Lots of Voting Bills, But Few Moving

There have been a lot of voting bills introduced this year. Although there is a large number of these bills, we don’t think many will be considered. With just a week to go before the first funnel deadline (when bills must be voted out of their originating committee), we have listed some of the more important and controversial bills to note dealing with voting and election laws. There are bills between roughly 4 categories, 1) Bills that change how someone may vote, 2) How votes are processed, 3) Election law changes, and 4) Other categories (such as caucus law).

1. First, bills that change how you vote. This section specifically focuses on restrictions, absentee voting, and changes that impact on how someone can vote. 

• Election Law Reform HSB627 & SF 2287: These twin bills have both made it out of committee, so are what we call “funnel proof,” meaning they are now eligible for debate for the rest of session. These bills were requested by the Secretary of State and supported by the Iowa Association of County Auditors. The bills revise multiple aspects of Iowa’s election administration, including how recounts are handled and updating the types of election equipment used. LWVIA is just monitoring this bill.
• Same-Day Voter Registration/Voting HF2164 & SF 2081: These companion bills make the ballots of those voting early in person or same day registration voters provisional. LWVIA opposes these bills, but fortunately the House bill was never assigned a subcommittee and the Senate subcommittee has yet to schedule a hearing.
• School/Local Election Dates HF2191: Moves election and school elections to an even year, so they would be held at the same time as the general election. The bill also extends terms for office holders until the even year. The subcommittee recommended passage of this bill, but it has not yet been scheduled for full committee debate. LWVIA is just monitoring this bill.
• School Bond Election Requirements HF2192: This bill moves the threshold from 60% to 80% for passing school district bond proposals and adds a four year waiting period prior to being reconsidered. This bill is in the House Ways & Means Committee, so it does not have to be taken up before the funnel deadlines. In the three weeks since it was introduced, it still has not been assigned a subcommittee. LWVIA is monitoring this bill for now, but if it starts to gain traction we’ll reconsider that position.
• Local Elections to Fill Vacancies HSB639: Adds a new required process for filling vacancies within elected spots. LWVIA is monitoring this bill, but the county auditors and school board association both support this bill, which has been voted out of committee and will be assigned a new House File number soon.
• Satellite Absentee Voting SF140: Prohibits the use of a school to be used as a satellite for absentee voting if there is a school-related question (bond, levy, etc) on the ballot, and makes sure all materials that reference this question are also removed from satellite locations similar to the law requiring removal of candidate names. LWVIA is monitoring this bill, which has already passed the Senate and is now out of the House committee and ready for full House debate. School organizations are opposed; everyone else is neutral.
• Ballot Labeling Requirements SF2074 & HF2195: Requires county auditors to label each ballot with the way the vote was cast (mail-in absentee, in-person absentee, poll site voting, etc). LWVIA and county auditors are opposed.
• Absentee Ballot Deadline SF2077 & HF2165: This bill requires absentee ballots to be turned in the day before the election at 5pm and requires more information on ballots (voter verification number, an additional envelope). LWVIA and Disability Rights Iowa are opposed, while county auditors are neutral. Fortunately these bills have not moved since introduced, so unlikely to make the upcoming deadline. 
• Voter Registration Form Availability SF2130: Any place that sells hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses would be required to make voter registration forms available at their business. The Senate subcommittee met on this bill, but tabled it indefinitely (aka killed it). They did not want to force private businesses to do this, and noted that they already could do this voluntarily. Others worried someone could try to electioneer. LWVIA was monitoring this bill.
• Accessible Absentee Ballot Marking Pilot HF2118 & SSB3047: These companion bills were requested by the Secretary of State (Senate) and Rep. Jon Dunwell/Rep. David Young (House). The create a pilot program to help Iowans who are blind or have low vision be able to vote early at home independently without assistance using special equipment. LWVIA, AARP, and organizations representing Iowans with disabilities all support these bills, but they are unfortunately not moving forward a second year in a row.

2. Secondly, how votes are processed. This category narrows down any bills that deal with voter identification, and or security for voting in Iowa. 

• Voter Records Requirements SF2075 & HF 2166: This bill requires the county auditors and the Secretary of State to keep detailed records of voter registration for at least 8 years, and the records have to be kept electronically.  Neither bill is moving.
• Candidate Security HF2160: Allows candidates to use their election campaign funds to pay for personal home and security if the cost is reasonable. This bill is also not moving. 
• Citizenship Verification for Voter Registration SF2203: Requires the Secretary of State to verify registered voters in Iowa are US citizens and sets up process for verification when registering to vote (using federal SAVE verification system). This bill is out of committee and safe from the funnel. LWVIA and Migrant Movement for Justice oppose the bill (League is concerned about delays and accuracy of SAVE).

3. Third, Election Law changes. This section highlights bills that are trying to turn nonpartisan partisan, and focus on laws surrounding the use of AI and other updated changes that elections may base with growing technology and or partisan approaches.  

• Election Synthetic Media Disclosure SF2166: Requires there to be a clear disclosure when fake or synthetically used media is used in campaign materials (such as AI generated media). This bill is dead.
• Ballot Party Identification HF2073: Makes any elected official that has the authority to propose, levy, or approve a tax to have their party listed on the ballot (essentially making community college trustees, school boards, and city councils partisan). LWVIA opposes. The bill passed subcommittee but has not been called up in committee for a vote.
• Campaign Finance Restrictions SF2204 & HF2044: Prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to ballots and or any election campaigns. LWVIA is monitoring these bills. The Senate bill has made it through the funnel and is ready for Senate debate; the House bill passed subcommittee but has not yet been taken up by the full committee.
• AI Use in Elections HF2150: This bill puts strong guardrails in place for use of AI in election and election related materials for candidates, committees, and officials. It’s a Democrat-sponsored bill, so did not get a subcommittee meeting.
• Campaign Synthetic Media HSB643 & SSB3039: This bill addresses the use of fake/synthetic images in campaign materials by requiring clear disclosure. The bills were proposed by the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board and both have passed subcommittee but are awaiting full committee vote. LWVIA supports these bills, but the Iowa Newspaper Association is opposed.

4. This category is our catchall section: 

• Precinct Caucus Notices SF2015 & HF 2068: These bills allow political party precinct caucus notices to be published on an official political party’s social media account. This replaces the need for newspaper posting. LWVIA and AARP are both undecided and will be asking for this to be amended o include a website (so that those without social media can access information). Both feel that access to this information should not require a login to access. The Iowa Newspaper Association opposes these bills. The House subcommittee will meet on 2/16/26 at 12:30 pm to discuss this bill; the Senate subcommittee has not scheduled a meeting.
• Congressional District Conventions HF2239: This would mandate each political party to hold a congressional district convention. Currently a party “may” hold one. No subcommittee has been assigned to this, which says no one plans to bring it up.

There are a lot of bills and many issues that are tracked for LWVIA, so check the bill tracker for a complete list with greater detail.

This post was written by Drake University student Makenna Hovey, the Advocacy Cooperative’s Government Relations Intern.

• Category: Elections, Voting Information