Iowa Bills

passed · Iowa · House May 14, 2025

HF 949: A bill for an act concerning the duties of county commissioners and county auditors.

HF 949 modifies the duties of county commissioners and county auditors in Iowa. It significantly raises the threshold for county commissioners to formally bid on election-related goods and services from over $1,000 to over $50,000, allowing an informal bid process for costs up to $50,000. The bill also removes the requirement for county auditors and other officials to index official bonds by the principal's name and filing date. Additionally, it eliminates a wide range of specific administrative and record-keeping duties for county auditors, including those related to veteran assistance, school funds, and mental health treatment.

in committee · Iowa · House May 13, 2025

HF 760: A bill for an act authorizing cities to establish self-supported entertainment areas.

This bill authorizes cities to establish designated "self-supported entertainment areas," directly affecting local governments, businesses within these zones, and consumers who frequent them. To create an area, a city council must receive a petition from property owners, hold a public hearing, and ensure the proposed area meets specific criteria regarding size, zoning, and types of establishments. Once established, these areas can impose an entertainment surcharge of up to three percent on retail sales of food, alcoholic beverages, entertainment tickets, and lodging within their boundaries. The revenues generated from this surcharge are then used to fund improvements and services specifically for that entertainment area.

died · Iowa · Senate May 13, 2025

SF 618: A bill for an act relating to health care including a funding model for the rural health care system; the elimination of several health care-related award, grant, residency, and fellowship programs; establishment of a health care professional incentive program; Medicaid graduate medical education; the health facilities council; and the Iowa health information network, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

SF 618 proposes to overhaul Iowa's health care system by establishing a new "hub-and-spoke" funding model designed to improve rural health care delivery. The bill eliminates several existing health care-related award, grant, and loan repayment programs previously administered by state agencies. These programs are replaced by a new, consolidated "health care professional incentive program," which will offer loan repayments for eligible federal student loans. The legislation includes transition provisions to ensure that current participants in the eliminated programs continue to receive their contracted benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Iowa · Senate May 13, 2025

SF 652: A bill for an act relating to economic development and housing by modifying provisions concerning economic development programs and modifying provisions concerning Iowa’s urban renewal law, and including applicability provisions.

SF 652 modifies Iowa's economic development programs and urban renewal laws, primarily focusing on housing initiatives. It broadens the definition of "economic development" to include workforce housing and allows urban renewal funds to be used for low and moderate-income family housing. The bill adjusts how certain property taxes, including some school district levies, are allocated in urban renewal areas. It also introduces limitations on the amount of tax revenue municipalities can retain from urban renewal areas over time and sets specific requirements for housing projects within these areas, including a minimum for low and moderate-income housing.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

died · Iowa · Senate May 13, 2025

SF 630: A bill for an act relating to state government, including matters under the purview of the department of management and state membership in the Iowa individual health benefit reinsurance association, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill modifies state government operations, primarily affecting the Department of Management and other state agencies. It establishes the use and funding of a technology reinvestment fund for state information technology projects, outlining criteria for project prioritization and specific annual appropriations. The bill also updates background check requirements for state IT staff, increasing the frequency of national criminal history checks to every five years. Furthermore, it prohibits certain terms in state contracts that could violate the Iowa Constitution or be unilaterally changed without state knowledge.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Iowa · Senate May 13, 2025

SF 614: A bill for an act relating to the administration of the tax by the department of revenue by modifying provisions related to personal income, property, sales and use, motor fuel, and inheritance taxes, changing tax expenditure reviews, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

SF 614 proposes several changes to tax administration across various tax types. It allows the Department of Revenue to disclose tax information to law enforcement agencies if there is evidence of intentional tax evasion. The bill also modifies deadlines for property tax refunds and clarifies the process for extensions on property tax relief claims, affecting property owners. Additionally, it clarifies the definition of "held" for the farm tenancy income tax exclusion and aligns state audit procedures for pass-through entities with federal tax code provisions.

passed · Iowa · House May 13, 2025

HF 1013: A bill for an act establishing a partial exemption on property taxes for certain residential properties sold in disaster areas.

HF 1013 establishes a temporary partial property tax exemption for certain residential properties. This bill directly affects individuals who purchase homes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in areas declared major disaster zones. To qualify, the property must be sold by HUD specifically to provide housing after a disaster, and the new owner must occupy it as their primary residence. The exemption applies for four assessment years, starting with the first full year after the sale, decreasing from 80% of the property's actual value in the first year to 20% in the fourth year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Iowa · House May 13, 2025

HF 1043: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection, and providing penalties.

HF 1043 is an appropriations bill that allocates state funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, to state government entities involved in agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection. It provides funding to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for its general operations, regulatory functions, and various programs. Key provisions include appropriations for dairy regulation, local food and farm initiatives, agricultural education, and support for a program assisting farmers with disabilities. The bill also dedicates funds for motor fuel inspection, the butchery innovation program, and the foreign animal disease preparedness fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · House May 13, 2025

HSB 344: A bill for an act relating to horse racing by transferring certain portions of the state sales tax for the purpose of supplementing horse race purses, and making appropriations.

HSB 344 establishes a system to supplement horse race purses by redirecting a portion of state sales tax. Beginning July 1, 2025, sales tax collected on specific horse care products, such as feed, supplements, and tack, will be transferred into a new "horse racing purse fund" in the state treasury. Annually, starting April 1, 2026, moneys from this fund will be appropriated to the State Racing and Gaming Commission. The commission will then distribute these funds to licensed horse racing facilities, which must use them to supplement horse race purses according to a designated structure.

introduced · Iowa · House May 13, 2025

HR 21: A resolution honoring the centennial anniversary of the National Bar Association and its Iowa co-founders.

House Resolution 21 is a commemorative resolution that honors the centennial anniversary of the National Bar Association and recognizes its Iowa co-founders for their 100 years of service to the state and legal community.

died · Iowa · House May 13, 2025

HF 1045: 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, and including contingent effective date provisions.

HF 1045 is an appropriations bill that allocates state funds to various parts of the education system for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. It provides funding for the Department for the Blind, the Department of Education, and the State Board of Regents. Key provisions include specific appropriations for programs such as career and technical education, early childhood services like Birth to Age Three and Early Head Start projects, and initiatives supporting student assessment and work-based learning. The bill also mandates a report from the Department of Education on antibullying programming.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · Iowa · House May 13, 2025

HR 19: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Jay Byers for his exemplary leadership, dedicated public service, and transformative impact on the state of Iowa.

House Resolution 19 is a commemorative resolution that honors the life and legacy of Jay Byers. It recognizes his contributions to Simpson College, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, and the state of Iowa through his leadership in education, economic growth, and public service.

Bill results