SF 2385 directs Iowa's Department of Management to sell the state's communications network as soon as feasible, ending previous restrictions that limited the network's use to public and private agencies. The bill requires the sale to ensure current authorized users continue receiving services on commercially reasonable terms for at least 10 years, with the Department submitting quarterly progress reports to the legislature starting October 2026. Proceeds from the sale must be deposited into Iowa's general fund. Key changes take effect immediately for the sale process and July 1, 2027, for revised service rules.
SF 633 establishes a yearly program fee for landowners with forest or fruit-tree reservations that are currently exempt from property taxes under Iowa law. Starting in 2026, these landowners must pay $2-$3 per acre (depending on location relative to homesteads) to their county treasurer by September 1 each year. Fees collected before 2028 can fund general county spending, but after 2028, they must be used for property tax relief beginning in 2029, with adjustments tied to inflation. The bill directly affects landowners maintaining tax-exempt forest or fruit-tree reservations, particularly those in counties with homestead owners nearby.
This bill creates a new health care-related tax on health maintenance organizations operating in Iowa, requiring them to pay 0.95% of their taxable funds to a newly established Medicaid managed care organization premiums health care tax fund. The tax applies to payments received from enrollees for health care services and benefits, while excluding certain federal payments, and includes provisions for prepayment, credit refunds, and enforcement measures like license suspension for nonpayment. Additionally, the legislation appropriates funds from the taxpayer relief fund and supplements appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services, with specific effective dates and retroactive applicability provisions included.
This bill creates a new health care-related tax on health maintenance organizations operating in Iowa, with revenues deposited into a new Medicaid managed care organization premiums health care tax fund. The tax rate begins at 3.5% for the first nine months of 2026 before dropping to 0.95% for the remainder of that year and all subsequent years, applying to payments made by these organizations for health care services and benefits. The legislation also establishes prepayment requirements, allowing organizations to pay estimated taxes in advance and receive credits or cash refunds if they overpay. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for tax collection, penalties for late payments, and the ability to offset certain assessments against this new tax liability.
HF 1044 is an appropriations bill that provides funding for multiple Iowa state agencies and offices, including the Department of Administrative Services, Auditor of State, Ethics Board, governor's offices, and the Department of Revenue. It allocates budget authority for the operation and regulation of these state entities, covering their administrative needs and existing functions. The bill directly affects the agencies listed by authorizing their use of state funds for day-to-day operations and regulatory activities. It does not create new policies or programs but ensures continued funding for current state government functions. The bill passed both chambers and was signed into law by the governor on June 11, 2025.
SF 644 is a funding bill that allocates state money to key parts of the justice system. It directly provides resources for legal representation for people who cannot afford an attorney (indigent defense), funds for rebuilding or improving correctional facilities (corrections capital reinvestment), and manages federal funds received by the corrections system (corrections federal receipts fund). The bill specifies how these funds are to be used and when the funding takes effect. It was signed into law by the Governor on June 11, 2025.
SF 167 is a school funding bill that establishes the state's funding increase rates for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, covering both general and specific categorical programs. It modifies provisions related to property tax replacement payments, which help offset local property taxes for schools. The bill also adjusts the regular program state cost per pupil, which is the base amount of state funding provided for each student. Finally, it modifies funding mechanisms for shared operational functions among school districts.
