Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SF 465: A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the economic development authority and the Iowa finance authority including the strategic infrastructure program, brownfield, grayfield, and redevelopment tax credits, community attraction and tourism, vision Iowa, sports tourism marketing, the historic preservation tax credit, homelessness, the title guaranty board, and arts and culture, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill amends multiple economic development programs in Iowa, including tax credits for brownfield redevelopment, historic preservation, community tourism, and Vision Iowa. It streamlines application processes by requiring review committees for tourism programs, sets 30-month project completion deadlines for tax credit projects, and mandates independent audits for tax credit claims. The bill repeals outdated sections of law, transfers unspent funds to Vision Iowa, and applies retroactively to past applicants for tourism and redevelopment programs. It directly affects businesses, local governments, and developers seeking tax credits or financial assistance under these programs. The changes aim to clarify administrative procedures without altering the core funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SSB 1228: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for veterans and health and human services, and related provisions and appropriations, including aging and disability services, behavioral health, public health, community access and eligibility, health-related programs, reimbursement rates, family well-being and protection, state-operated specialty care, the beer and liquor control fund, and the behavioral health fund, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

SSB 1228 is an appropriations bill funding Iowa's health and human services programs for fiscal year 2025-2026. It allocates $1.38 million for veterans affairs administration, $8.23 million for Iowa Veterans Home operations, $19.2 million for aging and disability services (including elder abuse prevention and community support), $24.4 million for behavioral health services (covering substance use treatment and youth programs), and $22.4 million for public health initiatives like disease surveillance and health promotion. The bill directly affects veterans, elderly Iowans, individuals with disabilities, and those needing behavioral health support by providing state funding for existing services. It does not create new policies but authorizes specific funding levels for current programs under the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 10, 2025

HF 247: A bill for an act exempting the sales price of honeybees from the state sales and use tax.

This bill (HF 247) removes the state sales and use tax on purchases of honeybees in Iowa. It directly affects beekeepers, apiaries, and businesses that sell honeybees by eliminating the tax they would otherwise pay when buying these insects. The key provision amends Iowa’s tax code to specifically exempt honeybee sales from both the sales tax (under Code section 423.3) and the use tax (under Code section 423.5, due to existing tax code rules). This change means customers buying honeybees will pay no state tax on the purchase price.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 10, 2025

HF 762: A bill for an act requiring persons twelve years of age or older to pass a written test and obtain an education certificate prior to operating an all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle on streets, highways, certain land, ice, and trails, providing fees, and making penalties applicable.

HF 762 requires anyone aged 12 or older to pass a written test and obtain a certificate from Iowa's Department of Natural Resources before operating all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or off-road utility vehicles (UTVs) on streets, highways, public land, public ice, designated trails, or land funded by ATV registration fees. This bill removes the previous exemption for UTV operators (who previously didn’t need certification) and adds streets/highways to the locations where certification is required. The certificate, costing $5, is issued after completing a course and passing the written test (replacing the option to demonstrate riding skills), and remains valid unless revoked. Operating without certification incurs a $70 fine for a simple misdemeanor.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2025

HSB 326: A bill for an act relating to state services and benefits provided to disabled veterans, making penalties applicable, and making appropriations.

This bill provides two key benefits for Iowa veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: (1) It waives vehicle title fees and annual registration fees for up to three vehicles, including free standard license plates (special plates require extra fees); and (2) It creates a property tax credit equal to the full amount of property tax owed on a veteran’s primary residence. The credit is processed by county officials and funded through state appropriations, with strict confidentiality rules for veteran information except when shared with veterans service officers. These changes directly affect qualifying Iowa veterans, reducing their vehicle ownership costs and property tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2025

HF 836: A bill for an act relating to medical income assistance trust fees.

HF 836 increases the monthly allowance for necessary expenses of medical income assistance trusts in Iowa from $10 to $50 per month without requiring court approval. This change directly affects trust beneficiaries who rely on these funds for medical care costs. The bill amends Iowa Code Section 633C.3 to allow trusts to cover more routine expenses without seeking court permission each time. The key provision simplifies administrative processes for managing trust funds while providing greater flexibility for beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2025

HSB 325: A bill for an act concerning combined services of governmental units.

HSB 325 allows Iowa counties, cities, school districts, and townships (defined as "governmental units") to formally combine tax-related services like levying, collecting, and property assessment through joint agreements. The bill creates a legal framework for these units to merge portions or all of their tax functions to achieve cost savings and operational efficiency. It specifically permits shared authority over tax collection and property valuation under Chapter 28E of Iowa law. The bill does not mandate combinations but provides a structured process for local governments to voluntarily collaborate.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2025

HSB 328: A bill for an act relating to local government property taxes, financial authority, and budgets, modifying appropriations, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill adjusts property tax rates for Iowa counties, directly affecting local governments and property owners. It sets new tax rate formulas for general and rural county services, requiring counties to maintain tax revenue at least 1.5% above the prior year’s actual collections (with exceptions for inflation). The rates are tied to the consumer price index, adjusting the maximum allowable tax increase based on inflation thresholds (e.g., 4-6% inflation triggers a 103% adjustment factor). These changes apply to fiscal years starting July 1, 2024, through 2028, with specific rules for 2026-2027 budget cycles.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SSB 1222: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents.

SSB 1222 is an appropriations bill that allocates $3.2 million for the Department for the Blind and $7.3 million for general education administration in Iowa for fiscal year 2025-2026. It funds specific programs including $1.7 million for birth-to-three early childhood services, $574,500 for Early Head Start pilot projects, $9.6 million for Jobs for America’s Graduates school programs, and $1.9 million for early literacy assessment systems. The bill directs funds toward operational needs like salaries, school food programs, career training, and statewide student assessments, with requirements for annual reporting on antibullying programming. It directly affects Iowa’s public education system, students from birth through high school, and schools receiving state funding. This is a routine funding measure, not a policy change.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SSB 1225: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch.

SSB 1225 appropriates $203,156,222 for Iowa's judicial branch operations during fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly funds judicial salaries (including justices, judges, and court staff), court administration, child support processing, and juvenile court services. Key provisions include requiring unspent juvenile service funds ($3.29M) to carry over until 2028, prohibiting counties from paying for state-charged juvenile services, and mandating monthly financial reporting to state agencies. The bill also allocates $12.25M specifically for juvenile delinquent graduated sanctions services, with rules for federal fund matching and fund distribution.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SSB 1223: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for the economic development of the state, including the economic development authority, Iowa finance authority, department of workforce development, and certain state board of regents institutions.

SSB 1223 is an appropriations bill allocating $12.99 million for Iowa's Economic Development Authority (EDA) for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directs the EDA to focus on statewide economic growth through business development, workforce recruitment, tourism marketing, and support for women entrepreneurs and value-added agriculture projects. The bill requires businesses receiving funds to hire only U.S. citizens or legally authorized workers, with penalties for noncompliance, and prohibits funding for geothermal snow-melting systems. Additional funding includes $1 million for the World Food Prize and $1.1 million for tourism advertising. This bill primarily affects state agencies, businesses receiving EDA support, and Iowa residents through economic development initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Immigration

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SSB 1224: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, including a corrections capital reinvestment fund, the funding of activities relating to consumer education and litigation, and a corrections federal receipts fund, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

SSB 1224 is an appropriations bill allocating state funds for Iowa's justice system during fiscal year 2025-2026. It provides $6.02 million for victim assistance grants (including $1 million specifically for human trafficking victims' court-related expenses) and $2.63 million for legal services for low-income Iowans. The bill also funds corrections facility operations ($46.58M for Fort Madison, $39.40M for Anamosa, $59.08M for Oakdale), cybersecurity upgrades ($202,060), and consumer advocacy services ($3.76M). These funds come primarily from the state general fund and are designated for specific existing programs without creating new policies.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results