters said the changes clarify pathways and acceleration for students identified as advanced.
- Senate File 2379 (victim protections): The chamber adopted an amendment shifting the effective date of the restitution portion to July 1, 2027 to allow judicial implementation time and removed references to a federal DOJ approval process, placing guidance with the state DOJ instead; the bill passed unanimously on the floor (47‑0).
- House File 990 (medical cannabidiol): The Senate adopted an amendment allowing non‑Iowa residents to obtain an Iowa medical cannabidiol registration card and increased the number of dispensaries licensed by HHS from five to ten; the bill passed.
- House File 2305 (end‑of‑life, palliative care and guardianship reporting): The Senate adopted amendments to clarify decision‑making authority for guardians and to require reporting and protections to facilitate timely access to palliative and hospice care for incapacitated patients; the bill passed.
- House File 2502 (paid parental leave fix for state employees): The Senate adopted a simple amendment making the bill effective upon enactment, extending paid parental leave eligibility to an omitted group of state employees; the bill passed (47‑0).
Several bills were ordered messaged to the House by unanimous consent after passage. The Senate also insisted on its amendment to House File 2200 (DOR/employment rules related to alcoholic beverage businesses) and sent that item to a conference committee.
