WEEK #18 May 12th-15th (Final week of session)
HF 1002 / SF 627 - Length of Service award Program (LOSAP) (REGISTERED FOR)
Allows cities, townships and other government bodies to establish LOS programs for
volunteer firefighters, reserve police officers and volunteer EMS workers and to determine requirements and distributions for the programs. Fund: Creates a fund under the DOR and appropriates $1.5 million to the fund from sports wagering receipts. Allows the DOR to make matching grants to LOS programs that do not exceed $300 per participant. Establishes annual appropriations to bring the fund up to $1.5 million.
BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS AND IS BEING SENT TO THE GOVERNOR-WATCH FOR A BILL SIGNING WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!
SF 660-Appropriations bill that funds LOSAP AMENDMENT S_3194
This is the amendment where LOSAP will be funded at 1.5 Million dollars per year.
SF 303 /HF 702 (HF 44) Expansion of Fireworks: Public Safety, Gustoff/Gearhardt/Gjerde (REGISTERED AGAINST)
This bill allows companies who have a store location to sell fireworks year round and it also adds another day/time when it is legal to shoot off fireworks. The added date is on election day. PASSED BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE ON MAY 12TH-NOW SENT TO THE GOVERNOR-The bill that would allow fireworks sold in permanent structures year around DID NOT pass. I am sure it will get brought up next session.
SF 609 / HF 75 Tax abatement for surviving spouse: Ways and Means (REGISTERED FOR)
This bill authorizes the abatement of property taxes and special assessments owed on property owned by the surviving spouse of an emergency services member killed in the 2
line of duty. Subcommittee assigned THIS BILL DID NOT PASS THIS SESSION
SF 96/SF 635 Property tax abatement for emergency services providers
A bill for an act relating to the abatement of property taxes owed on property owned by certain volunteer emergency services providers and including effective date and applicability provisions.
Introduced to Ways and Means Subcommittee assigned: Dickey, Rowley and Townsend THIS BILL PASSED THE SENATE BUT DID NOT PASS THE HOUSE
SF 499 / HF 297 City Emergency Services -Local Gov This bill deals with city emergency services regarding holding office as a city official and volunteer firefighter or EMS provider. It also provides guidance of reserve savings accounts to pay for major equipment PASSED SENATE FLOOR DEBATE-BILL WAS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
HF 793 (HF 265)- Firefighter Training and certification - Public Safety (Dunwell)
Wengryn, Gosa and Rinker
Bill deems a person listed on the sex offender registry shall not be certified as a firefighter, including a volunteer firefighter.
PASSED SENATE 4/23-BILL PASSED AND WAS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
SF 594 (SSB 1206) - Fire Service Study - Webster Local Government (Registered FOR) An Act requiring the state fire marshal to conduct a study on the consolidation of fire protection services. THERE NO FURTHER ACTION ON THIS BILL IN THE HOUSE BUT THEN IT SHOWED UP ON THE FINAL DAY IN THE STANDINGS BILL AND PASSED.
THE FOUR LARGEST COUNTIES THAT WILL BE A PART OF THIS BILL ARE; Polk, Linn, Scott and Johnson
HF 358 Volunteer FF, EMS and Reserve Officers tax credit-
WAYS & MEANS-Rep. Jacoby
Increases the income tax credit for volunteer FF, EMS and reserve police officers to $1,000.
THIS BILL WAS ADDED AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE LOSAP BILL IN THE HOUSE FLOOR DEBATE AND WAS DECLARED “NOT GERMAINE”
HF 362 Essential EMS
Ways & Means committee Rep Jones
Designates funding EMS as an essential county purpose for bonding.
SUB met & TABLED-DID NOT PASS
HF 969 / SF 272 - (HSB 266) - Expanding Cancer Benefits This bill requires public employers to provide health care benefits that include cancer screening exams to full-time firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service providers within the first three years of a person’s employment and every three years thereafter. The bill allows a political subdivision to be reimbursed by the state for the cost of the exams up to $1,250 per eligible employee. Expands the definition of cancer for PORS and MFPRE (411) retirement systems to include more members with cancer for coverage and cancer benefits. Adds a formula for increased contribution rates for members with cancer for coverage and cancer benefits. Adds a formula for increased contribution rates for members and decreased rates for employers starting in FY 2026. 4/15 - PASSED HOUSE FLOOR - TO THE GOVERNOR The LSA issued a fiscal impact before the House action on the floor. According to the LSA, the bill could increase the UAL by about $550,000 but an actuarial study would be needed to confirm this. In FY 2025, the contribution rates for the 411 (MFPRE) system are currently 32.21% (split 9.55% employee /22.66% employer). The employer contribution rate decreases to 22.68% in FY 2026. In later years, the employee contribution rate will probably increase to 9.56%.
HF 977 (HF 941) - Expansion of ground medical emergency transportation A bill for an act relating to the expansion of the ground emergency medical transportation program. THIS BILL DID NOT PASS
HSB 265/HF967/ HF 1063 - IPERS Dunwell, C. Johnson and Wilburn A bill for an act relating to benefits for members of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system who are employed in a protection occupation. Changes the employer/employee contribution split (employer down from 60% to 50%; employee up from 40% to 50%). Benefits: Increases the percentage for IPERS protection occupation members used to calculate additional benefits beyond 22 years of service and (from 0.375% and 12% to 0.675% and 20%). Allows early retirement at age 50. Establishes a COLA and eligibility requirements. THIS IPERS BILL DID NOT PASS THIS SESSION SF 659 STANDINGS BILL On page 22 of this 22 page bill they added language from HSB104 that was tabled on Feb 24.It was brought back into the standings bill. Here is the language: DIVISION XII 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES NEW SECTION. 34A.12 Delivery of 911 calls reimbursement. The program manager may request reimbursement from each joint 911 service board for reasonable costs under section 34A.7A related to the delivery of 911 call traffic to public safety answering points. Upon request, each joint 911 service board shall reimburse the department of homeland security and emergency management for such costs within thirty days. Numerous public safety organizations that will be affected by this bill held a press conference on May 19th and sent a letter to the governor asking her to VETO this part of the bill. She has 30 days to sign or veto a bill once the session ends.
SF 311/HF Civil Service A bill for an act relating to city civil service employees and related procedures and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1010.) Effective date: 08/16/2025 PASSED-SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
SF 397/HF 177 Worker Assaults
A bill for an act relating to assaults, including assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations and inmate assaults on department of corrections employees, and providing penalties. (Formerly SSB 1058.) Effective date: 07/01/2025. PASSED-SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
HF 827/SF 22 Texting while driving A bill for an act relating to the use of an electronic device in a voice-activated or hands-free mode while driving, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.(Formerly HSB 64.) PASSED-SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
HF 307/SF 42 Eligible cost for emergency medical services A bill for an act modifying the costs eligible for emergency medical services fund expenditures, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 19.) PASSED-SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
Those of you who work with city budgets may be interested in this legislation:
SSB 1208/SF 651-HSB313 PROPERTY TAX CHANGES
The Senate Ways & Means Committee moved SSB 1227 PROPERTY TAX CHANGES (now SF 651) forward with an amendment. Senator Dawson said that legislators are trying to help homeowners deal with high property taxes but said that the proposed $50,000 homeowner exemption was too big for small towns. The amendment replaced it with a 25% exemption on the value of a house, for up to $125,000. The amendment changed the phase-out of the rollback and made other corrections and changes.
THEY DID NOT PASS A PROPERTY TAX BILL THIS YEAR
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