Bill > HF2666

Introduced Session

This bill relates to the duties of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing (department), including the practice of licensed professions and the duties of professional licensing boards. The bill strikes a provision allowing an initial commercial license for the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or commercial use of explosives to be issued for a term of fewer than three years. The bill changes the definition of “apprentice electrician” to include a person participating in a training program registered by the Iowa office of apprenticeship (IOA). The bill strikes a requirement for the electrical board to adopt an official seal and requires a license issued under Code chapter 103 (electricians and electrical contractors) to be in the form of a certificate under the seal of the department and signed by the director of the department. The bill requires the department to adopt rules to set renewal fees for all licenses issued under Code chapter 103. The bill also requires a licensee whose license has been revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered to apply for reinstatement of the license. The changes to the term of licenses issued pursuant to Code chapter 103 apply to licenses issued on or after the effective date of the bill and on or after the date on which the department adopts rules setting the term for licenses issued pursuant to Code chapter 103. The bill applies the inspection and enforcement provisions of Code chapter 103 to all new electrical installations for single-family residential applications, rather than only those requiring new electrical service equipment. The bill strikes a provision making the home address and telephone number of licensees in a database of persons licensed pursuant to Code chapter 103 confidential. The bill allows the chairperson of the electrical examining board or the administrative staff of the department to designate a hearing officer for appeals from among members of the electrical board or administrative law judges employed by the department. The bill changes the definition of “apprentice” under Code chapter 105 (plumbers, mechanical professionals, and contractors) to include a person participating in a training program registered by the IOA. The bill removes the director of health and human services or the director’s designee, and the commissioner of public safety or the commissioner’s designee, from the membership of the plumbing and mechanical systems board. The bill strikes a provision limiting the length of an application form to take an examination for a license issued pursuant to Code chapter 105. The bill also strikes a provision allowing the plumbing and mechanical systems board (plumbing board) to request a recent photograph of an applicant. The bill strikes a requirement that the plumbing board submit an annual report to the general assembly, an authorization for the board to charge a fee for a paper application, and a provision requiring licenses issued pursuant to Code chapter 105 to expire on the same date every third year. The bill strikes a provision making the home address and telephone number of licensees in a registry of persons licensed pursuant to Code chapter 105 confidential. The bill requires a person licensed pursuant to Code chapter 105 to inform the department if the person changes residence or place of practice. Commencing January 1, 2027, the bill requires a person seeking a journeyperson license pursuant to Code chapter 105 to have four years of practical experience with an apprenticeship training program registered by the IOA. The bill strikes a requirement that the plumbing board establish a special, restricted license fee and instead allows the department to create a special, restricted license fee. The bill requires the department to adopt rules to set the renewal fees for all licenses issued under Code chapter 105. The bill also requires a licensee whose license has been revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered to apply for reinstatement of the license. The changes to the term of licenses issued pursuant to Code chapter 105 apply to licenses issued on or after the effective date of the bill and on or after the date on which the department adopts rules setting the term for licenses issued pursuant to Code chapter 105. The bill adds architects, engineers and land surveyors, landscape architects, and interior designers to Code Title IV (public health), subtitle 3 (health-related professions), by moving provisions formerly located in Code chapters regulating those professions, including those related to board composition and title protection. The bill makes conforming changes regarding the practice of persons licensed pursuant to an interstate licensure compact. The bill strikes a provision protecting a person from ineligibility for a license due to citizenship status. The bill requires every license to practice a profession to be in the form of a certificate issued by the department. The bill strikes a provision requiring a board to keep the address of record of licensees available for public inspection and requires a licensee to inform the department of a change in the licensee’s address. The bill requires the department to adopt rules for the expiration, renewal, and reinstatement of all professional licenses, and makes conforming changes throughout the Code. A license shall not have a renewal interval of more than five years. The changes to the term of licenses issued pursuant to Code chapter 147 apply to licenses issued on or after the effective date of the bill, and on or after the date on which the department adopts rules setting the term for licenses issued pursuant to Code chapter 147. The bill allows a professional licensing board to issue a temporary license to practice a profession regulated by the board and allows each board to adopt rules for the issuance and revocation of a temporary license. The bill requires the department to set by rule the duration of a temporary license, not to exceed one year. The bill allows a person to renew a temporary license but prohibits a person from practicing under a temporary license for more than three years. The bill also allows a professional licensing board to grant a license, registration, or certification by reciprocity. The bill allows the director of the department to accept a voluntary surrender of a license if accompanied by a written statement of intention, which shall have the same force and effect as an order of revocation. The bill makes conforming changes throughout the Code. The bill allows the department to set fees related to the issuance and renewal of all professional licenses, and shall be deposited in the licensing and regulation fund, and the department shall annually review and adjust the fees. The bill also allows the department to establish by rule the process for issuing reciprocal licenses. The bill requires professional boards to adopt rules necessary and proper to administer and interpret Code chapter 272C (regulation of licensed professions and occupations) and Code chapters 542 through 544C. The bill allows professional licensing boards to refer violations of Code Title IV (public health), subtitle 3 (health-related professions), to the attorney general or relevant county attorney. Following an investigation, a board may refer a knowing violation to the attorney general of any state or any other appropriate law enforcement official. The bill allows a professional board to impose a penalty, injunction, restraining order, or conviction for a single violation of a law related to professional regulation without showing evidence of a general course of conduct. The bill requires the department to employ personnel to conduct inspections and investigations and allows the department to employ clerical assistants. The costs of employing personnel shall be paid from funds appropriated to the department. The bill grants investigators the powers and status of peace officers. The bill allows the board or department to issue a cease and desist order and impose a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 on an unlicensed person acting in the capacity of a licensed profession. The bill allows the department to administratively close a complaint if the complaint does not allege harm to the public or is referred to another agency or law enforcement. The department may close an investigation if the alleged harm is not substantiated. The bill allows a board to impose an administrative penalty of up to $500 on a licensee, registrant, or trainee who engages in, or employs a person to engage in, a regulated practice without a current license, permit, or qualification, or who fails to complete continuing education requirements for the renewal of a license, permit, or qualification. An administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this provision of the bill is not a disciplinary action and shall be confidential. A licensee, registrant, or trainee may contest an administrative penalty by initiating a contested case proceeding. An administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this provision of the bill shall be deposited in the general fund of the state. The bill repeals a provision requiring the salary of the executive director of the board of medicine to be established by the governor with the approval of the executive council. The bill strikes a provision requiring the board of medicine to give priority to applications for licensure from applicants whose practice will primarily involve providing services to underserved populations. The bill repeals sections from Code chapter 148 (medicine and surgery and osteopathic medicine and surgery) relating to the voluntary surrender, relinquishment, and reinstatement of a license, temporary licenses, voluntary agreements, and investigators. Similar provisions are added to Code chapter 147 (general provisions, health-related professions). The bill requires an applicant for a license to practice as an occupational therapist to submit an application in a manner prescribed by the board of physical and occupational therapy rather than on a written form. The bill repeals a Code section requiring the appointment of an executive director to the board of nursing. The bill changes references in Code chapter 152 (nursing) to licensure by endorsement to instead reference reciprocal licenses. The bill strikes a transition provision for the unlicensed practice of athletic training that is no longer in effect. The bill strikes certain provisions related to the conduct of disciplinary proceedings conducted by the dental board. With respect to a temporary permit issued to a nonresident to practice speech pathology or audiology in this state, the bill strikes a reference to the permittee being qualified “in the opinion of the board”. The bill allows a person with a temporary permit to practice as a hearing aid specialist to practice under the supervision of an audiologist. The bill repeals a Code section allowing the board of pharmacy to implement a program to monitor impaired pharmacists, pharmacist-interns, and pharmacy technicians. The bill makes technical corrections regarding discipline against licensed funeral establishments. The bill strikes a provision making the publication of an unlawful announcement to the public regarding barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences a serious misdemeanor. The bill strikes and repeals provisions relating to the composition, operation, powers, and compensation of the engineering and land surveying examining board (surveying board). The bill also strikes a requirement that the department file a report with the secretary of the surveying board regarding the outcome of examinations administered by the board and allowing applicants to retake the examination. The bill allows hours of experience obtained in any other state to be used to complete the experience requirements for licensure as a real estate appraiser. The bill strikes provisions relating to the composition, activities, and regulation of members of the real estate appraiser examining board, as well as a provision allowing the board to seek injunctions and restraining orders. The bill strikes provisions relating to the composition of the architectural examining board (architect board) and allowing professional associations to recommend potential board members. The bill also strikes provisions requiring the architect board to keep public records relating to the issuance of licenses, requiring the board to hold examinations not less than annually, and prohibiting the board from requiring applicants to include a photograph of the applicant with the application for licensure. The bill strikes a provision making the unlawful practice of architecture a serious misdemeanor, as well as provisions limiting the participation of public members, prohibiting the disclosure of confidential information, and requiring the board to maintain a roster of licensees. The bill strikes provisions concealing the identity of persons taking an examination for licensure as a professional landscape architect, and dictating when a person who has failed the examination may request information about the examination. The bill also strikes Code sections setting procedures for the hearing of complaints by the landscape architect board, making the unlawful practice of landscape architecture a simple misdemeanor, and allowing the imposition of injunctions to restrain persons who violate Code chapter 544B (landscape architects). The bill strikes provisions relating to the composition of the interior design examining board and allowing professional associations to recommend potential board members. The bill repeals a Code section allowing the interior design examining board to seek injunctions to enjoin violations of Code chapter 544C (registered interior designers).

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Subcommittee: Bloomingdale, McBurney and Siegrist. H.J. 435. (on 02/25/2026)

Official Document