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HF 2526

A bill for an act relating to the confidentiality of the residential addresses of foster parents.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HF 2526 strengthens foster parent address confidentiality; only with written consent can a foster parent’s unredacted address be disclosed to a biological parent.

Signed by Governor.
#confidentiality #fostercare #juvenilejustice #recordsandpublications
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Bill Summary · HF 2526

Summary of HF 2526 (Session 2025-2026) — Iowa

Purpose and intent

HF 2526 seeks to protect the confidentiality of the residential addresses of foster parents who provide child foster care. The bill establishes rules governing when and how the Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) and its agents may handle, disclose, or withhold unredacted foster parent addresses, with the aim of preventing unwanted or unsafe disclosure to biological parents of foster children.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Section 1)

    • “Address” means the residential address of a person.
    • “Child foster care” aligns with the existing definition in Iowa law (section 237.1).
    • “Department” refers to the Department of Health and Human Services.
    • “Foster child” means a child receiving child foster care.
    • “Foster parent” means an individual licensee as defined in section 237.1.

  • Confidentiality restrictions (Subsection 2)

    • The Department and its agents shall not knowingly provide or make available to a biological parent of a foster child any document that contains the unredacted address of the foster parent currently providing care.
    • The Department and its agents shall not verbally disclose the foster parent’s address to the biological parent of the foster child.

  • Limited conditional disclosure (Subsection 3)

    • A document may contain the foster parent’s unredacted address, and the Department or its agents may verbally disclose the address, if the foster parent provides written consent to disclose the address to the foster child’s biological parent prior to the Department making the document available or verbally disclosing the address.

Who/what is affected

  • Primary subjects:

    • Foster parents who are licensed to provide child foster care in Iowa.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services and its state agencies and agents involved in handling foster care records and communications with Biological Parents.
    • Biological parents of foster children.

  • Practical impact:

    • Stronger safeguards against exposure of foster parent residential addresses in standard documents or through verbal disclosures to biological parents.
    • A mechanism for consent-based disclosure, allowing a foster parent to authorize disclosure of their address to a biological parent in specific circumstances.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative history

    • Introduced and passed through committee stages in early 2026.
    • Subcommittee recommended passage on March 9, 2026.
    • House passage: February 26, 2026 (yeas 90, nays 0).
    • Senate action: Passed Senate on May 1, 2026 (yeas 44, nays 0) with an immediate message to the House.

  • Effective dates

    • The posted text does not specify an effective date within the excerpt provided. If enacted, the bill would require the Department to implement confidentiality protections consistent with the new sections and definitions.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Privacy and safety: By restricting access to foster parent addresses, the bill enhances safety for foster families and may reduce risks associated with disputes or harassment from biological parents.
  • Consent option: The written consent provision provides a controlled pathway for exceptions, respecting foster parents’ autonomy over disclosure.
  • Implementation: Agencies will need processes to verify consent, redact addresses in documents, and ensure compliance with verbal disclosures only when authorized.

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison with current Iowa confidentiality practices or draft a quick FAQ for foster parents and agency staff based on these provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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