Iowa’s 2022 legislative session was packed full of alterations and expansions to state law. From bottle returns to gun legislation, KCCI has broken down some of the most important decisions made.The following bills passed by the Iowa legislature go into effect on July 1:HF 2549: Loan Repayment ProgramA bill was signed into law that creates a loan repayment program for some mental health professionals.The bill was officially approved on June 13.Some of the requirements for the program are that the individual must have a graduate-level degree to work in mental health, be licensed in Iowa and be working full-time in a high-need area. HF 2589: Open EnrollmentRepublican state lawmakers vowed at the start of the 2022 legislative session to expand parental control and school transparency. Following a month-long stalemate over education, state lawmakers chose to eliminate the open enrollment deadline only a few hours before they officially adjourned.The bill eliminates the open enrollment deadline, allowing parents to transfer their students to any Iowa school throughout the year, as long as the other district accepts.Currently, parents have to submit an application by March 1 for open enrollment for the next school year. While late applications are possible, those are determined based on "good cause." That can range from harassment or health needs to the family moving.HF 2355: Unemployment ProgramsStatehouse Republicans pushed for changes to Iowa’s unemployment program during the legislative session, and House File 2355 is a culmination of those efforts.The new bill means that unemployed Iowans will see their benefits cut from 26 to 16 weeks. The law also requires workers to take lower-paying jobs sooner or risk losing their benefits.SF 2378: Bottle Program ReformFor the first time in more than four decades, the Iowa Senate voted to overhaul the state’s bottle and can redemption program.Originally, redemption centers received a cent for every bottle or can collected. Redemption centers now receive triple the amount of money from bottles and cans. This change is already in effect.The plan also allows grocery stores and retailers to opt-out of the bottle redemption system. This specific change does not begin until July 1.HF 2497: Casino MoratoriumA bill that passed the Iowa Senate places a two-year moratorium on new casinos. This means that casino construction and development will be put on pause until 2024.These changes are predicted to have the greatest impact on Linn County, which was in the process of developing a new casino in Cedar Rapids.This moratorium is only part of a larger bill that concerns gambling regulation and wagering. Elements of this bill are already in effect.SF 581: New Hunting SeasonIowa hunters will be able to use semi-automatic weapons, including AR-15 rifles, to kill deer in more parts of Iowa during a new antlerless season.Iowa had January deer hunting seasons using semi-automatic rifles in the past, but they were limited to a handful of areas. Now, as many as 15 counties will be included in the hunting season.SF 2367: Feminine Hygiene ProductsThe sales tax on feminine hygiene products will be removed in Iowa after SF 2367 was signed. The bill also modifies the distribution of revenue.Predictions show that Iowans could save nearly $12 million a year with this bill in place.Elements of this bill are already in effect, but more changes are to be officially enacted on July 1.SF 522: Elder AbuseA new bill fixes a gap in Iowa's criminal code by increasing the criminal and civil penalties for anyone who assaults, steals from or commits fraud against a person who's 60 years or older.Previously, the state only added increased penalties when the abuse took place in a community home setting and by a caregiver.HF 2127: Child Care Assistance ProgramThe legislation will allow providers to collect money from a family participating in the state's child care assistance program. This bill was passed during the overtime session.Child care centers could charge the difference between the assistance reimbursement a family receives and the rate the facility typically charges.HF 2198: Child Care EmploymentThe Iowa legislature passed a bill in response to the lack of workers in the child care industry.The new bill allows older teens to work in child care facilities. It would also increase the ratio for how many kids these providers would watch.SF 2287: Catalytic ConvertersThis bill cracks down on businesses selling stolen catalytic converters. Scrap metal companies must comply with more requirements in relation to catalytic converters.There are also additional recordkeeping procedures that must be met. This is one of the bills passed during the overtime session.HF 2246: Provisional Licenses for Psychology StudentsThis bill is one of the few that was passed during the legislative overtime session. It provides provisional licenses for psychology students during doctoral internships.SF 529: Fertility ProcedureA new bill tightens restrictions on fertility procedures, making it a crime to provide false information in connection with said procedure. This decision was passed during the overtime session.HF 2420: Safe Haven ActHouse File 2420 expands the state's Safe Haven Law.The change now allows families to surrender a child up to three months old. Before, the age limit was one month.HF 2130: All-Terrain and Off-Road Utility Vehicles House File 2130 relates to registered all-terrain and off-road vehicles. The new law expands the areas in which these vehicles are permitted, specifically listing locations in a new subsection of the bill. The bill also outlines specific guidelines regarding speed, licensing and other regulations. Penalties if the aforementioned regulations are violated are specified.The following bills passed by the Iowa legislature have been put into place prior to July 1:HF 2416: Transgender Athlete BanOne of Iowa’s most controversial bills was House File 2416, which garnered national attention. The bill, which is already in effect, states that athletes can only play on women's sports teams if their sex is listed as female on their original birth certificate.The law requires schools to designate all sponsored or sanctioned athletic events as men's, women's or co-education sports.The law applies to public and nonpublic schools, community colleges, private colleges, Board of Regents institutions and any institution that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or National Junior College Athletic Association. It would not apply to non-school-sponsored or sanctioned club sports.When the bill was initially passed, protests took place all over the state of Iowa.HF 2123: Missing People DatabaseBack in December, KCCI Investigates asked why a photo was not included for everyone in the state’s missing people database and why driver's license photos were not used for those missing photos on the database.Roughly a quarter of people on the database who are missing have a photo attached to their name and information.The state legislature passed House File 2123, which allows a police agency to share a driver's license photo when someone is missing, or when that person is suspected to be involved when a child is missing.The following bills passed by the Iowa legislature are projected to take several years to fully enact:HF 2317: Tax ReformHistoric tax reforms have been signed into law during the 2022 legislative session. House File 2317 creates a flat tax rate of 3.9% by 2026.It also reduces taxes for corporations and eliminates income tax on retirement income. The Legislative Services Agency estimates that $1.9 billion less in tax revenue will go to the general fund each year by 2026.HF 2128: Biofuel RequirementsThis bill requires many gas stations to offer E-15 gas. The requirement won't kick in for another four years, but in 2026 all gas stations in Iowa that have compatible equipment will have to make E-15 gas available.The governor and state Republicans have been fighting for this bill for a long time. The same legislation failed to pass the statehouse last year.Advocates say the change helps make Iowa more energy independent and ensures lower-emission and lower-price options for consumers at the pump. Critics are concerned that the mandate is unrealistic and would hurt retailers around the state.A full list of the bills passed during the 2022 Iowa legislative session can be found here.