Budget & Taxes

SF 633 establishes a yearly program fee for landowners with forest or fruit-tree reservations that are currently exempt from property taxes under Iowa law. Starting in 2026, these landowners must pay $2-$3 per acre (depending on location relative to homesteads) to their county treasurer by September 1 each year. Fees collected before 2028 can fund general county spending, but after 2028, they must be used for property tax relief beginning in 2029, with adjustments tied to inflation. The bill directly affects landowners maintaining tax-exempt forest or fruit-tree reservations, particularly those in counties with homestead owners nearby.

SF 644 is a funding bill that allocates state money to key parts of the justice system. It directly provides resources for legal representation for people who cannot afford an attorney (indigent defense), funds for rebuilding or improving correctional facilities (corrections capital reinvestment), and manages federal funds received by the corrections system (corrections federal receipts fund). The bill specifies how these funds are to be used and when the funding takes effect. It was signed into law by the Governor on June 11, 2025.

HF 975 amends multiple economic development and community programs in Iowa, affecting local governments, businesses, and residents participating in initiatives like brownfield redevelopment, historic preservation, tourism marketing, and homelessness services. It modifies tax credit programs for brownfields, grayfields, and historic preservation, adjusts funding for tourism and community attraction, and updates the Iowa Reinvestment Act. The bill also clarifies applicability and retroactive provisions for these programs. Signed into law by the Governor on June 6, 2025, it updates existing frameworks rather than creating new programs.

SF 167 is a school funding bill that establishes the state's funding increase rates for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, covering both general and specific categorical programs. It modifies provisions related to property tax replacement payments, which help offset local property taxes for schools. The bill also adjusts the regular program state cost per pupil, which is the base amount of state funding provided for each student. Finally, it modifies funding mechanisms for shared operational functions among school districts.