IA
Iowa House Bill HF725

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF725

Introduced
3/4/25  

Caption

A bill for an act establishing a rural emergency response enhancement program, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

Impact

Through appropriations from the state's general fund, HF725 allocates up to $250,000 annually for a four-year timeframe starting July 1, 2025. This funding formulation is designed to support training initiatives, thereby enhancing responsiveness and effectiveness of rural emergency services. Additionally, all funds allocated will be housed within a dedicated Rural Emergency Response Enhancement Fund, ensuring that financial resources are directly utilized for the intended grants without reversion at fiscal year-end.

Summary

House File 725 establishes the Rural Emergency Response Enhancement Program aimed at bolstering emergency response capabilities in rural areas through financial assistance for emergency medical technician (EMT) training. Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, the program provides grants to small rural police departments and volunteer fire departments, which are crucial for enhancing their emergency medical services capabilities. The bill delineates eligibility criteria, requiring these departments to demonstrate a need for EMT training within their service areas, and mandate deploying trained personnel as a condition for receiving grants.

Contention

The emergence of HF725 may lead to discussion around the sufficiency and appropriateness of the allocated funds, particularly whether the budget can adequately sustain the program throughout its effective duration. Stakeholders might express concerns regarding the dependency of small communities on state grants for essential training, which may trigger debates around long-term financial viability and effectiveness of the program. Evaluating the program's success will also be key, as HHS is tasked with reporting outcomes and recommendations to the General Assembly by the end of 2028.

Latest IA HF725 Activity

View All Events: IA 2025-2026 Regular Session HF725

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA HF2427

A bill for an act relating to the opioid settlement fund, creating the opioid settlement future fund, establishing the opioid epidemic response advisory council, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

IA SF2437

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for veterans and health and human services, including other related provisions and appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 3205.)

IA SSB3205

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for veterans and health and human services, including other related provisions and appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See SF 2437.)

IA HF3

A bill for an act relating to public assistance program integrity, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 613.)

IA HF613

A bill for an act relating to public assistance program integrity, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 3.)

IA HF144

A bill for an act relating to rural emergency hospitals, including licensing requirements and fees, making penalties applicable, providing emergency rulemaking authority, and including applicability and effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 13.)

IA HF2693

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, and including effective date provisions. Effective date: 05/09/2024, 07/01/2024.

IA HF13

A bill for an act relating to rural emergency hospitals, including licensing requirements and fees, making penalties applicable, providing emergency rulemaking authority, and including applicability and effective date provisions.(See HF 144.)

IA HSB253

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund and technology reinvestment fund, establishing a destination Iowa fund, providing for related matters, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 730.)

IA HSB159

A bill for an act relating to nonsubstantive Code corrections, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 567.)

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.