Iowa lawmakers advanced major taxpayer-focused reforms during the 2026 session, including a 2% cap on many local property tax levies, school funding reforms, a larger Homestead Exemption, and other changes projected to save taxpayers more than $4 billion over six years. The legislature also prioritized conservative budgeting by limiting state spending growth to 1.4% and advanced a constitutional a...
Iowa lawmakers approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote of both legislative chambers to raise income taxes, giving voters the final say this November. The amendment is designed to place a higher barrier between taxpayers and tax increases by ensuring higher taxes cannot become the automatic response to budget pressures. The proposal reflects the long-standi...
Federal funds aren’t “free”—they come with strings attached, can drive higher state spending, and are increasingly unstable given Washington’s fiscal position and growing national debt. Earlier in the session, HSB 764 proposed a stronger approach with upfront reporting, full transparency, and legislative approval of major federal funds, ensuring lawmakers could evaluate commitments before they wer...
Iowa lawmakers passed a comprehensive property tax reform bill featuring a 2% cap on city and county property tax growth, marking a meaningful step toward slowing long-term tax increases. While the cap is significant, some exemptions and uncapped levies remain, meaning continued vigilance is needed as some local governments may seek to work around the limits. The bill includes several additional r...