~by State Sen Jesse Green, SD 24
May 2, 2024
The following is a review of a few bills we were able to pass this session:
SF2204 strengthens Iowa’s foreign ownership laws. This will give us a clearer picture of who is buying our land and why. LLCs have bought up a large percentage of land in recent years and we do not know who all of the shareholders are of these LLCs. This bill requires more reporting and gives more authority to the attorney general to enforce this law.
The following is a review of a few bills we were able to pass this session:
SF2204 strengthens Iowa’s foreign ownership laws. This will give us a clearer picture of who is buying our land and why. LLCs have bought up a large percentage of land in recent years and we do not know who all of the shareholders are of these LLCs. This bill requires more reporting and gives more authority to the attorney general to enforce this law.
SF2391 requires truth in labeling for meat and egg products. This will help inform consumers of what is “fake meat” and what is not. This has and will become more of an issue for consumers going forward.
HF2319 bans local government from implementing universal basic income programs. Income equality programs are not an appropriate use of property tax dollars especially when we are trying to lower property taxes.
HF2612 enacted the largest teacher pay increase in Iowa history.
HF 2586 provides schools with more flexibility to improve school security. We also had a Perry-specific bill to allow them flexibility with their management levy to give returning teachers a retention bonus.
SF2251 will expand Medicaid benefits for pregnant women and puts in proper guardrails to preserve the program for those who really need it.
HF 2661 increased benefits for sheriffs and deputies.
HF2681 regulates traffic cameras. The increasing number of cameras across the state has been a growing concern. Our new reforms will make certain that these cameras are for safety purposes first rather than just another revenue stream. There are many existing cameras around the state that will fail to meet these new requirements.
HJR2006 is a constitutional amendment that would require a single income tax rate for Iowans if we do have an income tax in the future. Many states have this including some Democrat states, Iowans may have the chance to vote on this in 2026 if we pass this out of the legislature one more time.
HJR2006 is a constitutional amendment that would require a supermajority to raise income tax rates. Most people feel that out of all the different revenue sources the government has, the income tax should be the one we are most sensitive about raising. Iowans may have the chance to vote on this in 2026 if we pass this out of the legislature one more time.
One of my personal bills regarding public school properties crossed the finish line. It did not pass as a stand-alone bill because the Governor used the language in her larger school property bill. There have been situations around the state where public schools were refusing to sell their old buildings to private schools and would rather tear them down out of the fear of competition or discrimination. These situations have created toxic environments for those involved, and in most cases, is not the best use of our assets. My bill prevents public schools from having deed restrictions to other educational institutions and forces them to take the highest bid if the buyer happens to be another educational institution. This ensures a free market for the bidding process and that the taxpayers receive the highest value for these buildings.
In 2025 Iowans will see an additional $1 billion in tax relief which is an average savings of $800 for a family. During these high inflationary times we live in, lowering the tax rates is the only responsible thing that government should be doing. Blue states are either keeping the rates the same or raising them. Their fiscal irresponsibility could be a reason Iowa saw a net migration into the state last year while states like Minnesota and Illinois are losing population.
Iowa ranks in the top 10 states for opportunity, taxes, teacher pay, overall state to live, and we are ranked the number 1 state to retire. Iowa is one of the best states in America to prosper. This is based on facts not feelings. There is more work to be done and after serving a term in the legislature I feel ready to tackle more challenges. I am so proud to have the opportunity to serve you during this time in Iowa history. Thank you for your trust and encouragement. I started door-knocking last week and look forward to parade season. Hopefully through one of these activities I will be able to cross paths with you this summer. Happy trails until we meet again!
