Iowa Bills

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SF 522: A bill for an act providing for programs and regulations related to agriculture, including crop production, animal health, and agricultural processing, providing for powers and duties of the department of agriculture and land stewardship, providing fees, and providing penalties.

SF 522 updates Iowa's agricultural regulations, primarily focusing on crop production. It expands the definition of "agricultural land" to encompass various farm uses, structures, and land reserved for environmental protection. The bill also introduces and defines "beneficial substances" as a new category of regulated agricultural inputs for plant and soil health, separate from traditional fertilizers and pesticides. Additionally, it clarifies definitions for numerous agricultural products, impacting how they are labeled and distributed by agricultural businesses.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SF 285: A bill for an act providing for an expedited filing service for filers of business documents administered by the secretary of state, and providing fees.

SF 285 establishes an expedited filing service for business documents processed by the Secretary of State. This service allows filers, such as businesses, to pay an additional surcharge to have their documents processed more quickly. Surcharges vary based on the desired speed: $200 for one-hour service, $125 for same-day, $50 for two-day, and $15 for five-day service, in addition to regular filing fees. The Secretary of State must provide written confirmation of an expedited filing, and all collected surcharges will be deposited into the business administration fund.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SF 307: A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the department of management, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.

SF 307 addresses several areas under the purview of the Department of Management. It makes budget transmittals to the department confidential until the governor transmits the state budget. The bill also revises the Technology Reinvestment Fund, outlining how its moneys are used for state information technology projects, establishing prioritization criteria for these projects, and appropriating specific funds for their implementation. Additionally, it shortens the frequency of required national criminal history checks for IT staff working for the department or supported entities from ten to five years. Finally, the bill prohibits certain contract terms that would violate state constitutional provisions or limit the department's ability to participate in its own legal defense.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 17, 2025

HF 268: A bill for an act exempting cash tips from the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.

House File 268 proposes to exempt cash tips from the individual income tax. It directly affects individuals who receive cash tips and report them to their employers. The bill amends existing tax code to allow taxpayers to subtract the amount of reported cash tips from their taxable income. This change would apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 17, 2025

HF 110: A bill for an act excluding overtime pay from the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.

HF 110 proposes to exclude overtime pay from the individual income tax in Iowa. This bill directly affects individuals who earn overtime compensation. It allows taxpayers to subtract the portion of their compensation earned at one and a half times their regular rate from their taxable income. These provisions would apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SSB 1215: A bill for an act relating to state banks’ purchase of certain federal tax credits.

SSB 1215 allows state banks in Iowa to purchase specific federal tax credits. The bill amends Section 524.901 of the Code 2025, permitting these banks to invest without limitation in federal tax credits authorized under 26 U.S.C. §45 and 26 U.S.C. §48 for their own accounts. This expands the types of investments state banks are allowed to make.

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2025

HF 834: A bill for an act relating to energy systems by modifying electric power generation, energy storage, and transmission facility ratemaking principles, creating tariffs for public utility innovation programs, implementing land restoration standards, including right of first refusal, modifying the energy infrastructure revolving loan program, and creating regulations for anaerobic digester systems, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HF 834 aims to update regulations for electric power generation, energy storage, and transmission facilities in Iowa, primarily affecting public utilities and energy consumers. It modifies the principles used by the commission to set rates for these facilities, allowing for advance specification of ratemaking for new construction or significant alterations, such as converting fuel sources, adding carbon capture, or repowering existing plants. The bill intends to encourage diverse energy technologies, including nuclear reactors and energy storage, to ensure reliable service and economic benefits. Additionally, it addresses land restoration standards, creates tariffs for public utility innovation programs, and establishes regulations for anaerobic digester systems.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2025

HF 968: A bill for an act relating to licensure fees for professional licenses, permits, and certifications.

This bill aims to standardize licensure fees for various professional licenses, permits, and certifications across Iowa. It requires the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to consult with state boards and commissions to propose uniform licensure fees for licenses grouped into specific tiers. Within 18 months of the bill's effective date, DIAL must submit a regulatory analysis of proposed rules to implement these uniform fees, if they have the authority to set the fees by rule.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SF 613: A bill for an act concerning the regulation and support of leisure activities, including by providing for gambling enforcement, license fees, tax rates, and the use of associated revenue, establishing the Iowa major events and tourism program and fund, modifying the sports tourism marketing and infrastructure program, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

SF 613 primarily modifies Iowa's gambling regulations and associated funding mechanisms. It adjusts how fees are calculated for racetrack and gambling structure licensees and increases annual license fees for excursion gambling boats. The bill also reallocates sports wagering revenue, creating a new Iowa Horse Racing Fund from simulcast wagering taxes to support the horse racing industry under federal law. It further clarifies funding for gaming enforcement and makes an appropriation to the public safety equipment fund. These changes directly affect gambling operators, the horse racing sector, and state revenue distribution.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SF 165: A bill for an act authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers, and making appropriations.

SF 165 authorizes local municipalities to establish length of service award programs for volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers. These programs are designed to provide tax-deferred benefits to these volunteers. The bill creates a state grant fund, managed by the Department of Revenue, to help municipalities fund these programs. This fund will receive an initial $1.5 million appropriation from sports wagering receipts, with annual replenishments, and will provide matching grants up to $300 per recipient per year to participating municipalities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2025

HSB 329: A bill for an act providing for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions and community colleges for peace officers and their legal dependents and making appropriations.

HSB 329 establishes a program to waive tuition and mandatory fees at Iowa's regent institutions and community colleges. This waiver is available to eligible peace officers and their legal dependents who are Iowa residents. Peace officers must be certified and pursuing a law enforcement-related degree, while legal dependents must agree to reside in Iowa for five years post-graduation. Both groups can receive the waiver for up to three years. The bill also creates a state fund to reimburse educational institutions for the cost of these waivers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 15, 2025

SF 57: A bill for an act requiring the department of health and human services to reimburse a county for the temporary holding of, or confinement of, a sexually violent predator who commits a public offense while subject to an order of civil commitment.

This bill (SF 57) requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reimburse counties $50 per day for holding or confining a sexually violent predator (SVP) in a county jail after the SVP commits a public offense while under a civil commitment order. It applies when an SVP is temporarily held pending criminal charges or sentenced to county jail confinement. HHS must pay these reimbursements using funds designated for SVP treatment at the Cherokee mental health facility or funds transferred under Code section 218.6. The bill directly affects county jails and HHS, changing how costs for SVP confinement are covered during criminal proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results