March 28, 2025

This Week at the Capitol

• House and Senate subcommittees advanced property tax reform bills (more on this topic below).

• The Iowa House sends “hands-free driving” bill to the Governor.

• Iowa House votes to ban eminent domain for CO2 pipelines.

  
  

League's Priority Legislation

• SSB 1208 & HSB 313 | Property Tax System Overhaul 

  • Subcommittees were held on Wednesday, March 26, to solicit public feedback on the proposed legislation.

    • Legislators acknowledged that all entities–cities, counties, schools, public transit, and agricultural property–need to be prepared to compromise on their current operations in one form or another for the sake of property tax reform.

    • Legislators stressed that stakeholders need to provide feedback in the form of suggested amendments rather than solely pointing out difficulties with the bill as written.

    • Representative Bobby Kaufmann announced that he intends to hold off bringing the bill before the full House Ways & Means committee for two weeks, and the Senate may follow a similar timeline.

  • The League’s explanatory overview of the bill in its current form can be found here.
    

  • The League is fine-tuning a modeling tool for cities to use to understand the impacts of this legislation on communities. We will be sending the model out next week.

• SF 588 & HF 651 | Public Notice Alignment 

  • SF 588 unanimously passed the Senate on Tuesday!

  • The House bill is eligible for floor debate.

    • The League’s legislative team is working to maintain the bill’s form against proposed amendments that lengthen the minimum reporting period to 10 days from 4 days, which would exacerbate the issue the bill is meant to address.

How to Read Legislative Link

With many bills failing to cross the legislative “funnel” deadline. The Legislature will begin to consider Ways & Means bills dealing with fiscal policy alongside other policy bills that remain alive. Legislative Link will change to reflect these designations with these bills.

• Legislation that Advanced 

  • These bills advanced in the legislative process this past week.

• Legislation with Scheduled Subcommittees

  • These bills will be heard in subcommittee next week. Please review for any impacts to your community for us to know as we attend and testify at these meetings. If you would like to testify yourself, we are happy to assist you. You can find the full list of scheduled subcommittees here.
    

Legislation that Advanced

HF 969 | Cancer Coverage for Firefighters and Police Officers

• Passed the House.

• Expands the definition of 'cancer' to include all forms of cancer rather than the 14 cancers that were previously required to be covered. Additionally, the bill increases the applicable employee contribution percentage for special service members by 0.125% annually, decreases the applicable employer contribution percentage for special service members by 0.125% annually, and adjusts the member's contribution rate to 9.675% starting July 1, 2025, with a maximum cap of 11.475%.
  

HF 706 | Open Meetings Penalties

• Passed the House.
  

• Increases the range of damages for violations of the Open Meetings law ($500-$2,500 for violations and $5,000 to $12,500 for knowing violations). Requires a court to order the removal of a member of a board for open meetings violations, regardless of whether damages are assessed. Requires the members of a government body to take training in Open Meetings/Records laws within 90 days of assuming responsibilities. Requires the IPIB to develop such training. Makes a member subject to damages for not completing training.
  

SF 507 | Prohibition of Local Government DEI Programs

• Passed the Senate.
  

• Prohibits counties and cities in Iowa from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, hiring related personnel, or requiring diversity statements, while defining "diversity, equity, and inclusion" in a way that restricts various related initiatives. The bill aims to prevent any policies or practices that promote differential treatment based on race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, except as required by federal or state law.
  

SF 595 | Regulation of Construction and Contractor Licensing

• Passed the Senate. 

• Amends regulations related to construction in Iowa, focusing on state building codes, contractor licensing, and stormwater management requirements. It prohibits local governments from imposing additional licensing fees on general contractors and restricts them from adopting more stringent stormwater management methods than those initially approved during subdivision reviews.
  

SF 592 | Auxiliary Dwelling Units (ADUs)

• Passed the Senate.

• Requires Iowa cities and counties to permit at least one ADU on the same lot as a single-family residence, while limiting the ability of local governments to impose restrictive regulations on ADUs. The bill outlines specific conditions regarding size, utility access, and approval processes to facilitate the construction and use of ADUs.
  

SF 574 | Construction Retainage

• Passed the Senate.

• Allows a contractor to file a surety bond in order to receive retained funds that are being held due to a claim being filed. Sets a timeline for beginning an action after a contractor serves a written demand and allows the contractor to collect if the deadlines are not met (retained funds or double the amount of the claim, whichever is less). Allows a contractor to post a retention bond and receive retained funds on a public project. Allows a contractor who prevails to collect attorney fees.
  

SF 494 | “Freedom to Garden”

• Passed the Senate.
  

• Prohibits state agencies and local governments from regulating residential gardens and the marketing of garden food, affirming individuals' rights to grow and sell food from their own properties.

HF 860 | Prohibition of Local Regulations on Fuel-Powered Equipment

• Passed the House.

• Prevents government entities from enacting or maintaining regulations that restrict the possession, operation, or sale of fuel-powered equipment based solely on the equipment's fuel source. This includes prohibiting regulations that would require sellers to maintain inventories of specific fuel-powered equipment.
  

SF 579 | Local Civil Rights Commissions

• Passed the Senate.

• Requires that a complaint that is filed with a local Civil Rights Commission that is about a local government or state agency to be directed to the Office of Civil Rights. Allows complaints by the local commission to be referred to the state office. Sets timelines for filing and resolving complaints and includes provisions on other related matters. Makes the term of a local commissioner two years.
  

HF 844 | Public Fund Investments

• Passed the House.

• Strikes the current requirement prohibiting public funds from being deposited in a financial institution that does not show a commitment to serving the local community.
  

HF 946 | Immigration Law Enforcement

• Passed the House.

• Establishes penalties for law enforcement officers who knowingly fail to comply with immigration law enforcement requirements, allowing for investigations by the attorney general and potential revocation of the officer's certification.
  

HF 645 | Immunity for Sports and Exposition Venues from Nuisance Actions

• Passed the House.

• Establishes immunity for sports and exposition venues from nuisance actions, provided they have been in operation for over a year and comply with local, state, and federal laws. It outlines specific conditions under which nuisance claims can be filed and protects venues from being deemed a nuisance due to changes in local conditions or reasonable expansions.
  

Legislation with Scheduled Subcommittees

HF 706 | Open Meeting and Open Records Violations

• Increases penalties for open meetings and open records violations, requiring newly elected or appointed public officials to complete training on these laws, and establishing provisions for compliance and enforcement by the Iowa public information board.
  

• Subcommittee scheduled for March 31 at 11:30 a.m. Join Meeting Here.
  

SF 594 | Fire Protection Service Consolidation Study

• Requires the state fire marshal to conduct a comprehensive study on the potential consolidation of fire protection services. The study aims to assess the current fire protection coverage, response times, staffing needs, and equipment requirements, while also analyzing the financial implications and existing service programs. A required report is required to include recommendations for the implementation of countywide fire protection services, with a specific emphasis on the potential impact of such implementation on the four most populous counties in Iowa.

• Subcommittee scheduled for March 31 at 12:30 p.m. Join Meeting Here.

HF 969 | Cancer Coverage for Firefighters and Police Officers

• Expands the definition of 'cancer' to include all forms of cancer rather than the 14 cancers that were previously required to be covered.

• Subcommittee scheduled for March 31 at 2:30 p.m. Join Meeting Here.

SF 494 | “Freedom to Garden”

• Prohibits state agencies and local governments from regulating residential gardens and the marketing of garden food, affirming individuals' rights to grow and sell food from their own properties. 

• Subcommittee scheduled for April 1 at 8:00 a.m. Join Meeting Here.

SF 595 | Construction and Contractor Regulations by Local Governments

• Regulates construction by amending state building codes, contractor licensing, and stormwater management requirements to enhance housing affordability and limit local government restrictions on contractors and stormwater management practices.

• Subcommittee scheduled for April 1 at noon. Join Meeting Here.

HF 617 | Enhancement of Low and Moderate Income Housing Assistance in Urban Renewal Areas

• Modifies urban renewal provisions to require that at least 20% of project costs in certain economic development areas be allocated for low and moderate income family housing, extends tax revenue divisions to 20 years, and updates terminology related to income classifications.

• Subcommittee scheduled for April 2 at noon. Join Meeting Here.

Resources

• Find legislative forums near you
  

• Key Dates for Session: 

  • March 31--April 4 | Second Legislative Funnel
    

  • May 2 | 110th Day of Session (per diem expenses end)
    

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).