This bill directs the Governor of Iowa to opt into a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to receive tax breaks for donating money to scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations are nonprofits that provide financial aid for elementary and secondary education expenses, such as tuition and tutoring, to students in both public and private schools. To maintain eligibility for this program starting in tax years after January 1, 2027, the state's departments of revenue and education must follow federal rules and submit required information to the U.S. Treasury.
SF 2479 is a budget bill that allocates state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to various government agencies responsible for administration, regulation, and public services in Iowa. The legislation provides specific dollar amounts for salaries, utilities, and operations for departments including the Department of Administrative Services, the Office of the Auditor of State, and the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. It also establishes rules for how certain funds, such as those for workers' compensation and utility costs, must be managed and carried over to future years if not fully spent. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Inspections submit a report on fraud investigations in public assistance programs by December 1, 2026. Ultimately, this measure authorizes the spending necessary to keep these state offices running and performing their regulatory duties.
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.
This bill creates sales and use tax exemptions and refunds for tangible personal property, digital products, and services used to build, maintain, or restart nuclear electric generation facilities in Iowa. The tax relief applies to items directly used for construction, repair, or restarting operations after decommissioning, provided the facility begins commercial operation within twelve and a half years of receiving its license or pouring initial concrete. If a facility fails to start operations within this timeframe, it must repay all previously claimed tax exemptions and refunds. Additionally, the law defines specific equipment and systems eligible for these benefits, including nuclear components, electrical infrastructure, cybersecurity tools, and energy storage systems, while repealing the provision on July 1, 2051.
This bill modifies Iowa's urban renewal tax rules to ensure that property taxes collected for emergency medical services are not used to pay off municipal debt or fund low-income housing projects. Under the new provisions, these specific emergency medical service taxes must be collected from all taxable property within the district without being diverted to special funds for urban renewal. The changes apply to property taxes due in fiscal years starting on or after July 1, 2027.
This bill authorizes the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to license entities to offer advance deposit wagering, a system where users fund an account to place bets on horse races. It specifically requires that any electronic or phone-based bets placed within five miles of a licensed racetrack must have an agreement with that track's operator. Additionally, the law designates fifty percent of the net revenue from these wagers to horse purses and the remaining fifty percent to the Polk County racetrack licensee. The legislation applies to operators and the specific horse racing facility in Polk County that meets existing compliance standards.
This bill allows certain Iowa school districts to temporarily exceed their usual cash reserve tax limits for the 2026-2027 school year if a single property tax correction caused their taxable value to drop by at least $100 million. To do this, the districts must offset the extra money raised for reserves by reducing other local property taxes, such as the management levy, ensuring the total tax amount remains within legal limits. The process requires the district to notify the Department of Management, which will then adjust the official tax rates to reflect these changes. This measure is designed to help districts maintain financial stability after a significant administrative error in property valuation.
HF 2792 allocates state funds from three specific infrastructure and technology funds to various departments for projects in fiscal year 2026-2027. The bill directs money to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for water quality demonstration projects on agricultural land, the Department of Administrative Services for building maintenance, and the Economic Development Authority for tourism and community grants. Additionally, it provides funding for IT system updates at the Department of Health and Human Services and for building repairs at the Department for the Blind. The legislation also includes provisions to keep certain agricultural data confidential and sets an effective date for these financial transfers.
SF 2487 appropriates state funds to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, to support its administrative operations, regulatory programs, and specific initiatives. The bill allocates money from various sources, including the general fund and specialized funds, to areas such as horse and dog racing enforcement, motor fuel inspections, dairy regulation, and assistance for farmers with disabilities. It also establishes cost-sharing agreements with Iowa State University of Science and Technology to support programs like the local food and farm initiative and the midwest grape and wine industry institute. Additionally, the legislation designates certain funds to remain available for expenditure in the following fiscal year if not fully spent, rather than reverting to the general fund.
This bill creates a new fund to support nuclear energy workforce training at state universities, requiring nuclear power facilities in Iowa to contribute a portion of their tax savings to it. In exchange for these contributions, the bill allows nuclear facilities to receive exemptions and refunds on sales and use taxes for equipment and services used in building or maintaining their plants. Facilities must register with the state, sign an agreement detailing their financial commitment, and submit annual reports to verify they are meeting their obligations. If a facility fails to make the required contributions, it must repay the tax exemptions and refunds it claimed for that year. The legislation also defines specific nuclear components and structures that qualify for these tax benefits and establishes reporting requirements for the state board of regents.
