Status of ABI Priorities - Passed/Signed? Awaiting Governor’s Action

ABI was highly successful in passing legislation that fell within the 2024 priorities of Workforce, Tax and Regulatory Reform. You can view the status of key bills that were approved by the Legislature below.

SF 2411- Workforce Opportunity Fund: With direct involvement of the ABI Board of Directors, consensus legislation passed the Iowa House, Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.  The measure creates a $30 million Workforce Opportunity Fund by transferring that amount from the Unemployment Compensation Reserve Fund. The Fund will be used for identification and training in high-demand workforces. The bill also earns Iowa Workforce Development the right to establish apprenticeship programs independent of the U.S. Department of Labor approvals.

Importantly, the remaining $120 million balance in the Unemployment Compensation Reserve Fund is moved to the main Unemployment Insurance Fund where it will be used for unemployment claims and displace the need for unemployment taxes on Iowa employers.

• Status:  Signed into law by Governor Reynolds

SF 2370- Air Dispersion Modeling: Contained within a broader bill dealing with the periodic review of state agency rules recommended by Governor Reynolds, is a directive to the Air Bureau at the Department of Natural Resources and to the Environmental Protection Commission that would relieve Iowa manufacturers of costly and purely elective requests from state environmental regulators to perform air dispersion modeling. Often required when adding a minor emission source to operations, or making a minor change to a major emission source, such modeling is not required by federal law or rule, or state law or rule. Long sought, the elimination of air dispersion modeling and the associated costs will improve the competitiveness of Iowa manufacturers.

• Status:  Awaiting Governor Reynolds’ action

SF 455- Groundwater/Topsoil Regulation: The legislation mitigates unnecessary housing development costs by pre-empting cities and counties when it comes to the regulation of stormwater and topsoil. Municipalities can exceed state regulations on stormwater, but they must pick up the costs. 

• Status: Signed into law by Governor Reynolds

HF 2388- Regulation of Residential Building Materials: The bill ensures cities and counties cannot discriminate against particular types of building materials for residential buildings. This will help with home buying affordability. Some exceptions to the prohibition are spelled out in the legislation.

• Status: Awaiting Governor Reynolds’ action

SF 2442- Individual Income Tax Cuts: The personal income tax rate will be a flat 3.8% in Tax Year 2025.

• Status: Signed into law by Governor Reynolds 

HJR 2006 - Constitutional Amendment for Raising Taxes: The resolution requires a future legislature to achieve a two/thirds vote in the House and Senate in order to raise personal or corporate income tax rates. 

• Status:  Must pass the Legislature again in 2025 or 2026 in order for voters to consider the issue on the November 2026 ballot. Governor Reynolds’ signature is not required.

SJR 2004- Constitutional Amendment for the Flat Tax: The resolution would enshrine the flat personal income tax into the Constitution.

• Status:  Must pass the Legislature again in 2025 or 2026 in order for voters to consider the issue on the November 2026 ballot. Governor Reynolds’ signature is not required.

SF 574- MEGA Sites: The legislation gives the Iowa Economic Development Authority the ability to offer significant incentives to in-state or out of state companies that choose to invest at least $1 billion and meet other parameters spelled out in the bill.

• Status: Signed into law by Governor Reynolds