Budget & Taxes

died · Iowa · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SF 2479: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for state government administration and regulation, including the department of administrative services, auditor of state, ethics and campaign disclosure board, offices of governor and lieutenant governor, department of inspections, appeals, and licensing, department of insurance and financial services, department of management, Iowa public employees’ retirement system, public information board, department of revenue, secretary of state, treasurer of state, and utilities commission.

SF 2479 is a budget bill that allocates state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to various government agencies responsible for administration, regulation, and public services in Iowa. The legislation provides specific dollar amounts for salaries, utilities, and operations for departments including the Department of Administrative Services, the Office of the Auditor of State, and the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. It also establishes rules for how certain funds, such as those for workers' compensation and utility costs, must be managed and carried over to future years if not fully spent. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Inspections submit a report on fraud investigations in public assistance programs by December 1, 2026. Ultimately, this measure authorizes the spending necessary to keep these state offices running and performing their regulatory duties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates state funds and provides appropriations for government administration and public services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions State Budget

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signed · Iowa · House Jun 2, 2026

HF 2771: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection, and including contingent effective date provisions.

This bill appropriates state funds for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to support its operations, regulations, and specific programs for the fiscal year 2026-2027. It allocates money for various initiatives, including dairy regulation, local food programs, agricultural education, assistance for farmers with disabilities, and conservation efforts in the Loess Hills and Southern Iowa regions. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for fund expenditures and designates specific amounts to university institutes and special funds for motor fuel inspection and foreign animal disease preparedness.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds to support agriculture and environmental programs, directly advancing the budget topic.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill appropriates funds specifically for conservation efforts and environmental protection programs within the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

signed · Iowa · House Jun 1, 2026

HF 2757: A bill for an act relating to nuclear electric generation facilities by creating sales and use tax exemptions and refunds, making appropriations to the state board of regents for establishing and maintaining a nuclear energy workforce, making penalties applicable, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill creates sales and use tax exemptions and refunds for tangible personal property, digital products, and services used to build, maintain, or restart nuclear electric generation facilities in Iowa. The tax relief applies to items directly used for construction, repair, or restarting operations after decommissioning, provided the facility begins commercial operation within twelve and a half years of receiving its license or pouring initial concrete. If a facility fails to start operations within this timeframe, it must repay all previously claimed tax exemptions and refunds. Additionally, the law defines specific equipment and systems eligible for these benefits, including nuclear components, electrical infrastructure, cybersecurity tools, and energy storage systems, while repealing the provision on July 1, 2051.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates sales and use tax exemptions and refunds for nuclear energy facilities, providing fiscal relief and funding support for the industry.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides tax exemptions and funding to build, maintain, and restart nuclear energy facilities, directly strengthening energy infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Energy Storage Nuclear

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SF 2476: A bill for an act relating to Iowa’s urban renewal law by modifying the division of revenue for certain emergency medical services property tax levies, and including applicability provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's urban renewal tax rules to ensure that property taxes collected for emergency medical services are not used to pay off municipal debt or fund low-income housing projects. Under the new provisions, these specific emergency medical service taxes must be collected from all taxable property within the district without being diverted to special funds for urban renewal. The changes apply to property taxes due in fiscal years starting on or after July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill protects dedicated emergency medical service tax funds from diversion to debt or housing, ensuring fiscal responsibility for essential public services.75% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill explicitly prevents emergency medical service property taxes from funding low-income housing projects, restricting available funds for affordable housing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Affordable Housing Property Taxes

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passed · Iowa · House May 1, 2026

HF 2779: A bill for an act relating to authorizations to conduct advance deposit wagering.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill designates 50% of net revenue from wagers to horse purses and the remaining 50% to the Polk County racetrack, directly funding state and local programs.85% confidence

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passed · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 2791: A bill for an act permitting an exchange of the cash reserve levy for another local levy within the school budget for certain school districts to correct for an extreme circumstance and including effective date provisions.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allows school districts to correct extreme tax valuation drops by temporarily increasing reserve levies, ensuring fiscal stability and protecting school budgets.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allows districts to exceed reserve limits to correct tax drops, ensuring financial stability and protecting school budgets.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax School Funding

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died · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 2792: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund, technology reinvestment fund, and renewable fuel infrastructure fund, providing for related matters including financial assistance eligibility for regional sports authority districts and department of health and human services information technology systems, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2792 allocates state funds from three specific infrastructure and technology funds to various departments for projects in fiscal year 2026-2027. The bill directs money to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for water quality demonstration projects on agricultural land, the Department of Administrative Services for building maintenance, and the Economic Development Authority for tourism and community grants. Additionally, it provides funding for IT system updates at the Department of Health and Human Services and for building repairs at the Department for the Blind. The legislation also includes provisions to keep certain agricultural data confidential and sets an effective date for these financial transfers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs state appropriations to fund infrastructure, technology, and public service projects, directly strengthening fiscal management and government spending.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates funds to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for water quality demonstration projects on agricultural land, directly supporting environmental protection.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates state funds specifically for updating IT systems and technology reinvestment, directly funding technology infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Water Quality

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died · Iowa · Senate May 2, 2026

SF 2487: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government entities associated with agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection.

SF 2487 appropriates state funds to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, to support its administrative operations, regulatory programs, and specific initiatives. The bill allocates money from various sources, including the general fund and specialized funds, to areas such as horse and dog racing enforcement, motor fuel inspections, dairy regulation, and assistance for farmers with disabilities. It also establishes cost-sharing agreements with Iowa State University of Science and Technology to support programs like the local food and farm initiative and the midwest grape and wine industry institute. Additionally, the legislation designates certain funds to remain available for expenditure in the following fiscal year if not fully spent, rather than reverting to the general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds to support agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill provides appropriations to the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to fund environmental protection, regulatory programs, and natural resource conservation initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget

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died · Iowa · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SF 2498: A bill for an act relating to nuclear electric generation facilities by creating sales and use tax exemptions and refunds, making appropriations to the state board of regents for establishing and maintaining a nuclear energy workforce, and providing penalties.

This bill creates a new fund to support nuclear energy workforce training at state universities, requiring nuclear power facilities in Iowa to contribute a portion of their tax savings to it. In exchange for these contributions, the bill allows nuclear facilities to receive exemptions and refunds on sales and use taxes for equipment and services used in building or maintaining their plants. Facilities must register with the state, sign an agreement detailing their financial commitment, and submit annual reports to verify they are meeting their obligations. If a facility fails to make the required contributions, it must repay the tax exemptions and refunds it claimed for that year. The legislation also defines specific nuclear components and structures that qualify for these tax benefits and establishes reporting requirements for the state board of regents.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new fund for workforce training via tax contributions from nuclear facilities, directly advancing state budget and fiscal management goals.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill funds nuclear workforce training and provides tax incentives to expand nuclear energy infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds nuclear energy workforce training at state universities, directly strengthening the skilled labor pool and employment standards in the sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Nuclear Workforce Development

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 29, 2026

HF 2759: 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 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state funding limits to reimburse delayed transportation claims for nonpublic schools, directly advancing fiscal management and appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases funding for nonpublic school transportation claims to reimburse previously unpaid delayed reimbursements.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases funding for nonpublic school pupil transportation to reimburse delayed claims, directly supporting transportation services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

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