SF 2252 modifies Iowa's Major Economic Growth Attraction (MEGA) program to allow tax incentives for building a National Football League (NFL) stadium. The bill expands the existing program - which currently targets businesses in advanced manufacturing, biosciences, or R&D - to include NFL franchises constructing a professional sports stadium. Key provisions define "sports stadium" as a facility for NFL games and specify that incentives (like sales tax refunds and investment tax credits) would apply to the stadium project, subject to the program’s $1 billion investment threshold. This bill would directly affect NFL teams seeking to build a stadium in Iowa, but it does not change other MEGA program requirements or eligibility rules.
This bill creates an exception to Iowa's general ban on handheld device use while driving for deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers who meet specific criteria. It allows eligible drivers (25+ years old with a license marked for their hearing status) to use a fixed electronic device to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) while driving, provided the device doesn't obstruct their view or operation of the vehicle. Drivers cannot touch the device while the vehicle is moving unless stopped, and violations would be a $100 misdemeanor. The exception applies only to devices used for ASL communication, not general device use.
This bill, the "Iowa Right to Repair Act," requires manufacturers of cell phones, home appliances, and motor vehicles to provide independent repair shops and consumers with diagnostic and repair information, software updates, and necessary tools after the product is six years old. Manufacturers must make this information available at no charge or on the same terms as provided to their own authorized repair shops. Additionally, manufacturers must sell diagnostic tools to independent repair providers at "fair and reasonable terms," considering costs and affordability. This law aims to expand repair options by reducing barriers for independent shops and consumers.
HF 2427 updates Iowa law to allow additional officials to request removal of their names from public online documents maintained by county assessors and recorders. Currently, law enforcement personnel can request this redaction; the bill adds U.S. Senators, Representatives, statewide elected officials, state legislators, and local partisan elected officials to that list. County offices must redact the requester's name from electronic documents displayed online upon such a request. This change directly affects those officials seeking to protect their personal information in public records.
SF 2312 clarifies Iowa's rules for manufacturers and distributors of 340B drugs, which are medications sold at discounted prices under a federal program. The bill defines key terms like "340B drug" (a federally discounted drug purchased by safety-net health facilities) and prohibits manufacturers or distributors from interfering with a covered entity’s acquisition of these drugs or their delivery to contract pharmacies. This directly affects drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors operating in Iowa, requiring them to allow normal access to 340B drugs unless federal health officials prohibit it. The law aims to ensure consistent access to discounted medications for clinics and hospitals serving low-income patients.
SF 2347 allows Iowa cities to establish a property tax fund for emergency medical services (EMS) after voter approval. Cities must meet specific conditions: they cannot have an existing EMS district (Chapter 357G), participate in an emergency response district (Chapter 357J), or be in a county already levying a similar tax under Chapter 422D. The bill authorizes cities to impose a maximum property tax rate of $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value, subject to a 60% voter approval threshold at a city election. This fund would cover EMS costs, including those listed in Chapter 422D.6, and the tax can be terminated using the same voter approval process.
This bill allows cities in Iowa with fewer than 10,000 residents to opt out of the statewide municipal fire and police retirement system. Current firefighters and police officers hired before a city's opt-out decision remain in the system, while new hires after the opt-out join the Iowa public employees' retirement system instead. The change applies only to cities under 10,000 population and does not affect existing members' benefits. It modifies retirement system participation rules without altering current members' coverage.
SF 2324 creates a new customer class for large energy use facilities in Iowa, defined as facilities using 20+ megawatts primarily engaged in specific commercial services (NAICS 518210). It requires the utilities commission to establish separate rates and charges for these facilities, directly assigning their service costs and preventing unfair cost-shifting to other customers. The bill mandates that any approved rates must ensure equitable contributions to grid reliability and avoid increasing costs for non-large facility customers. This applies only to facilities built or expanded on or after January 1, 2027.
HF 2588 creates a pilot program allowing eligible inmates to train as certified water and wastewater operators through classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and supervised work release placements. It directly affects inmates serving nonviolent sentences within 24 months of release who demonstrate good behavior and meet certification requirements. The program aims to address statewide operator shortages while providing vocational training and post-release employment pathways, with $500,000 appropriated for implementation during fiscal year 2026-2027. The program requires annual reporting on participant outcomes and expires January 16, 2029.
HF 2577 modifies Iowa's property tax system to limit annual increases in taxable property values. For residential, commercial, and industrial properties, it prohibits value increases exceeding the prior year's value (2027-2029) or an inflation-linked factor (2030+), unless specific changes occur like ownership shifts, boundary adjustments, or major improvements over 5% of current value. The bill requires assessors to base values on fair market value using standard appraisal methods while restricting consideration of business financial data for commercial/industrial properties. These changes directly affect property owners and local governments relying on property tax revenue for funding. The bill also includes retroactive provisions for certain tax years.
HF 2480 requires Iowa employers with 50+ full-time employees to display a poster in the workplace providing veterans with key resources. The poster, created by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing in coordination with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, must include information on mental health services, education/training programs, tax benefits, vehicle registration, unemployment insurance, and legal services. Employers must display the poster in an easy-to-see location accessible to all employees. This bill directly affects covered employers and ensures veterans have clear access to available benefits and services.
This bill creates a grant program for public buildings over 20,000 square feet (including schools, hospitals, public housing, and government facilities) to cover 100% of costs for mechanical insulation upgrades. Applicants receive a free energy audit from a certified contractor to identify missing or damaged insulation, then get grants covering all qualified materials and labor for installing insulation on pipes, HVAC systems, and equipment. The program requires specific state funding to operate and is administered by Iowa's Economic Development Authority. Grants are limited to projects that improve energy efficiency through proper mechanical insulation.
