Legislative Action Alert |
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Contact your Senator and House Members as soon as possible today and attend any Legislative Forums this weekend!
Upcoming Legislative Forums
The House passed their version of property tax reform which includes a 2% cap on all levies — including those for insurance and benefits outside of city’s control and keeps the redundant $8.10 CGFL limitation underneath this cap.
The Senate now has the opportunity to amend this property tax bill to ensure cities are able to sustain the property tax relief seeking to be delivered by the Legislature.
YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE TO ASK THEM TO:
Whenever possible, use your own data, recent cost increases, or local examples of service consequences to illustrate your concerns — those stories are the most effective.
THERE WILL BE NO MORE OPPORTUNITIES AFTER THIS WEEKEND TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS. PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY GO TO WASTE. |
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You Need to Know |
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The legislature is now officially working overtime. Significant movement on property taxes and the budget continue to advance.
Stay tuned for the League's New Laws of Interest annual report after session concludes.
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League Priority Legislation |
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The House passed their property tax proposal which contained few of the League Policy Solutions. As currently written, the House bill provisions are unsustainable for local governments and their residents. House “rank & file” members that have been contacted by their local officials have softened on several provisions vital to cities — particularly the 2% soft cap and removal of the $8.10 CGFL limitation in the Senate proposal. The chart below indicates the provisions in the Senate language that the League has been advocating for:
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*Discussions with legislators indicate interest in including in final negotiated proposal |
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If you need materials to reference for these policy solutions, they are found on the League website: Policy Guidance for Property Tax Reform.
IPAIT | SF 2286
The League, alongside a coalition of public entities, has been actively educating House members on how a proposed cap on public fund investments in trusts like IPAIT would reduce taxpayer return on investment. Although the bill has been pulled from the calendar five times this session, it remains under close watch as the session nears adjournment.
Sidewalk Liability | SF 2146
The League’s sidewalk liability priority bill failed to advance to the House floor, likely indicating that it will not pass this session. The League will continue to elevate the importance of this priority after advancing it significantly further in the process this year. |
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Public Notice Requirements | HF 2490
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Updates Iowa's public notice law to require governmental bodies to provide meeting notices through several specified methods: advising news media that have requested notice, posting in a designated prominent and always-visible location, and posting on the body's website or internet presence. It also establishes requirements for marking and updating amended agendas. These changes are intended to increase transparency and public access to governmental meetings.
Floor Amendment Changes: Adds language originally contained in HF 2836 that makes personnel settlement details public information. |
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Government Cemeteries | HF 2634 |
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Updates regulatory oversight and operational requirements for pre-need sellers and sales agents, changes how inflation adjustments are calculated for consumer refunds, establishes new definitions and exemptions for government cemeteries, and repeals some reporting and regulatory requirements. |
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Exclusion of Voluntary EMS Levies from TIF Diversion | SF 2496 |
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Modifies the division of property tax revenue under Iowa Code Section 403.19 (urban renewal/TIF). It expressly adds that property taxes levied for emergency medical services (EMS) under Code Chapters 357F, 357G, or 422D must be collected and used for EMS purposes and not diverted into urban renewal (TIF) special funds. This ensures EMS tax revenues are protected and cannot be used for urban renewal debt repayment.
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Returns to Opposite Chamber for Concurrence
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Property Taxes | SF 2472 |
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After striking and replacing the Senate proposal passed several weeks ago, with their own language on property taxes. The Senate has indicated it is not interested in passing the House bill as written and has one, final opportunity to amend the property tax package and send it back to the House again. The next iteration of a property tax bill will likely be a final negotiated package between Senate and House Leadership and the Governor’s Office. Contact your lawmakers now to ask them to pass a sustainable property tax bill with the League’s policy solutions.
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Township Governance | SF 2500 |
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Redefines the appointment and duties of township officers, especially in counties with populations under 75,000 or townships below a certain property valuation. It mandates the appointment (rather than election) of township trustees and clerks in most rural townships, institutes required training for appointees, and establishes new annual reporting requirements. The bill creates a Rural Fire Protection Fund for cities providing emergency services to townships, with new transparency and use guidelines. It also amends township budget procedures, increasing county oversight and public posting requirements. |
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You can view all editions of Legislative Link at iowaleague.org/resource/legislative-link.
Like our membership, the Iowa League of Cities is a non-partisan, service-oriented organization that does not participate in elections, make campaign contributions, or have a political action committee (PAC). |
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