Iowa Lawmakers Aim to Restrict Teen Tanning, Boost Pediatric Cancer Research

New bills target rising melanoma rates and lack of funding for childhood cancer treatments.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Iowa lawmakers are proposing two bills to address growing health concerns in the state. One bill would restrict teenagers' access to tanning beds without parental consent, as exposure to UV rays is a known risk factor for skin cancer. Another bill aims to provide $1 per state resident, up to $3 million annually, in funding for pediatric cancer research to address the lack of resources for childhood forms of the disease.

Why it matters

Melanoma rates in Iowa have been steadily climbing compared to the rest of the country, making the state second in the nation for new cancer cases. These legislative efforts aim to curb preventable skin cancer cases in teens and increase funding for critical pediatric cancer research that has historically been underfunded.

The details

House File 254 proposes restricting teenagers' access to tanning beds without parental consent, while House File 2057 would provide annual funding of up to $3 million for research into childhood cancers. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, and the Iowa Cancer Registry has tracked a steep increase in cases over the past two decades.

  • House File 254 has made it through subcommittee and could now go to the full Senate State Government panel.
  • House File 2057 aims to provide the $1 per state resident funding each year for pediatric cancer research.

The players

House File 254

A proposed bill that would restrict teenagers' access to tanning beds without parental consent.

House File 2057

A proposed bill that would provide up to $3 million annually in funding for pediatric cancer research.

Mary Charlton

Director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, which has tracked a steep increase in melanoma cases in the state since 2000.

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What they’re saying

“Melanoma rates have been going up since I've been around, at least 2000. They've been going up quite, quite steeply compared to the rest of the country.”

— Mary Charlton, Director, Iowa Cancer Registry (kcci.com)

What’s next

House File 254 could now go to the full Senate State Government panel for further consideration.

The takeaway

These legislative efforts in Iowa aim to address the state's growing skin cancer crisis, particularly among teenagers, while also boosting much-needed funding for pediatric cancer research that has historically been underfunded compared to adult forms of the disease.