We are in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session. While we continue debating bills, we are covering several topics brought to us by constituents, inspired by recent events in our state, or building on the priorities we’ve passed over the last several years.
One of the important topics was in House File 2514, which passed the Senate on Monday unanimously. This bill codifies the state Child Care Assistance pilot program that permits eligibility for childcare workforce regardless of income. As we work to improve access to affordable childcare in the state, this policy is one way we can build on the successes of a pilot program passed several years ago. Under this bill, a parent, guardian or custodian must be employed at a childcare facility or home located in Iowa. They must average at least 32 hours a week in a position where the primary duty is providing child care directly to children and are regularly counted in the child-to-staff ratio.
House File 2337 was passed in the Senate, making it a fraudulent practice to knowingly and with intent falsely represent oneself as possessing an academic degree or credentials to obtain employment or any other personal gain. This is another bill the legislature has moved to address the issues we saw last fall when former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts was arrested and we learned about all the lies he told throughout his career and how he took advantage of Iowa taxpayers.
Mental health care and how we can improve the quality of care Iowans receive is a topic many care deeply about. House File 2543 was developed following the meeting of the Subacute Mental Health Care Services Interim Study Committee and receiving input from providers across the state. The goal of the bill is to eliminate barriers to access and provide a stronger step-down service in our state, while also lessening the burden on emergency departments and other health care facilities. The bill, with House approval, has five parts: it removes regulatory barriers related to admission to improve access to services, it accelerates prior authorization reviews, it removes barriers impacting employment at subacute mental health facilities, it brings transparency in bed availability at our PMIC facilities for children’s subacute needs, and requires Iowa HHS to review its capabilities to implement subacute and additional psychiatric services at the MHI in Independence. This is important legislation that will have a direct impact on Iowans by providing better mental health services in a more efficient manner.
One big issue that remains for the year is property taxes. For Senate Republicans, part of the discussion on overhauling Iowa’s property tax system is diversifying local revenue streams to provide significant, impactful property tax relief. As we work to drive down tax levy rates and bring relief to Iowa property taxpayers, a part of the discussion has been modifying Iowa’s gas tax to provide more constitutionally protected funds to help restore our roads and bridges.
Under the Senate proposal, the gas tax in Iowa would be tied to inflation, but it cannot go up more than one cent a year. Not only that, but there are several circuit breakers included in the bill to make sure prices don’t just continue to go up. If the gas tax increases by one cent per year for three years in a row, then it cannot go up for a fourth year in a row. There must be a pause. The legislature can also step in to eliminate the increase for any given year if it chooses to do so. If this bill had been in place this past year, the gas tax would not have gone up even a full cent. It would have increased by six-tenths of a cent and cost an average Iowa family of four roughly an additional $8 total last year.
Based on the most recent data from the American Road Builders Association and the Federal Highway Administration for 2025 and early 2026, Iowa ranks No. 1 in the nation for having the highest percentage of bridges in poor condition. Just this week, the Tax Foundation released a study on road taxes and funding, putting Iowa at 29th in the country. According to their report, Iowa collects just 53.1% of the necessary road funding from road users, further necessitating the need for reform.
The Senate’s property tax proposal works to address all these rankings with a property tax overhaul that offers more flexibility to provide the services Iowans are looking for. One of the highlights of this proposal is, not only are these funds constitutionally protected, but also 53% of every penny of the gas tax goes to our local cities and counties to support streets and secondary roads.
Every dollar counts, and we know Iowans are carefully budgeting every penny. At the Capitol, we are constantly looking at ways to more efficiently and effectively invest taxpayer dollars. Senate File 2472 is a carefully thought-out plan to bring property tax relief to Iowans, help restore Iowa’s roads and bridges and overhaul Iowa’s property tax system.
I rely on your input because everything we do as a General Assembly affects you personally. You can email me at lynn.evans@legis.iowa.gov to voice your support or concerns on upcoming legislation.
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