HF 960 expands Iowa's sales tax exemption to cover all purchases of central office or transmission equipment used by telecom companies providing commercial services, removing the prior requirement that such equipment be "primarily" used for those services. It directly affects local carriers, cable operators, municipal utilities, cooperatives, and other telecom providers that offer commercial telecommunications services. The key change broadens the existing tax exemption to include all qualifying equipment purchases, meaning these businesses will pay no sales tax on such equipment (and no use tax under Iowa law). This policy change simplifies the exemption without adding new regulations or costs to the state.
This Iowa bill updates the state corporate income tax code to allow a deduction for net controlled foreign corporation tested income, replacing a previous reference to the now-repealed global intangible low-taxed income. The change directly affects Iowa businesses with foreign income by ensuring they can still claim a tax break for this specific category of earnings despite recent federal tax law updates. By removing the outdated terminology and keeping the deduction mechanism active, the legislation maintains the state's alignment with current federal tax definitions. The law applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
SJR 11 proposes an amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would change the requirements for passing certain state tax laws. It mandates that any bill increasing state individual or corporate income tax rates, or establishing a new state tax on income or reserves, must receive a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate. This requirement does not apply to taxes imposed by local governments. The amendment also sets a one-year limit for legal challenges to the enactment of such tax bills. If passed by two consecutive General Assemblies, Iowa voters would consider this amendment in the November 2026 general election.
This Iowa bill extends the expiration date for the biodiesel blended fuel tax credit from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2033. The change directly affects retail dealers who sell biodiesel fuel blends, allowing them to continue claiming a state income tax credit for promoting these fuels. By updating the relevant tax code sections, the legislation ensures that dealers whose tax years do not align with the original repeal date can still claim the credit for a full calendar year. The bill also clarifies how the credit amount should be calculated for dealers claiming it in the year following the extension period.
This Iowa bill modifies the state tax refund program specifically for biodiesel producers. The legislation increases the refund rate from four cents to five cents per gallon of biodiesel produced within the state. It also extends the expiration date for this tax benefit from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2031. These adjustments apply to the total number of gallons produced by eligible producers during each quarter of a calendar year.
This bill modifies Iowa's urban renewal law to change how property tax revenue is shared for emergency medical services. Specifically, it prevents taxes collected for emergency medical services from being used to pay off municipal loans or fund urban renewal projects. Instead, these taxes must be collected from all property within the taxing district without being diverted to a special fund for city debt or low-income housing assistance. The changes apply to property taxes due in fiscal years starting on or after July 1, 2026, and take effect immediately upon signing.
This bill creates a new state fund to provide financial assistance for building highway overpasses and underpasses across railway tracks. The Department of Transportation will manage the fund and distribute grants to cities and counties to help cover construction costs. Unlike current rules that only apply to cities, this measure extends similar support to counties, ensuring both local governments can address safety and convenience issues related to railway crossings. The bill also specifies that any interest earned on the fund will remain within it and that the money will not automatically revert to the general treasury at the end of each fiscal year.
This bill allows certain Iowa school districts to temporarily exceed their usual cash reserve tax limits for the 2026-2027 school year if a single property tax correction caused their taxable value to drop by at least $100 million. To do this, the districts must offset the extra money raised for reserves by reducing other local property taxes, such as the management levy, ensuring the total tax amount remains within legal limits. The process requires the district to notify the Department of Management, which will then adjust the official tax rates to reflect these changes. This measure is designed to help districts maintain financial stability after a significant administrative error in property valuation.
This bill modifies Iowa's rural veterinarian loan repayment program to allow recipients to exclude the value of loan payments from their taxable income. It applies to veterinarians who receive financial assistance to work for four years in designated rural or shortage areas. Under the new rules, eligible individuals can subtract up to $15,000 per year, or a total of $60,000, from their state tax return, provided the amount does not exceed their outstanding loan balance. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that recipients may transfer their service obligation to a new practice within the same rural area with commission approval.
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.
