January 27, 2023

• SSB1056 was filed in the Iowa Senate last week. If passed, the legislation would reduce the residential rollback percentage by 1.8% from 56.49% to 54.65% for the budget year (FY 24) that cities are currently working on. The discrepancy in calculating the residential rollback was detected by the Legislative Service Agency in November. Read more about this legislation below.
• The First Funnel is March 3rd.
• Property taxes will continue to be a discussion throughout the legislative session. HF1 has been filed in the House, but a subcommittee has not yet been scheduled. The House may have additional proposals, and the Senate is expected to release versions of property tax reform legislation in the coming weeks. Note that while SSB1056 is not intended to be a property tax bill, it does impact the current budgeting process of cities.

• Alters the residential rollback by removing properties previously known as multi-residential from the calculation of the residential rollback for Assessment Year 2022 (or FY 24). This change impacts the budget process cities are currently going through by reducing the residential rollback percentage by 1.8% from 56.49% to 54.65%.
• The stated goal is to restore the legislative intent established in 2013 when the multi-residential property tax classification was created. At that time, it was intended that multi-residential properties would have the residential property rollback applied, but properties themselves were not to be included in the calculation.
• We believe this legislation is a viable proposal that may advance quickly. Cities have expressed concerns that changes to the budget outside the normal process could negatively impact transparency and public participation in significant local decisions.
• The League has requested a delay in implementation until the FY 25 budgeting process so that changes in local government budgets due to this legislation can be done openly and transparently with public input and participation.

• A subcommittee has been scheduled for Monday at 2:30 p.m. to hear public input and impacts on the legislation.

• Makes Emergency Management Commissions more autonomous in terms of levy authority and funding. Mayors or mayor appointees serve as a member of the commission.
• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate Local Government Committee.

• Allows local governments to set a retirement age for peace officers, which can be older than 65. At the subcommittee, Senators acknowledged an amendment, which is not yet available, that would narrow this bill to only affect Reserve Peace Officers. Once the amendment is available, we will distribute it.
• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

• Allows municipalities to provide a voluntary contribution to benefit volunteer police and fire officers. The legislation also appropriates matching funds from the state to supplement the benefit.
• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the House Local Government Committee.
• The League is registered in support.

• Exempts privately owned sanitary sewer and storm water utilities from the payment of property taxes. This impacts an extremely limited number of local governments but could expand in the future.
• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the House Ways & Means Committee.

• Creates a review process of federal Executive Orders with the ability to make them unenforceable in the State of Iowa.
• Passed out of subcommittee in the House and will be eligible for consideration by the Judiciary Committee.

• Enhances penalties for cyber attacks against governmental entities outlined in the bill.
• The League is seeking an amendment to include city government in the groups covered under the enhanced penalties.
• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the House Economic Growth and Technology Committee.

• Deletes Code of Iowa Section 69.16A, which requires political subdivisions to make a good faith effort to achieve gender balance on boards and commissions.

• Requires the custodian of public records to promptly reply to records requests with an estimate of how long the final request will take to fulfill and how much it might cost.
• Passed out of subcommittee with legislators committing to amend the legislation to be less burdensome on local governments. Once this amendment is made public, we will distribute it.
• The League is registered undecided and working with a coalition of partners to mitigate this bill’s impacts.

A list of all legislation filed this session can be found here. 

Subcommittees can be scheduled or canceled at any time, so the list below will only be accurate for a short time. An up-to-date list of subcommittees can be found here.

• January 31, 10 a.m, Room 217 - SSB 1088 - Elderly Tax Credit Application window 

   

• 2023 Iowa Legislative Session Timetable
• Find Your Legislator
• Find Committee and Subcommittee Meetings
• Find Legislation
• Iowa Property Tax Information

Saturday, January 28 - Rock Rapids Eggs and Issues Legislative Forum

Where: Forster Community Center (404 1st Avenue, Rock Rapids, IA 51246)

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Skyler Wheeler

Additional Information: This event is free and open to the public.  Free will donations are accepted. Coffee and rolls will be served.

 

Saturday, January 28 - Fort Dodge Eggs and Issues Legislative Forum

Where: Iowa Central Community College - Triton Cafe (One Triton Circle, Fort Dodge, IA 50501)

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Ann Meyer

 

Saturday, January 28 - Spencer Eggs and Issues Legislative Forum

Where: Spencer City Hall - Council Chambers (101 West 5th Street, Spencer, IA 51301)

Time: 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Megan Jones

Additional Information: This event is free and open to the public. 

 

Saturday, January 28 - Oskaloosa Eggs and Issues 
Where: Smokey Row Coffee (109 South Market Street, Oskaloosa, IA 52577)
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Ken Rozenboom; Rep. Helena Hayes; and Rep. Barb Kniff-McCulla

Saturday, January 28 - Camanche Legislative Coffee 
Where: City of Camanche City Hall (818 7th Avenue, Camanche, IA 52730) or virtual via Facebook Live
Time: 9 - 10  a.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Chris Cournoyer; Rep. Norlin Mommsen; and Rep. Tom Determann

Saturday, January 28 - Waverly Townhall 
Where: Waverly Public Library (1500 West Bremer Avenue, Waverly, IA 50677)
Time: 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. 
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Sandy Salmon 

Saturday, January 28 - Iowa City Legislative Forum 
Where: Iowa City Senior Center - Assembly Room (28 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240); Live streamed on City Channel 4 and its YouTube channel along with the LWVJC Facebook page and website
Time: 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Invited Participants: Sen. Dawn Driscoll; Sen. Zach Wahls; Sen. Janice Weiner; Rep. David Jacoby; Rep. Heather Hora; Rep. Elinor Levin; Rep. Amy Nielsen; Rep. Brad Sherman; Rep. Adam Zabner

Saturday, January 28 - Clarinda Legislative Briefing 
Where: Lied Public Library - Public Meeting Room (100 East Garfield Street, Clarinda, IA 51632)
Time: 10- 11 a.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Tom Shipley and Rep. Devon Wood

Saturday, January 28 - Carroll Legislative Forum 
Where: New Hope Village (1211 East 18th Street, Carroll, IA 51401)
Time: 10 - 11 a.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Jason Schultz and Rep. Brian Best

Saturday, January 28 - Urbandale Talk With Officials Forum
Where: Urbandale Chamber of Commerce Office (2830 100th Street, Suite 110, Urbandale, IA  50322) and virtual via Zoom
Time: 10:30 a.m.  - 12 p.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Brad Zaun
Invited Participants: Rep. John Forbes; Rep. Eddie Andrews; Rep. Dan Gehlbach; Urbandale Mayor Robert Andeweg; Polk County Supervisor Robert Brownell

Saturday, January 28 - DeWitt Legislative Forum 
Where: DeWitt Community Center (512 10th Street, DeWitt, IA 52730) or virtual via Facebook Live
Time: 11 a.m.  - 12 p.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Chris Cournoyer; Rep. Norlin Mommsen; and Rep. Tom Determann

Saturday, January 28 - Charles City Town Hall 
Where: Floyd County Museum (500 Gilbert Street, Charles City, IA 50616)
Time: 11 a.m.  - 12 p.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Sandy Salmon 

 

Monday, January 30- Des Moines Caffeinated Politics

Where: Gateway Market Cafe (2002 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312)

Time: 8 - 9 a.m.

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Austin Baeth

 

Monday, January 30- Des Moines Political Buzz

Where: Lua Brewing (1525 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50309)

Time: 8 - 9 p.m.

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Austin Baeth

 

Friday, February 3- Ankeny Legislative Forum

Where: Main Street Cafe (2510 SW White Birch Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023)

Time: 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Heather Matson

Saturday, February 4 - Greene Townhall
Where: Greene Public Library (231 West Traer Street, Greene, IA 50636)
Time: 9  - 10 a.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Sandy Salmon 

Saturday, February 4 - New Hampton Townhall 
Where: New Hampton Public Library (20 West Spring Street, New Hampton, IA 50659)
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Confirmed Participants: Sen. Sandy Salmon

Our mailing address is:
Iowa League of Cities
500 SW 7th St Ste 101
Des Moines, IA 50309-4506