SF 297 sets new rules for contracts state agencies in Iowa must use when buying goods or services. It bans 19 specific contract terms that could unfairly burden the state, such as clauses requiring the state to cover a vendor’s legal costs, using foreign law, hiding payment terms, or forcing arbitration. The bill also requires all contracts to follow Iowa law and be litigated in Iowa courts. These rules apply to all state agency contracts signed or renewed after the bill takes effect, directly affecting how state agencies negotiate and manage vendor agreements.
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.
This bill primarily mandates that individuals and businesses required to file sales and use tax returns must do so electronically. It directly affects all taxpayers subject to sales and use tax filing requirements. A key provision states that any return not filed electronically, when required, will not be considered valid by the department unless an exception is granted. Taxpayers unable to file electronically can request permission from the director to use an alternative filing method. The bill also allows the department to adopt rules to administer these new electronic filing requirements and takes effect immediately upon enactment.
SF 604 modifies how units of cigarettes and tobacco products are measured for state regulation and taxation purposes. This bill directly affects businesses involved in the sale of these products and the government agencies responsible for their oversight and tax collection. It changes the specific criteria or definitions used to determine the volume of sales for these products.
HF 1022 proposes to exempt the sale of laundry soap and detergent from the state's sales tax. This change would directly affect consumers by reducing the cost of purchasing these household items. The bill amends existing state code to specifically remove sales tax from laundry soap and detergent, an exemption that would also apply to use tax.
This bill modifies how criminal case fines collected within a county are distributed, reducing the percentages allocated to the state court administrator and county treasurer. It establishes a new "victim restitution fund" in the state treasury, which will receive 7% of these collected fines. The fund is dedicated to providing restitution for crime victims, covering "pecuniary damages" and restitution for the death of a victim, as defined by existing law. Monies in this fund will remain available for expenditure year-to-year and will not revert at the close of a fiscal year.
This bill establishes a new property tax assessment limitation specifically for commercial properties primarily used as licensed child care facilities. It allows the portion of a commercial property dedicated to child care to be assessed for tax purposes at the same rate as residential property, rather than the standard commercial rate. To qualify, facility owners must apply to their local assessor by July 1st of the assessment year, providing proof of their child care license and property details. This assessment limitation, effective for valuations beginning January 1, 2025, is also factored into state appropriations that help compensate local governments for certain assessment limitations.
HF 1020 modifies the child and dependent care tax credit available to individual income taxpayers in Iowa. The bill revises the structure of the credit by reducing the number of income thresholds from seven to four. It removes the previous maximum income threshold of $90,000, making all taxpayers eligible, with those earning $25,000 or more now able to claim 50% of the federal credit. These changes apply retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
HF 988 establishes catastrophic savings accounts for Iowa residents who own homes, effective January 1, 2026. This bill allows account holders to deduct contributions to these accounts from their state income tax, with lifetime limits tied to their homeowner's insurance premiums or the home's assessed value for self-insured individuals. Interest earned on these accounts is also tax-deductible. Funds can be withdrawn tax-free to pay deductibles for homeowner's insurance related to defined catastrophic events like floods or windstorms. However, withdrawals for non-qualified expenses are subject to state income tax and a 2.5% penalty.
HF 1021 proposes to exempt the sale of dietary supplements from sales tax in Iowa. This bill amends existing law to include dietary supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, within the category of "food and food ingredients" that are not subject to sales tax. As a result, consumers purchasing these products would no longer pay sales tax. The exemption would also apply to the state's use tax.
