DES MOINES - July 1 is the day when most legislation approved during the 2009 session and signed into law by Governor Culver goes into effect.

Here are some of the most significant changes you'll see:

Health insurance for 30,000 previously uninsured Iowa children from working families. More info...

** Smarter, tougher, safer laws that ban sex offenders from working at schools and daycares and from loitering around areas where children gather More info...

** More small wind energy projects thanks to expanded tax credits for locating these projects at farms, schools and hospitals (more info), and new "Wind Innovation Zones" that provide tax credits to individuals who launch small wind projects (more info).

** An extension of unemployment benefits for unemployed Iowans involved in training programs. More info...

** A boost for community revitalization through an increase in historic tax credits from $20 million to $50 million annually. More info...

** New "disaster revitalization areas" where property valuations are capped at pre-disaster levels for a period of five years. More info...

** A requirement that insurance companies cover prosthetic devices. More info...

** A stop to home foreclosures on Iowa's active-duty servicemembers. More info...

** Stronger home foreclosure protections that help Iowa home owners get the accurate information they need when facing foreclosure. More info...

** New consumer protections for car buyers. (more info), home buyers (more info), and those hiring a contractor for home improvements (more info).

You can learn more about these and other key 2009 legislation at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/highlights_2009.pdf.