March 29, 2024

You Need to Know

• The Business Property Tax Created was converted into an assessment limitation in 2022, and funded with the expectation that it would be fully funded until 2029. Read the League’s explanation of this change here.

• However, the State-appropriated funding fell short this year and will be impacting budgets that are being certified. The League is asking the Legislature to correct this. Find the Department of Management’s tool to estimate your city’s expected loss here.

• The League is proposing a change which would step down the BPTC impact to local governments and maintain the $125M appropriation to support businesses.

• Contact your legislators and ask them to 1.) hold cities harmless from this state change and 2.) work with the League in passing this language before the end of session.

Legislation

SF 455 | Regulation of Stormwater in New Construction

• Preempts a local government from regulating the preservation, compaction, placement, or depth of topsoil at a construction site. Does allow cities to regulate stormwater runoff to match flow rates before construction. Defines construction site, topsoil, and allows cities and counties to provide more restrictive storm water regulations at construction sites if they pay for an engineering study and cover the additional costs to the project.

• Passed through the Senate as amended by the House. This will be eligible for consideration by the Governor.

SF 2205 | Civil Service Hiring Deregulation

• Allows a local government to temporarily suspend the requirements of Code of Iowa Section 400.11 paragraph 1, subsection a. This is commonly referred to as “Civil Service Hiring List”.

• Passed out of the House and will be eligible for consideration by the Governor.

• The League is registered in support because this allows local control to suspend a bureaucratic and time-consuming procedure.

League Registered in Support

SF 2331 | Newspaper of Record Regulations

• Alters many details about publishing government notices and minutes including allowing a city to “deliver” minutes to a newspaper rather than “cause to be published” within 15 days. Requires newspapers to publish public notices online if they use a website. Allows a city to publish notice to their website if a newspaper refuses to publish their notice. Prevents a newspaper from charging a city for an affidavit of publishing. Requires newspapers to refund any money to a local government if they fail to publish and the city publishes on their website. Gives the Iowa Public Information Board the ability to resolve disputes that arise from conflicts within Code of Iowa Chapter 618.

• Passed the House with bipartisan support and will be sent to the Senate. A technical amendment in the House will require this bill to pass the Senate one more time.

League Registered in Support

SF 2237 | Volunteer Fire as Councilor and Public Safety Funds

• Allows a chief of a volunteer fire department to serve on 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 judgements for damage to public safety vehicles into the fund and out of the fund. 

• Was referred to Ways and Means in the Senate, passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration by the Ways and Means Committee.

HSB 740 | Automated Traffic Enforcement Regulatory Proposal

• Creates a regulatory framework that flows through the Department of Transportation that requires cities to make applications for use of ATEs on primary roads. This specific proposal is often referred to as the “Codified DoT Rules” as this was proposed Administrative Rules many years ago. 

• The Floor Manager of the bill stated in committee that he wants to make sure Automated Traffic Enforcement is used to improve public safety and not as revenue generating devices. 

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

• The League is registered undecided on this legislation and we applaud the House for working on a regulatory framework with the Senate. This is the first regulatory bill the House has considered this year.

HSB 745 | MFPRSI Benefits

• Proposes changes to Code of Iowa Chapter 411, which seeks to expand retirement and disability benefits for MFPRSI officers. Specifically removes “time and place” requirement, expands required medical coverage for members. Requires cities to cover work related medical claims made within 3 years of the final date of employment.

• One of several proposals this year which impacts MFPRSI cities, this language mirrors the proposals from the last 4 years. This proposal also contains an income tax change for the recipients of MFPRSI survivor benefits.

• This legislation affects 49 cities. If your city is impacted, you are strongly encouraged to contact your Senator and House members to share those impacts in addition to contacting the League’s Legislative Staff.

League Registered in Opposition

HF 2648 | 5-day Special Class C Alcohol Permits

• Creates a new Class C retail alcohol permit and sets the fee for this permit at $50. Specifies that holding a Class A Native Distillery permit does not preclude a business from holding the newly created Special Class C permit.

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

SF 555 | Volunteer Emergency Service Tax Abatement

• Grants a volunteer EMS provider, as defined and limited in the legislation, a $500 or 10% homestead tax credit, whichever is less money on property taxes that are not school or community college levies. 

• Passed subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

HF 2661 | Sheriff Pension, New Public Safety Tax Credit

• Provides additional benefits to Sheriff and Sheriff Deputies through Code of Iowa Section 97B.49C. Adds enhanced penalties for assaulting an officer. Provides a tax credit for moving expenses for officers who relocate to Iowa.

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

• The League is registered undecided on this legislation. While we appreciate additional tools and resources to recruit new officers, we often hear about the disparity between city and county benefits as a challenge to keeping qualified officers.

Upcoming Legislative Forums

Malvern Legislative Forum

When: Mar. 30, 8 – 9 a.m.

Where: Mills County Extension Office, 61321 315th St., Malvern

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Sieck

Windsor Heights Talk with Officials Forum

When: Mar. 30, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

Where: Iowa Realty Office - Aisha R. Syed Board Room, 2830 100th St., Ste. 110, Urbandale

Confirmed Participants: Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, Sen. Claire Celsi, Polk County Supervisor Matt McCoy, Mayor Mike Jones

Marion Coffee & Conversations

When: Mar. 30, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Ave., Marion

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Donahue, Rep. Gjerde, Rep. Wilson

Iowa City Legislative Forum

When: Mar. 30, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Iowa City Senior Center - Assembly Room, 28 S. Linn St., Iowa City

Bettendorf Legislative Forum

When: Mar. 30, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Eastern Iowa Community College, 500 Belmont Rd., Bettendorf

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Kurth

Urbandale Talk with Officials Forum

When: Mar. 30, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Urbandale Chamber of Commerce Office, 2830 100th St., Ste. 110, Urbandale

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Brad Zaun, Rep. Eddie Andrews, Rep. John Forbes, Rep. Dan Gehlbach, Polk County Supervisor Robert Brownell, Urbandale School Board Member Jason Menke

Des Moines Office Hours with Rep. Srinivas

When: April 1, 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: April 1, 8 – 9 p.m.

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

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Austin Baeth

Winnebago County Town Meeting with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

When: April 3, 9 – 10 a.m.

Where: Waldorf University - Salveson Hall, 106 S. 6th St., Forest City

Confirmed Participants: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley

Winneshiek County Town Meeting with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

When: April 4, 9 – 10 a.m.

Where: Wilder Business Center, 1625 Highway 150 S., Calmar

Confirmed Participants: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley

Ottumwa Coffee & Conversation

When: April 5, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Where: Sassy Java House, 2465 Northgate St., Ottumwa

West Des Moines Listening Post

When: April 5, 3 –5 p.m.

Where: West Des Moines Library, 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy., West Des Moines

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Mary Madison

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).