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 expands an existing Iowa state tax credit to include volunteer ambulance drivers, who were previously excluded from the benefit available to certified first responders. By amending the definition of "emergency medical services personnel," the legislation allows these volunteer drivers to claim a $250 tax credit for their services. The change applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, ensuring that eligible individuals can claim the credit for past years.
This bill establishes ongoing state funding for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the state will allocate one dollar per resident annually to the State Board of Regents, with a maximum cap of three million dollars per year. The funds are restricted specifically to laboratory research and clinical trials, prohibiting their use for administrative overhead or unrelated activities. Additionally, the State Board of Regents must submit an annual report to the governor and the General Assembly detailing how the money was spent.
This bill increases the state funding limit for nonpublic school pupil transportation claims from approximately $8.997 million to $9.184 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The additional funds are specifically designated to reimburse claims that were not previously paid because they were submitted late due to administrative errors. It directs the Iowa Department of Education to use these new moneys to process those delayed reimbursements and takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill establishes a new fee structure for wire transmissions, which are defined as money transfers sent to or from locations outside the United States. Financial institutions and their authorized representatives must collect a $5 fee for transfers of $500 or less, plus an additional 2% charge on amounts exceeding $500. The collected fees are submitted quarterly to the state Department of Revenue, with 10% directed to the office to combat human trafficking and the remainder deposited into the state's general fund. The Department of Revenue, working with the Department of Public Safety, is responsible for enforcing compliance, and may recommend license suspensions or revocations for non-payment.
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.
This bill establishes a Choose Iowa school purchasing program that matches school district spending on local agricultural products with state funding, allowing schools to purchase meat, poultry, dairy, grains, eggs, honey, and produce from Iowa farms at a one-to-one reimbursement rate. It also creates a Choose Iowa food bank purchasing program that provides matching funds to Iowa food banks and emergency feeding organizations for similar local food purchases, with a cap of $50,000 per organization annually. The legislation authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to administer these programs, set membership criteria for participating farms and businesses, and use up to 5% of program funds for administrative costs. Additionally, the bill allocates $1.75 million annually to support renewable fuel infrastructure for retail motor fuel sites and $150,000 for program administration.
This bill modifies the Teach Iowa Scholar Program to change how state funding is distributed to teachers starting in the 2026 fiscal year. It mandates that 20% of the funds go to special education instructors and 50% go to teachers working in rural school districts, which are defined as those with fewer than 1,000 students. The legislation also clarifies that a single teacher cannot receive funding under both categories simultaneously, requiring the state department to assign them to only one group. These changes directly affect eligible classroom teachers in Iowa by altering the specific criteria and allocation percentages for the scholarship fund.
This bill establishes a dedicated fund within the Iowa state treasury to finance the construction and infrastructure improvements of state prisons. It creates two specific accounts within this fund: one for building new prisons or replacing old facilities, and another for programs aimed at reducing inmate recidivism, such as mental health care and job training. The funding for these accounts will come from fines, fees, and forfeited bail collected in criminal cases, with specific portions allocated once existing prison bonds are paid off. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Corrections to submit annual reports on the status of all infrastructure projects and directs the legislature to form a committee to study the need for additional prison capacity.
This bill establishes the Iowa Rural Health Transformation Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services to manage federal funding received from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The fund will be used exclusively for purposes authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with interest and earnings remaining in the fund rather than reverting to the general state budget. The Department of Health and Human Services must report quarterly spending details to the General Assembly, including specific city locations where funds are used, and share all federal program reports with the legislature. The fund and its associated provisions will automatically expire on October 1, 2032.
