This week, Iowa House Republicans released House Study Bill 596, our property tax proposal to put the taxpayers first. This plan is not about protecting the status quo for taxing entities; it is about creating predictability and protecting the bank accounts of hardworking Iowans. For too long the property tax system has put certainty for government budgets over the certainty of family budgets, and with this proposal, Republicans are flipping that script.

The primary component of the bill is a capping of revenue growth at 2% plus new construction, ensuring that cities and counties are still incentivized to grow. This component includes exceptions for schools and the debt levy. Another major component is delivering immediate relief to every homeowner by creating a new $25,000 exemption. Every residential property will not be taxed on the first $25,000 of the assessed value of their home. This bill will also revamp the informational mailer sent to every property taxpayer to increase transparency and give taxpayers a better idea of where their money is going and what it funds. The bill will also clarify that all bonds payable with property taxes must receive a 60% affirmative vote.

This bill is competing with two other proposals, one from the Senate and one from the governor’s office. One of the differences in the Houses proposal is the exemption on the first $25,000 of the assessed value of every residential property. By creating this exemption for every residential property, we are delivering immediate tax relief to every single homeowner in Iowa. This means every senior citizen on fixed income, every young couple buying their starter home, and every middle-class family working hard for their children – will all see relief. This plan prioritizes the taxpayer over the taxing entities. It brings simplicity, transparency, and most importantly, relief.

The first bill passed off the floor of the Iowa House this session was House File 2104, a bill to protect landowners from abuse of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. Iowa landowners have been clear: private property is a fundamental right, not a convenience for private corporations. House Republicans have passed bills on this issue repeatedly since 2023 only to see them die in the Senate, or last year it was vetoed by the governor. This session, our approach is very narrowly tailored. HF 2104 simply prohibits eminent domain for the purpose of carbon dioxide pipelines. This is not about opposing the pipelines, but about opposing the use of eminent domain to construct the pipelines. We aren’t telling companies they can’t build; we’re telling them they must negotiate fairly with Iowans and get permission instead of using the heavy hand of government to take what they want. We are hopeful that this year we will be able to get protections for landowner rights passed by the Senate and signed by the governor.

This second week of session saw a lot of activity with hundreds of FFA and 4-H members visiting the capitol on Wednesday, as well as hundreds of our Veterans joining us for Veterans Day on the Hill. It’s always fun to visit with these bright young students, answer their questions, and show them the House Chamber.

As always, I look forward to seeing you at the capitol, or in the district.