The Iowa Chamber Alliance works hard to maintain relationships with policymakers and other stakeholders to achieve success in our policy priorities. Below are priorities that ICA supported and worked with the governor and legislators as they passed these important policy priorities.
2026 Legislative Priority Successes
Talent Attraction
- IEDA Omnibus Bill (HF 2799): Establishes the Headquarters Expansion and Development for Grow and Employment Program, extends the sunset of the MEGA program to 2030, establishes the Business Incentives for Growth Program Training Fund, limits the length of bonds for the 260E program to 5 years, and creates a study to reform the program, and directs ISU to produce a load forecasting report.
Economic Development
- TIF Reform (SF 2472): Expands the definition of economic development to include housing, excludes the $5.40 levy and EMS levy with the option for local schools to opt back in, limits the perpetual TIF districts’ revenue usage to 60%, caps all new TIF districts at 23 years, and removes LMI requirements.
- Housing Renewal Program (HF 2772): Codifies the Housing Renewal Program under IFA.
Taxes and Infrastructure
- GILTI (SF 2492): Creates a state corporate income tax deduction for net controlled foreign corporation tested income from a foreign corporation, replacing the tax deduction for global intangible low-taxed income.
- Property Tax (SF 2472): Large omnibus with a 2% cap to the general services levy with the exclusion of new valuation, reestablishment of the multiresidential classification with a 6% increase above the residential rate, reform to tax increment financing, shifting of the burden of proof for assessment increases beyond 10%, prohibition of bonding for general operations, restrictions on reserves to GASB recommendations, establishment of a Firsthome Iowa Accounts program and phase-out of homestead and business replacement tax credits for usage in buy-down of school foundation aid levy.
2025 Legislative Priority Successes
Economic Development
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Tax Credits and Incentives (SF 657): Reforms Iowa’s tax credits and incentives offered, creating the Business Incentives for Growth Program, the Seed Investor Tax Credit Program, the Iowa Film Production Incentive Program, the Research and Development Tax Credit, and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Tax Credit. The bill eliminates the High-Quality Jobs Program, Angel Investors Program, Employer Child Care Tax Credit, and Research Activities Tax Credit.
- Major Events and Tourism (SF 606): Appropriates $4 million to the Major Events and Tourism Program from the Sports Wagering Receipts budget.
Business Climate
2024 Legislative Priority Successes
Talent Attraction
- Work-Based Learning (SF 2411): Expands the definition of work-based learning to include programs that occur in the summer months, creates a workforce opportunity fund, and makes changes to the student teaching requirements.
Economic Development
Taxes and Infrastructure
- Tax Omnibus (SF 2442): Accelerates personal income tax reductions to 3.8% flat tax in tax year 2025 and includes fixes to property tax changes made in 2023.