Iowa Bills

This bill establishes a new property tax framework for Iowa counties that takes effect between 2024 and 2028, setting minimum tax rates for both general and rural county services. The legislation requires counties to collect at least 101.5% of current property tax revenue for budget years starting in 2028, while also allowing adjustments based on changes in the consumer price index to account for inflation. Counties must choose between meeting a fixed dollar amount per thousand dollars of assessed value or maintaining a specific percentage increase in tax revenue, whichever is greater. The bill also includes provisions that limit tax rate increases if property assessments rise significantly, ensuring that tax burdens do not grow faster than property values.

This bill grants law enforcement officers the right to challenge a prosecutor's decision to place them on a Brady-Giglio list, which flags them as having credibility issues that could affect their ability to testify in court. It allows officers to petition a district court for a confidential review of the evidence used to make that decision, with the court empowered to remove the officer from the list if the challenge is successful. If an officer wins the legal challenge, the court must award them reasonable attorney fees and court costs, which are paid by the state or the local government responsible for the prosecutor. The law applies retroactively to all such placements made on or after July 1, 2021, ensuring past cases are also covered by these new protections.

This bill creates the Headquarters Expansion and Development for Growth and Employment Program, which offers tax incentives to large companies that keep or expand their corporate headquarters in Iowa. To qualify, businesses must operate in specific industries like technology or advanced manufacturing, generate most of their revenue outside the state, and prove that other states are competing for their location. The legislation also establishes new training funds for business growth and repeals the previous New Jobs Tax Credit Program. Additionally, it sets up a new fund to help plan the expansion of the state's electric transmission system and creates a committee to study job training needs.

HF 2800 is a comprehensive state budget bill that sets spending limits and allocates funds for various government programs and services for the fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. The legislation directly affects state agencies, school districts, and recipients of public assistance by capping reimbursement for nonpublic school transportation, eliminating instructional support state aid, and directing specific sums to workforce development, health information technology, and nutrition programs. Key provisions include allowing salary adjustments for state employees using unspent money from special funds, transferring pandemic relief balances to an information technology fund, and establishing rules for how certain funds can be carried over to future years. Additionally, the bill authorizes the use of federal incentive payments for unemployment insurance modernization and provides grants to support fresh produce access for SNAP recipients.

This bill updates the rules for licensing companies that sell service contracts for homes and vehicles in Iowa. It clarifies definitions for key terms, such as what counts as a "service contract holder" and how communication must be verified. The law requires these companies to provide detailed information about their owners and officers when applying for a license and mandates regular reporting of any changes in ownership or legal actions against key personnel. Additionally, the bill specifies that these service contracts are not considered insurance and outlines requirements for support services provided to licensed companies.

Senate File 2484 allocates state funds from three specific infrastructure and technology funds to various departments and programs for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill directs money to the Department of Administrative Services for repairs at the Iowa Veterans Home, the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for water quality initiatives on agricultural land, and the Department of Health and Human Services for IT system upgrades. Additionally, the legislation clarifies eligibility rules for regional sports authority districts and allows entities to receive financial assistance from both the Iowa Major Events and Tourism Fund and the Sports Tourism Infrastructure Program.

Senate File 2488 establishes a new Early Childhood and Family Services System in Iowa to support families with children under 19 years old. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a statewide network of services focused on prevention and early intervention, including evidence-based programs like home visiting and parent education. It also sets up a dedicated funding source and requires local health and human services districts to develop plans for implementing these services. Additionally, the legislation convenes an interim study committee to further examine the system's needs and operations.

HF 2783 allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support various education agencies, including the Department for the Blind, the Department of Education, and the State Board of Regents. The bill provides specific amounts for salaries, operational expenses, and the hiring of full-time equivalent positions across areas such as general administration, career and technical education, and early childhood services. It also establishes new programs, including a statewide clearinghouse to expand work-based learning and summer college classes for high school students, while funding existing initiatives like birth-to-age-three services and statewide student assessments. This legislation directly affects school districts, educational institutions, and the agencies responsible for administering these programs throughout Iowa.

HF 2782 is a budget bill that allocates state funds to the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation provides specific funding for veterans' services, including the Iowa Veterans Home and a home ownership assistance program for military members. It also directs money toward aging and disability support, behavioral health treatment, and maternal care initiatives, while establishing reporting requirements for financial expenditures. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for graduate medical education and updates to various health-related programs.

This bill establishes a new legal process in Iowa called an "assignment for the benefit of creditors," allowing individuals and organizations to voluntarily transfer all their assets to a third party who will distribute them to pay off debts. The law applies to businesses and individuals with a primary connection to the state, such as a principal place of business or residence, and defines key terms like "assets," "creditors," and "insiders" to guide how the process works. A significant provision of the bill is the exemption from real estate transfer taxes on properties sold as part of this asset assignment, which helps reduce costs for those going through the procedure. By adopting this uniform act, Iowa provides a structured alternative to bankruptcy for resolving financial obligations while protecting certain exempt assets and ensuring fair treatment of creditors.

This Iowa bill strengthens regulations for non-coal mining operations by clarifying definitions of "affected land" and "subsidence" to ensure better oversight of land disturbance. It mandates that mine operators notify state officials within 48 hours of discovering land collapse or sinking and submit a repair plan approved by a professional engineer within two weeks. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that financial bonds posted by operators must be used exclusively to cover the costs of reclaiming the specific lands identified on their registration forms. These measures are designed to improve safety and environmental restoration while maintaining the existing licensing and inspection framework for mining activities.

This bill appropriates state funds for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to support its operations, regulations, and specific programs for the fiscal year 2026-2027. It allocates money for various initiatives, including dairy regulation, local food programs, agricultural education, assistance for farmers with disabilities, and conservation efforts in the Loess Hills and Southern Iowa regions. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for fund expenditures and designates specific amounts to university institutes and special funds for motor fuel inspection and foreign animal disease preparedness.