An Iowa House subcommittee has unanimously advanced a bill that would further regulate Iowa medical spas. The bill would add additional oversight to spas that offer minor, nonsurgical medical procedures like Botox injections and laser hair removal.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would be required to identify specific animal sources of fecal bacteria before adding a stream, lake or river segment to the state’s impaired waters list under a bill passed by a House subcommittee.

A bill that aims to expand access to subacute mental health services has advanced through an Iowa House subcommittee.

Students at the state’s public and charter schools would have to adhere to a statewide dress code under a bill advanced by a House panel. The bill states that students’ clothing would have to promote personal hygiene, neatness and modesty.

Under a bill advanced by an Iowa House subcommittee Monday, local municipalities would be banned from adding their own civil rights protections beyond those in state law, including those prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.

Transgender rights advocates said a bill advanced by an Iowa House subcommittee could lead to mental and physical harm for transgender children. The bill states that raising a child consistent with their biological sex could not be considered abuse or used to disqualify parents from foster care or adoption.

A bill that aims to crack down on out-of-state providers who mail abortion pills to Iowans was advanced Monday by Republicans on a Senate panel. Opponents said the bill would cause problems for in-state doctors while having little effect on mail-order pills.

Listen as Morning Edition Host Meghan McKinney and IPR's State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric review the latest from the Iowa Legislature.

Three bills that make up Iowa House Republicans’ “tough on crime” package cleared their first legislative hurdle in the Iowa House this week.

Iowans filled a room at the Capitol Thursday morning to oppose a bill that would end a requirement for police to have yearly de-escalation and bias prevention training and remove references to affirmative action in state law.