Member Login Donate
Contact Us

Cancer control in the 2026 Iowa legislative session: an early round-up!

Published: January 20, 2026

Dear Iowa Cancer Consortium members and partners, 

Happy New Year! We are a little over a week into the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session, and it will likely be a busy one for cancer control advocates.

This is the second year of the 91st General Assembly, which means that many bills introduced in the 2025 session are still eligible to progress in 2026. View the 2026 session timetable here. 

Below we’ve outlined some of the cancer-related activity you can expect this session as reported by Iowa Cancer Consortium members, followed by some federal cancer issues partners are watching, and advocacy opportunities from partner organizations.   

As always, the Iowa Cancer Consortium does not use state or federal funds to engage in lobbying. Inclusion in Consortium communications (including this email) is not endorsement or opposition to proposed bills, candidates, activities, or political parties. The following is shared for informational purposes only and is likely not a comprehensive list. Let us know what we’ve missed!  

Additional reading and resources:

Breast Cancer 
Iowa Army of Pink is working to remove patient costs for breast cancer screenings beyond mammograms and to add free mammography into the Iowa Code. They are looking for real stories about delayed follow-up breast screenings due to cost. Contact Brigid Greening.

Susan G. Komen is advocating to eliminate cost-sharing for diagnostic breast imaging and eliminating step therapy for metastatic cancer. Contact Alimyon Allen.

Cancer Research
Gold Ribbon Mom and Dad and other pediatric cancer and cancer research advocates are advocating for state funding for cancer research. SF 638 has been re-introduced for 2026 and has a companion in the House – HF 2011. These bills would tax and regulate alternative nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, and would create a fund for cancer research in Iowa with the associated revenue. View lobbyist declarations for SF 638. Additionally, HF 2057, introduced last week, would provide a standing appropriation of $1 per Iowa resident (up to $3 million per year) for pediatric cancer research to the Board of Regents for University of Iowa Health Care. View lobbyist declarations for HF 2057. Contact Scott Kaas for more information. 

HPV Vaccination
Once again, several bills are expected to be introduced that have the potential to impact HPV vaccination access and uptake. SF 304 would remove minors’ rights to consent to receiving the HPV vaccine. This bill passed the full Senate in 2025, has been revived this year, and was reported out of subcommittee in the House last week. View lobbyist declarations. Contact Elizabeth Faber with Iowa Immunizes and the Iowa Public Health Association. 

Radon

The Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) is advocating for policy that supports long-term solutions for radon testing and mitigation in Iowa. Learn about their plans in this blog post, and contact Cody Smith for more information. IEC’s Advocacy Day is Feb. 25, 2026.

Radon partners are also watching to see if radon-resistant new construction and radon tax credit bills from last year may be revived for 2026. 

Tobacco and Nicotine

Tobacco control partners in the state including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN), American Lung Association, American Heart Association, Tobacco Free Kids, Clean Air For Everyone (CAFE), and Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights have relaunched the Iowa Health Initiative coalition. Organizations that are broadly supportive of tobacco tax increases to reduce tobacco use and related death and disease are invited to join the coalition. The Iowa Health Initiative will not lobby directly for specific legislation (organizations may join without risk of  participating in lobbying activities), though its members may choose to individually. Watch the Iowa Health Initiative kick-off meeting recording. The group’s next meeting is January 23. 

In parallel, the Iowa Tobacco Prevention Alliance (ITPA) will advocate for a $1.50 cigarette tax increase with a 50% tax on all other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Contact Jackie Cale for more information. Signing up for the Iowa Health Initiative (link above) will also keep you connected to ITPA’s efforts.  

The Alliance of Coalitions for Change has been building momentum around including vaping in the Clean Indoor Air Act and is looking for partnership in this effort. Email Maggie Ballard to connect.

See also Gold Ribbon Mom and Dad, under “Research.”

Federal Advocacy

Blood Cancer United (contact Danielle Oswald-Thole) is advocating for: 

The Cedar Valley Beyond Pink TEAM in partnership with the National Breast Cancer Coalition is advocating for these national priorities. Contact Kristin Teig Torres.Iowa Army of Pink is advocating for the Find It Early Act on the federal level, which would ensure no cost sharing for diagnostic breast imaging under private or government insurers including Medicare and Medicaid.

The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) (contact Colleen Campbell) has reintroduced the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act. Genetic counseling is covered by Medicare, but genetic counselors are not yet a recognized provider type, meaning they can’t bill Medicare for counseling services like other providers can. It also means genetic counselors can’t order genetic tests for patients with Medicare, impeding patient access. Bill language has been cleaned up based on feedback and the society has a new lobbying firm. More information and a list of organizations supporting the bill is available here. NSGC is asking organizations, especially those in Iowa, to sign on. 

Additionally, the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is concerned about the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which many organizations are supporting because it’s good for their tech transfer offices, but they have not considered that it might be harmful for patient access. Read a stakeholder letter opposing the act here. The ASHG is asking people to weigh in with their lawmakers. 

Advocacy Opportunities

  • Susan G. Komen Iowa State Advocacy Forum and Day of Action: Feb. 9-10, 2026.
  • Iowa Public Health Association and Iowa Immunizes Day on the Hill: Feb. 16, 2026. Registration coming. 
  • AC4C/Alliance of Coalitions for Change Day on the Hill: Feb. 17, 2026. Email Maggie Ballard. 
  • Iowa Environmental Council Advocacy Day: Feb. 25, 2026. 
  • American Lung Association’s lobby day: March 11, 2026. Registration coming. 
  • Iowa Army of Pink is looking for real stories about delayed follow-up breast screenings due to cost. Contact Brigid Greening.
  • ACS CAN is looking for stories: 
    • If you or a loved one has been impacted by tobacco or nicotine use, please use this link to share your story or reach out directly to Morgan Newman. 
    • If you are a casino worker or know someone who has been impacted by smoke in casino, please use this link to share your story or reach out directly to Morgan Newman.

Interested in staying connected with cancer control policy in Iowa and sharing your own work? 

Join the Iowa Cancer Consortium’s virtual Policy Workgroup! Contact Kelly Wells Sittig for more information.

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 participants during Policy Workgroup meetings and Consortium communications do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, its board of directors, staff, or membership. Click here to read the Policy Workgroup Charter.

Questions about the Policy Workgroup? Contact Kelly Wells Sittig at [email protected].