The Evans Edition: Three proposals for property tax relief

State Senator Lynn Evans

Last week was the seventh week of the legislative session. We are past the first funnel and the week was filled with floor debates. Last Monday we passed SF 2219 with a vote of 46-0. This bill requires school districts to grant a student an exempt absence when the student is absent from school for an activity or project sponsored by 4-H club or FFA. School districts are required to allow the student who is absent from school to make up any work they miss because of this absence. National FFA Week was celebrated across the country and this bill was one way we could ensure students participating in these programs continue to have access to these excellent programs.

We also passed Senate File 2218, which requires the Board of Educational Examiners to require all applicants for teacher or school administrator licensure and all renewals of licensure to provide proof of legal authorization to work in in the United States. This bill was necessary after the Des Moines Public Schools hired a superintendent who not only lied about his qualifications and experience for the job, but also lied about his citizenship in the United States, and deceived everyone in the community about his ability to do the job. It was another common-sense bill and it passed the Senate unanimously.

The scandal with Des Moines Public Schools prompted another proposal to protect Iowa taxpayers, Senate File 2412. This bill requires the verification of United States citizenship and immigration status of newly hired public employees and individuals seeking a professional license. It requires the use of either E-Verify or the federal SAVE program for verification and provides additional safeguards for schools, counties, and cities throughout the hiring process. This bill also passed the Senate unanimously 47-0.

Wednesday, the Senate also passed Senate File 2430, which requires all public buildings to lower the United States and State of Iowa flags to half-staff when directed by a proclamation issued by the governor. In 2025, the flags were lowered a number of times either in recognition of a loss or in remembrance of a tragedy like Memorial Day or National Peace Officers Memorial Day. However, this bill has proven necessary after the horrible assassination of Charlie Kirk and some localities refusing to lower the flags as ordered. Lowering the flags is a simple way for us to show our respect to the fallen and as our state’s highest elected official, all public buildings and their officers should follow her lead to demonstrate our state’s unity.

Property taxes continue to be one of the biggest topics discussed at the Capitol. Recently, Wallethub released their property tax rankings, again putting Iowa as the 10th worst state. Iowa being one of the worst states for property taxes is not news to us, but a new ranking does underline the need for an overhaul of our property tax system.

This week, the Senate held a subcommittee on the governor’s proposal on property tax relief. There are three different Republican proposals in the legislature to address property tax relief, and the subcommittee on Wednesday started comparing some of the different ideas in the proposals. The Senate’s proposal, filed on the first day of the legislative session, was scheduled to have a subcommittee on March 3. Senate Study Bill 3001 is proposing the biggest overhaul in decades that ensures Iowans are the focus — bringing real relief to Iowa families, dedicating additional funding to roads and bridges, and allowing Iowans the ability to truly own their home.

The Senate’s bill also takes into account all the feedback we have heard from our small towns, rural counties and other local government officials. That is why we allow local governments to increase the local option sales tax from 1¢ to 1.5¢ should they choose with voter approval. It also implements a gas tax index to help address important infrastructure needs, like repairing roads and bridges.

For the last several years, the Senate has been working on a property tax solution that addresses the concerns of Iowans and recognizes the problems of small-town Iowa are not the same as the bigger cities. Senate Study Bill 3001 is that proposal, and we are looking forward to having continued conversations with Iowans and with our colleagues on how we can achieve structural property tax relief and reform this year.

Email: lynn.evans@legis.iowa.gov