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 What Cancer Control Partners Need to Know about the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session

Dear Iowa Cancer Consortium members and partners,  

The 2025 Iowa Legislative Session is in full swing and bills are being introduced that could affect cancer outcomes in our state.  

Cancer control advocates are a critical part of making the legislative process work. And if you’re reading this, you’re likely a cancer control advocate. Though the Iowa Cancer Consortium does not use state or federal funds to engage in lobbying, and therefore does not endorse or oppose any of the proposed bills or actions, we want you to have the information you need to participate and make your voices heard.  

And making your voice heard is incredibly important!  

You may remember Rep. Austin Baeth (D, District 36) and Rep. Hans Wilz (R, District 25) as the hit bi-partisan duo from the 2024 Iowa Cancer Summit. They are hard at work in Des Moines right now introducing some of the bills that they hope will become law by the end of this session and that will help Iowa turn its second-in-the-nation-for-cancer-incidence status around. But they and their colleagues need to hear often from Iowans about what they want and don’t want.  

“It’s crucial that lawmakers hear from experts and advocates about why cancer control should be a top priority this year,” says Rep. Baeth. Rep. Wilz recommends sharing personal stories and reminds cancer control advocates that “There is a good chance someone you know will benefit from more cancer policy in Iowa. You have a chance to save lives!” 

Below is a list of bills and issues (by topic) our partners are watching, plus some resources for understanding and engaging in the legislative process at the state level. The following is shared for informational purposes only and is likely not a comprehensive list. If we’ve missed something, please let us know. 

Need a quick refresher on how bills become laws or what some of the language below means? This guide from the Des Moines Register is helpful. 

Here we go!  

Access to Care 

  • HSB99 (companion: SSB1074) includes anti-copay accumulator language that would require that payments from patient assistance programs be applied towards a patient’s cost-sharing requirements. HSB99 has been reported out of full committee, putting it successfully through the early March funnel. The Alliance for Patient Access and the Iowa Rural Health Association are two organizations supporting this bill. Contact Threase Harms at [email protected].  
  • HF303/SF231 (previously HSB19/SSB1016) would address barriers to care from prior authorization requirements and would establish a prior authorization exemption program. Both bills have passed out of full committee and are successfully through the first funnel. Contact Threase Harms at [email protected]. 
  • SF 197 addresses prescription drug coverage for metastatic cancer. It would require policies, contracts, or plans that allow third-party payment or prepayment of health or medical expenses to include coverage for prescription cancer drugs in their coverage for prescription drugs. This bill has been reported out of subcommittee and must be reported out of a full committee to remain viable past the early March funnel deadline.  
  • SF 272 requires public employers to provide health care benefits that include cancer screening examinations to full-time firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services providers within the first three years of a person’s employment and every three years thereafter. This bill has not been heard by a subcommittee.  
  • Other access-related bills: HF61 (Disclosure of prices charged), HSB100 (Cost-sharing requirements for supplemental/diagnostic breast exams), SF56 (Right to Try), SF197/HF217 (Insurance coverage for prescription drugs used in metastatic cancer treatment), SSB 1017 (PBM reverse auctions for public employees), SSB 1029 (cost controls for healthcare services). Contact Threase Harms at [email protected]. 

Alcohol  

  • The Alliance of Coalitions for Change (AC4C) is developing a state policy to establish a minimum unit price for low-cost, high-alcohol-content liquor. They report that the affordability of some of the most-consumed hard liquors encourages excessive drinking among young people and others in Iowa. There is strong evidence suggesting that a small price increase on the cheapest hard liquors can significantly reduce alcohol-related deaths and illnesses, including cancer. No bill has been introduced yet. Contact Jennifer Husmann at [email protected].  

Breast Cancer   

  • HF318 (previously HSB100), would address cost-sharing requirements for supplemental and diagnostic breast examinations. This bill has been reported out of committee and is therefore successfully through the first funnel deadline. Susan G. Komen supports this bill. Contact Alimyon Allen at [email protected].  

Cancer Research 

  • SF63 would appropriate $4 million for cancer research ($1.25 million each for basic research, prevention, and pediatric cancer). It has not been heard by a subcommittee.  
  • HF226 would appropriate $15 million to the University of Iowa for cancer research. This bill has not been heard by a subcommittee and seems unlikely to make it through the early March funnel.  
  • In her Condition of the State address, the Governor asked the state legislature to appropriate $1 million for a partnership between Iowa HHS and the University of Iowa College of Public Health to research what is driving Iowa’s high cancer rates. No bill language or number is available yet.  

Medicaid Work and Community Engagement Requirements 

  • Susan G. Komen and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are among partners watching for details on the governor’s proposed Medicaid community and work engagement requirements. ACS CAN is strongly opposed to these requirements and reports that individuals who have cancer could be locked out of health care coverage by them. Contact Jackie Cale at [email protected].  

Medical Debt 

  • ACS CAN and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) are partnering with lawmakers to introduce legislation that would cap the interest rate on medical debt at 2%. They report that 47% of cancer patients and survivors have incurred medical debt to pay for their cancer care. Medical debt is not chosen debt and cancer survivors should not be penalized for having cancer. No bill number is available yet. Contact Jackie Cale at [email protected] or Danielle Oswald-Thole at [email protected] for information.  

Pesticides  

  • SSB1051 would provide legal protection for pesticide manufacturers in cases claiming their products caused adverse health effects including cancer if the product has a federally approved warning label. View registered groups for and against this bill. The bill has been reported out of subcommittee and must also be reported out of a full committee to remain viable through the first funnel deadline.  

Radon 

  • HF82 would require new single-family or two-family residential construction to include passive radon mitigation systems. This bill has been reported out of a subcommittee. To stay viable after the first funnel deadline on March 7, it will also need to be reported out of a full committee.  
  • HF211 would allow an income tax credit for radon mitigation costs up to $1,000. It has not been heard by a subcommittee.  
  • HF364 would appropriate $20,000 to make radon test kits available for free to homeowners and renters in Iowa. This bill was just introduced on Feb. 12 and has not been heard by a subcommittee.  
  • SF43 would authorize cities to require radon testing for single family residences used as rental properties. It has not been heard by a subcommittee.  
  • HF377 would allow tenants to conduct radon tests in their dwelling units and to get out of leases without financial penalty if radon is detected and not mitigated by the landlord. This bill was just introduced on Feb. 13 and therefore has not been heard by a subcommittee. 

Tanning 

  • HF116 would prohibit people under 18 from using tanning devices. This bill has been reported out of subcommittee and must be reported out of a full committee to survive the March 7 funnel deadline. Rep. Baeth is looking for dermatologists who can educate legislators on the science behind this bill and its potential impact. Email him at [email protected]. 

Tobacco 

  • HSB148 would eliminate the exception under the Smokefree Air Act that allows smoking in casinos. A subcommittee meeting on this bill is scheduled for 2/18/25. 
  • A bill is expected from Sen. Mike Klimmesh that would tax e-cigarettes at a rate comparable to combustible cigarettes. The American Lung Association supports this effort and reports that legislators are open to making the bill language more comprehensive to include more products besides e-cigarettes. Contact Kristina Hamilton at [email protected].  

Vaccination 

  • HF104 (companion bill: SF120) would prevent a minor from being able to consent to receiving a vaccination for a sexually transmitted disease or infection, including HPV. ACS CAN and the Iowa Public Health Association are opposed to this bill. It has passed out of committee, which means it will successfully pass through the first funnel deadline.  

Happy engaging, partners!  

Resources 

The Iowa Cancer Consortium is a non-partisan, non-political organization and does not use state or federal funds to engage in lobbying. Views presented by members and partners during Policy Workgroup meetings and through Consortium communications do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, its board of directors, staff or membership.