Capitol Letters: Senate File 2442 provides Iowans an additional $1.3B in tax cuts

As the Senate worked to finish up the legislative session, we discussed and passed dozens of bills to address a variety of issues. These issues are brought to us by constituents, departments or stakeholders to make improvements to laws in Iowa.

One bill the Senate passed takes aim at improving student literacy rates in Iowa schools. House File 2618 requires teacher preparation programs to administer the Foundations of Reading assessment and report to the Department of Education annually on the percentage of students who scored above, at and below the passing score. Additionally, each school district must provide written notice to the parent or guardian of any kindergarten through sixth grade student who is not reading proficiently. If a student in grades K-6 is not reading proficiently, the school district must provide them with a personalized reading plan until they read at grade level.

Another issue that has caught the attention of many over the years is traffic cameras. We have seen many proposals to both ban traffic cameras and more thoroughly regulate their use, although the bills would often fail to advance at some point in the legislative process. This year, the Senate passed House File 2681, which was then sent to the governor for her signature. The bill identifies and regulates three types of traffic cameras: speed cameras, automatic license plate reader cameras and mobile traffic cameras.

Although I am opposed to the use of traffic cameras entirely, the bill adds a series of regulations to these types of traffic cameras and their use, most Iowans are interested in the traffic speed cameras. Cities and counties intending to install speed cameras must undergo an application and permitting process with the Department of Transportation. The DOT may grant the permit if the local authority can demonstrate a speed camera is the “appropriate and necessary and the least restrictive means” to address the traffic hazards at the proposed location. Additionally, local authorities may only use the fine revenue to fund speed camera installation and operations, transportation infrastructure improvements or police and fire department operations.

The Senate passed HF 2545 to require the review of curriculum standards for Iowa schools. The goal of this policy is to ensure the curriculum standards for Iowa schools result in high student achievement. This bill also revised the curriculum standards for social studies and history, so students are accurately taught about significant historical events in America and western civilization more broadly.

House File 2652 also passed this session. It makes updates to the fund schools use for infrastructure improvements and to bolster school security for students and staff. This bill prioritized the physical security of Iowa schools. It also allowed schools to use professional development funds to provide training for school employees to carry weapons to protect their students in compliance with the law passed by both the Senate and House.

One of the major bills passed this session is SF 2442, which builds on the historic tax relief passed in 2022 and provides an additional $1.3 billion in tax relief for Iowans allowing them to keep more of their hard earned money in their pockets. This means an average of $800 in more tax cuts for Iowa taxpayers in 2025. The bill passed by the legislature provides more relief for Iowans, adheres to our principles of prioritizing tax cuts and responsible budgeting and keeps us on a path of lowering the income tax in the future.

The bill also helps Iowa property taxpayers and brings more accountability to local elected officials and their salaries. SF 2442 gives county boards of supervisors the ability to dissolve county compensation boards if they are not satisfied with the job they are doing.

In a future newsletter, I will continue to review the past legislative session as there is too much to put out in one publication.

It is an honor to serve in the Iowa Senate. It is a position that I do not take lightly. I appreciate all the support that I have received throughout this past legislative session.