Capitol Notebook: Elected officials could request address confidentiality with county offices under Iowa House bill

DES MOINES — Elected officials in Iowa would be able to have their home addresses redacted from official county records under legislation that passed its first legislative step Thursday in the Iowa House.

The bill adds elected officials like members of Congress, statewide elected officials and state legislators, to an existing program that allows police officers, judges and other officials to have their home addresses redacted from records with county assessors and county recorders.

Legislators said the measure will help add a layer of protection to elected officials who may feel unsafe with their personal information being publicly available.

The legislation would not completely shield elected officials’ home addresses from all public records; it applies specifically to county recorders’ and assessors’ documents.

The bill, House File 2061, was approved Thursday by all three members of a House subcommittee. It is now eligible for consideration by the House Local Government Committee.

Nick Laning, a lobbyist for the Iowa County Recorders Association, during the subcommittee said 295 law enforcement or judicial officers have, since 2021, participated in the existing program that allows them to have their addresses redacted from county documents.

Bill would expand U.S. government instruction requirement

Iowa high school students would have to take a full year, rather than a semester, of U.S. government instruction as part of the required five units of social studies needed to graduate under a bill advanced Thursday by House Republicans.

The proposal, House Study Bill 594, would require public school districts, accredited non-public schools, charter schools and innovation zone schools to offer and teach one full unit — typically two semesters — of U.S. government instruction in grades 9 through 12. Current law requires only a half-unit, or one semester. The change would take effect beginning with the 2028-29 school year.

“This would not change the five units required in social studies,” said subcommittee chair Rep. Robert Henderson, R-Sioux City. “It simply restructures those units so that two semesters are devoted to civics and U.S. government.”

Education groups largely registered as undecided during the subcommittee hearing, saying they supported the intent but raised concerns about implementation, teacher shortages and the potential impact on elective offerings. Representatives from School Administrators of Iowa, the Urban Education Network of Iowa and the Iowa Catholic Conference noted the delayed effective date would give districts time to adjust schedules and staffing.

Supporters argued the change is needed to address gaps in civic knowledge. Josephine Gittler, a University of Iowa law professor speaking on behalf of the Alliance for Civic Education of Iowa, cited national surveys showing low proficiency in civics among students and adults. “One half-unit in high school is not sufficient to cover what the standards now require,” she told lawmakers.

The bill advanced out of the subcommittee on a party-line split. Rep. Steve Bradley, R-Cascade, joined Henderson in signing off to move the measure to the full House Education Committee. Rep. Angel Ramirez, D-Cedar Rapids, declined to sign, saying she wanted more information on whether the proposal could become an unfunded mandate for school districts.

Fiscal estimates for the bill were not yet available Thursday.

Bird flu detected in Kossuth County

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A case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, more commonly known as the bird flu, has been detected in a mixed flock of backyard chickens and game bird pheasants in Kossuth County.

The case was confirmed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

It is the first detection of the bird flu in 2026, according to the state.

Bill would make instrumentalities subject to open records requests

Iowa Senate lawmakers advanced a bill out of a local government subcommittee Thursday that would subject instrumentalities, or organizations that represent local governments, to open records requests.

The bill describes local government instrumentalities as an entity that serves a governmental purpose or performs a governmental function. It lists examples as the Iowa League of Cities, Iowa State Association of Counties and the Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership.

Republican state Sen. Scott Webster of Bettendorf, the sponsor of Senate File 503, said as a lawmaker from the Quad Cities, he believes legislation is necessary to ensure transparency in all levels of government.

“There’s two sides to this story, and open records and open meetings. I think we need to make sure that we have the availability to do this,” Webster said.

Webster, and Sens. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, and Dave Sires, R-Cedar Falls, all signed on to advance the legislation.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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