Budget & Taxes (Emergency Management)

This bill (SF 596) changes how Iowa counties fund local emergency management agencies. It requires these agencies to be fully funded through a per capita allocation from city general funds or the rural county services levy, rather than other options like countywide special levies. The bill also sets a new February 1 deadline for counties to adopt and certify emergency management budgets, limits future levy amounts for 2025-2026 to the previous year's level, and redirects funds previously allowed for emergency management to support joint 911 service boards instead. These changes directly affect county emergency management commissions and agencies, as well as local governments managing these budgets.