Budget & Taxes

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 10, 2026

HF 2323: A bill for an act relating to tax credits by creating the maternity group home and the strong families tax credits available against the individual, corporate, franchise, insurance premium, and moneys and credits taxes, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2323 creates two new Iowa tax credits for donations to specific community organizations. The "maternity group home tax credit" allows taxpayers to claim a 100% credit against state taxes for donations to qualifying maternity group homes (defined in existing law), capped at $3.5 million annually statewide and $500,000 per organization. The "strong families tax credit" provides a 100% credit for donations to 501(c)(3) organizations offering comprehensive case management for at-risk families or fatherhood parenting services, with eligibility requiring the organization to not receive over 50% of revenue from government sources and not provide abortion counseling. Both credits are non-refundable but can be carried forward for up to five years if they exceed tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 100% tax credits against state taxes for donations to qualifying organizations, providing direct tax relief and incentivizing contributions to community services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 11, 2026

HF 2394: A bill for an act creating a food bank donation matching fund and making appropriations.

HF 2394 creates a state-funded matching program for private donations to Iowa's nonprofit food banks. It appropriates $1 million annually (starting July 1, 2026) from the general fund to match the total private donations reported by qualifying food banks for tax purposes in the prior fiscal year. The Department of Health and Human Services manages the fund and distributes these matching dollars annually to nonprofit food banks that meet federal tax-exempt criteria (501(c)(3)). Unspent funds carry over to the next fiscal year, and any interest earned stays in the fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1M annually from general fund to match private donations for food banks, funding essential public service (food assistance).95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2026

HF 2573: A bill for an act relating to grants for qualified mechanical insulation expenditures.

This bill creates a grant program for public buildings over 20,000 square feet (including schools, hospitals, public housing, and government facilities) to cover 100% of costs for mechanical insulation upgrades. Applicants receive a free energy audit from a certified contractor to identify missing or damaged insulation, then get grants covering all qualified materials and labor for installing insulation on pipes, HVAC systems, and equipment. The program requires specific state funding to operate and is administered by Iowa's Economic Development Authority. Grants are limited to projects that improve energy efficiency through proper mechanical insulation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requires specific state funding to operate a grant program for public building insulation upgrades, directly increasing public spending on infrastructure maintenance.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds mechanical insulation upgrades in public buildings to improve energy efficiency, directly reducing energy consumption through state grants for HVAC and pipe insulation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds energy efficiency upgrades in public buildings via insulation, reducing energy consumption and emissions per environmental indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Energy Efficiency

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HF 2663: A bill for an act relating to cancer research, and making appropriations.

HF 2663 appropriates $2 million to fund a University of Iowa study on the underlying causes of cancer rates in Iowa, and $3 million to the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants supporting clinical cancer research and improving access to cancer research trials for Iowa residents. The funds would cover research costs at the university and allow the health department to provide grants to public or private organizations running cancer research programs. This is a funding measure for research infrastructure, not a direct healthcare service or treatment program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5M for cancer research funding, directly increasing state budget allocation for public health programs per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $5M to fund cancer research and improve clinical trial access, directly advancing healthcare research and patient access to treatment options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HSB 678: A bill for an act relating to the payment of claims associated with nonpublic school pupil transportation, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

This bill increases Iowa's appropriation for nonpublic school pupil transportation claims by $186,883.55, raising the total funding limit to $9,183,974.55 for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly affects nonpublic schools and transportation providers by ensuring delayed claims due to administrative errors can now be paid using the additional funds. If total approved claims exceed the appropriation, the Department of Education must prorate payments proportionally. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state appropriation for nonpublic school transportation by $186,883.55, directly funding a specific program within budget allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases funding for nonpublic school transportation claims, ensuring timely payments and expanding access to transportation services for students in K-12 education.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases funding for nonpublic school transportation claims by $186,883.55, directly securing payment for transportation services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Transportation

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SF 2344: A bill for an act relating to Parkinson’s disease prevention, research, and care, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2344 creates a $3 million Parkinson’s disease prevention, research, and care fund in Iowa’s state treasury, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund allocates $1 million each for research grants (prioritizing cure development), caregiver support programs (including respite care and mental health resources), and developing a statewide plan addressing Parkinson’s disease. It requires an advisory council with diverse stakeholders (researchers, patient advocates, caregivers, medical professionals) and annual reports from grantees and the department. The bill mandates a comprehensive state plan covering prevention, diagnosis, care coordination, workforce development, and research priorities, with updates every five years. This legislation directly supports Iowans living with Parkinson’s disease, their caregivers, and research institutions conducting Parkinson’s-related work.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M from state treasury for Parkinson's programs via health appropriations, directly funding public health services without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $3M for Parkinson's research, caregiver support (including mental health), and statewide care plan under Health and Human Services, directly advancing healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SSB 3100: A bill for an act relating to school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2026, modifying provisions relating to property tax replacement payments, the regular program state cost per pupil, funding for school district budget adjustments, and school district enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

SSB 3100 establishes a 1.75% state percent of growth for school funding starting in the 2026 budget year (July 1, 2026), with a separate 1.75% categorical growth rate for specialized programs like transportation equity aid. It modifies how school districts calculate property tax replacement payments by basing them on weighted student enrollment and a formula comparing current and 2021 per-pupil costs, plus a fixed $153 base amount. This directly affects all Iowa public school districts receiving state funding, as it determines their annual property tax replacement payments. The bill sets the framework for future funding adjustments, requiring annual legislative action to set new growth rates after 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes mandatory 1.75% state growth rate for school funding and modifies property tax replacement calculations, directly advancing budget management and tax policy for school districts.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes 1.75% annual school funding growth rate and categorical aid, directly increasing state support for public schools per bill's funding provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2461: A bill for an act relating to the auditor of state by providing for efficient use of public funds reporting.

This bill requires Iowa's auditor of state to annually create and update a list of practical, innovative best practices for efficiently using public funds - without needing new laws. The auditor must share these recommendations with all public entities (like cities, schools, and counties) and ask them to report which practices they're implementing. The auditor then compiles an annual report analyzing all responses to track progress on fund efficiency across state entities. It focuses on reporting and transparency, not on changing spending rules or creating new obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility through annual efficiency reporting on public fund usage, aligning with 'promotes fiscal responsibility' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Tags Data Reporting

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signed · Iowa · Senate May 22, 2026

SF 2201: A bill for an act relating to school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2026, modifying provisions relating to property tax replacement payments, transportation equity aid funding, funding for school district budget adjustments, and school district enrollment, establishing an education support personnel salary supplement, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

This bill establishes new formulas for calculating state funding increases for schools starting in 2026, directly affecting all public school districts. It modifies how property tax replacement payments are handled, changes transportation equity aid funding rules, and sets new methods for adjusting school district budgets based on enrollment changes. The bill also creates a salary supplement for education support personnel and includes funding appropriations to implement these changes. All provisions take effect for the 2026 budget year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes new school funding formulas and appropriations, directly increasing state budget allocations for education through modified tax replacement payments and enrollment-based adjustments.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes new school funding formulas, modifies property tax replacement, changes transportation aid, and creates education support personnel salary supplement, all directly advancing public school funding and support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SF 2373: A bill for an act modifying the major economic growth attraction program to include incentivizing the building of a professional sports stadium by a national football league franchise in the state.

SF 2373 modifies Iowa's MEGA economic development program to allow NFL franchises building a professional sports stadium in the state to qualify for incentives. The bill defines "sports stadium" as a facility hosting NFL games and adds stadium construction projects to the program's eligible business types, expanding beyond its current focus on advanced manufacturing, biosciences, or R&D. Eligible NFL franchises would receive tax incentives like sales tax refunds and investment credits, subject to the program's existing limits of two projects or a 2027 end date. The bill does not change the requirement that businesses must primarily engage in qualifying sectors, though stadium projects are now explicitly included.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands tax incentives (sales tax refunds, investment credits) for NFL stadium construction under MEGA program, directly using tax policy to fund economic development.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

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