February 2, 2024

You Need to Know

• Last week, the Iowa Department of Management emailed cities a tool to estimate the Business Property Tax Credit Payment from the state to local governments for the FY 25 budget. Due to a variety of factors, we anticipate that the appropriated $125 million will be insufficient to fully fund the revenue losses and a prorated amount will be dispersed. This is several years earlier than expected. 

• When the Business Property Tax Credit was converted into an assessment limitation, the standing appropriation was directed to local governments rather than businesses. The Iowa League of Cities developed this one pager to describe the mechanics of this bill, and why we opposed this change. The Department of Revenue developed this page as an education resource for the change.

• The Iowa League of Cities is working with legislators on potential solutions to this funding shortfall.

Key Legislation

HSB 598  |  Volunteer Fire as Councilor and Public Safety Funds

• Allows a chief of a volunteer fire department to serve on the city council. Creates the ability for a city to establish a savings account and, if that account is created, there are special restrictions on the money from insurance payments, awards or judgments for damage to public safety vehicles into the fund and out of the fund. 

• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration by the Senate Local Government Committee.

SSB 3016  |  Automated Traffic Enforcement Ban and Hands-Free Mobile Phone Use

• Bans automated traffic enforcement for local governments. Expands regulations on using a phone while driving and makes using a phone while driving a moving violation. 

• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

League Registered in Opposition

• The League is registered opposed because this legislation removes vital public safety tools for cities. If your city utilizes automated traffic enforcement, it is crucial that your chief of police communicate the impacts of this legislation to public safety and the police department.

SSB 3107 | Online Publication of Notices

• Allows cities flexibility to post required notices on an online website in the event that a newspaper of record is not published in the city. 

• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate Technology Committee.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support to advance the League's priority of providing information to the most people in the most efficient way possible.

SF 2096 | Gender Balance Requirement for Appointed Boards

• Strikes the requirement that governmental bodies make a good faith effort to maintain gender balance on appointed boards. A Federal Judge recently ruled the requirement to be unconstitutional.

SF 2183 and HF 2175 | Cell Tower Siting Extension

• Extends the repeal of Chapter 8C, the Iowa Cell Siting Act, until the year 2035, which has been in place since 2017.

• Passed through a committee in both chambers and will be eligible for vote on each floor.

SSB 3112 | Land Sale to Educational Institutions

• Prevents governments, including cities, from attaching restrictions on property during a sale that would prevent the property from being used for a lawful educational purpose.

• This legislation passed through subcommittee but with the understanding that there would be drastic changes to the legislation. Whether or not cities would be included in future drafts was also questioned during the discussion by legislators.

SSB 3121 | Public Safety Infrastructure Bidding Qualifications

• Allows a local government to establish pre-qualification bidding requirements as it relates to the manufacture or construction of public safety infrastructure. 

• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate Local Government Committee.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support because this allows for more scrutiny and security over public safety technology sources.

HSB 619 | Limitations on Residential Facade Requirements

• Prevents a local government from restricting the exterior facade of residential buildings with limited exceptions for historic districts or Homeowners Association requirements. 

• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration by the House Local Government Committee.

HSB 552 | Guaranteed Income Preemption

• Preempts local governments from making payments to individuals in a guaranteed income program. This does not apply to training, educational, employment, or programs authorized by the State. 

• Passed out of Judiciary Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House floor.

SF 2154 | Building Design Standard Preemption

• Provides a preemption of design and facade standards which are not for health or safety, found in one of the last two editions of a national model code. Provides exemptions for historic districts, Tax Increment Finance Districts, business improvement districts, or Homeowners Association regulations. 

• Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor. The League has joined other local governments and city representatives in requesting an amendment that would grant more exemptions to this preemption and protect the use of development agreements.

SF 457 | Civil Service for Public Safety - Disciplinary

• Adds additional restrictions on the Civil Service Commissions when bringing disciplinary actions or complaints. 

• Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.

SF 454 | Civil Service for Public Safety - Hiring

• Reduces an administrative burden found in Code of Iowa Chapter 400. Specifically it allows cities to suspend the list requirements so that public safety hires can be pulled on a rolling basis rather than a stagnant and time-sensitive list. 

• Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support because this legislation reduces state-mandated requirements on local government hiring practices.

SF 2181 | Purchase of Water and Sanitary utilities

• Increases the threshold that triggers utility board oversight of the sale of a municipally owned utility. The current threshold is $500k and the bill increases this to $5 million.

• Passed out of the Commerce committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate floor.

HF 2276 | Zoning and Placement of Maternity Homes

• Clarifies that maternity homes can be located in any area zoned for residential purposes. 

• Passed out of Commerce Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House Floor.

Upcoming Legislative Forums

Red Oak Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 3, 8 - 9 a.m.

Where: Montgomery County Family YMCA, 101 E. Cherry St., Red Oak

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Moore

Sumner Town Hall

When: Feb. 3, 9 – 10 a.m.

Where: Sumner Public Library, 206 N. Railroad St., Sumner

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Sandy Salmon

Muscatine Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 3, 9 – 10 a.m.

Where: Muscatine Community College – Student Center, 152 Colorado St., Muscatine

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Mark Cisneros, Rep. Taylor Collins, Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen, Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, and Sen. Mark Lofgren

Wapello Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 3, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Wapello City Hall, 335 N. Main St., Wapello

Des Moines Office Hours

When: Feb. 3, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Southside Public Library – Meeting Room, 1111 Porter Ave., Des Moines

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Megan Srinivas

Nashua Town Hall

When: Feb. 3, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Gateway to NE Iowa Welcome Center, 10 Amherst Blvd., Nashua

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Sandy Salmon

Fredericksburg Town Hall

When: Feb. 3, 1 – 2 p.m.

Where: Upham Memorial Library, 138 W. Main St., Fredericksburg

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Sandy Salmon

Des Moines Office Hours with Rep. Srinivas

When: Feb. 5, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: DMARC, 100 Army Post Rd., Des Moines

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Megan Srinivas

Des Moines Office Hours with Rep. Baeth

When: Feb. 5, 8 – 9 p.m.

Where: Lua Brewing, 1525 High St., Des Moines

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Austin Baeth

Sioux City Government Relations Update

When: Feb. 9, 7 – 8 a.m.

Where: Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, 101 Pierce St., Sioux City

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Jacob Bossman and Re. Bob Henderson

Ankeny Legislative Update

When: Feb. 9, 11:30 – 1 p.m.

Where: Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library, 1210 N. W. Prairie Ridge Dr., Ankeny

Washington Legislative Briefing

When: Feb. 9, 12 – 1 p.m.

Where: Washington County Hospital & Clinics, 400 E. Polk St., Washington

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Dawn Driscoll and Rep. Heather Hora

Cedar Rapids Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 9, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Where: La Cantina Bar & Grill, 5400 Edgewood Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Elinor Levin

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).