You Need to Know |
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While the first funnel week typically holds the distinction of being the busiest week at the Iowa Capitol, the week immediately preceding it often runs a close second as lawmakers and stakeholders alike jockey to get their legislative priorities through the subcommittee process in order to pass their full committees by the funnel deadline. Two of the League’s four Legislative Priorities are funnel proof leading into the first legislative funnel next week. The Government Affairs team continues to engage lawmakers on the League’s remaining Legislative Priorities and hope to see our remaining priorities introduced and scheduled for subcommittee and full committee consideration before next Thursday’s deadline.
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League Priority Legislation |
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Sidewalk Liability:
Taxpayer Notice Form – contained within HSB 596:
Property Taxes
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There was no movement this past week on the property tax proposals as they are not subject to funnel deadlines, but all three government bodies continue to push their proposals. The League and partner organizations continue to have positive conversations with members on the unique aspects and challenges of each bill.
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HSB 734 | Authorization for Self-Supported Tourism Improvement Districts |
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Allows cities, counties and townships to create self-supported tourism improvement districts. Within these districts, lodging businesses can be assessed fees to finance activities and improvements that promote tourism, business and economic development. The bill details the process for creating, renewing, modifying and repealing these districts, as well as the use of assessments to back bonds for district improvements. It establishes requirements for district plans, hearings, protest procedures and annual reporting, and ensures that district funding supplements rather than replaces existing tourism funding. |
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HSB 720 | Changes to Public Library Eligibility, Oversight, and Parental Access Requirements |
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Requires public libraries to adopt and enforce age-appropriate policies restricting minors' access to inappropriate materials, as a condition for receiving state and local funding. It gives parents the right to access their minor child's library records. The bill transfers all authority of city library boards to local governing bodies, reconstituting boards as advisory only and establishing new procedures for reviewing and challenging library materials. It also clarifies the standards used for state library accreditation and appropriates funding based on compliance. |
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Legislation That Advanced This Week |
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HSB 664 | Restrictions on Local Civil Rights Ordinances |
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League Registered Undecided |
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SF 2286 | Limitation on Amounts of Funds Allowed to be Invested in Public Trusts (IPAIT)
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League Registered Opposed |
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SSB 3008 | Consolidation of 911 Service Boards and Local EMA Commissions |
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League Registered Undecided |
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HF 2309 | Library Material Restrictions |
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League Registered Opposed |
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Legislation With Scheduled Subcommittees |
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HF 2161 | Automatic License Plate Readers Use and Restrictions |
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Imposes significant controls on the use of automatic registration plate readers (ALPRs) by local authorities. It requires local ordinances to authorize their use, severely limits how long plate data can be accessed without a warrant or subpoena, mandates logging of access, prohibits sharing data with nongovernmental or out-of-state parties, bans facial recognition or identification features, and forbids targeting places of worship. It enhances criminal penalties for unauthorized access and data sharing.
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Subcommittee scheduled for Feb. 16 at 11 a.m.
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SSB 3113 | Law Enforcement Agreements and Cost Analysis |
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Caps sheriff compensation at 105% of the actual costs, requires itemized cost reporting, and specifies possible payment structures. The sheriff must enforce city ordinances when contracted. Multiple cities may jointly contract for such services. Cities with populations of 6,000 or less must submit periodic cost comparison reports regarding their law enforcement arrangements, and if contracting is more cost-effective, must put the question to voters. If voters approve, the city must contract for services with detailed transition and employee protections. Cities may re-establish police departments if crime rates rise above the state average.
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Subcommittee scheduled for Feb. 16 at 11 a.m.
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SF 2238 | Public Records Custodian Duties and Deferral Procedures |
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Establishes definitions for 'original government body' (the entity creating or primarily responsible for a record) and 'secondary lawful custodian' (an entity in physical possession of a record from an original government body). It permits secondary lawful custodians to defer decisions on disclosure to the original government body, relieves them of independent determination duties, and shields them from liability when acting on the original body's instructions. It also requires notification to the requester when deferral occurs and clarifies that reasonable reliance on the original government body's decision constitutes good faith.
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Subcommittee scheduled for Feb. 16 at 11:30 a.m.
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SF 2119 | Repeal of Obscenity Exemptions for Public Libraries and Educational Institutions |
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Repeals Iowa Code section 728.7, eliminating the exemption that protected public libraries, accredited schools, and educational programs from prosecution under the state's obscenity laws for using or providing certain materials for educational purposes. As a result, these institutions will no longer have special protection when using or providing materials that could be deemed obscene, even if such materials are used for educational or artistic purposes.
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Subcommittee scheduled for Feb. 16 at noon.
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SSB 3128 | City Utilities and Tenant Notification Requirements |
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Amends Iowa Code section 384.84 to allow a tenant's direct notification to a city utility or enterprise, regarding their responsibility or cessation of responsibility for utility charges, to serve as acceptable written notice when the landlord has an active rental license. Previously, only landlord-provided written notice was accepted. This change affects the exemption from utility liens for delinquent charges on residential rental properties.
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Subcommittee scheduled for Feb. 16 at 12:30 p.m.
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SSB 3098 | Boundary Adjustment Petitions Between City Property Owners |
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Amends Iowa Code 368.25A to establish a new process for property owners seeking city boundary adjustments when their petitions are repeatedly denied by one city council. If a petition is denied three times within a year, and the land is undeveloped or unimproved, the petition is referred to the city development board, which must then facilitate an adjustment agreement between the cities. The bill excludes land under certain tax or assessment agreements and land sold at tax sale from this process. It also clarifies city agreements concerning property tax transitions and zoning changes as part of approved petitions.
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Subcommittee scheduled for Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m.
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SSB 3135 | Transferring Powers from Local Health Boards to County/District Boards |
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Eliminates city/local boards of health and health departments, mandating that each county either form a county board of health or join a district (multi-county) board of health, with oversight and approval from the state Department of Health and Human Services. Powers, duties, and assets of local boards are transferred to the new governance structures. The bill establishes new membership, funding, and operational procedures for county and district boards, sets out processes for forming or dissolving districts, and details transitional arrangements. It also amends numerous sections of Iowa Code to reflect the new structure and repeals outdated provisions.
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Subcommittee scheduled for Feb. 16 at 3:30 p.m.
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Other Legislation of Interest
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HSB 689 | Requiring County Board Approval for Countywide Emergency Management Tax Levies |
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Specifies that any countywide special levy used to fund local emergency management agencies must be approved by the county board of supervisors, rather than being solely under the discretion of the local emergency management commission. The bill introduces an exception to the commission’s authority over budget funding methods, applying these changes to fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
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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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