A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund and technology reinvestment fund, providing for related matters including county payment for district court furnishings, establishing the Iowa major events and tourism program and fund, and eliminating the sports tourism marketing program and fund, and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa redirects infrastructure and tourism funds while replacing sports marketing with a broader major events program and shifting court furnishing costs to counties.

Withdrawn.

Legislative bill overview

SF 650 appropriates funds from Iowa's Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund and Technology Reinvestment Fund for various state priorities, including court furnishings and infrastructure projects. The bill establishes a new Iowa Major Events and Tourism Program while eliminating the existing Sports Tourism Marketing Program.

Why is this important

This bill redirects state funding toward infrastructure development and consolidates tourism promotion efforts under a new framework. The shift from sports-specific tourism marketing to broader major events programming could affect how Iowa markets itself and which events receive promotional support and funding.

Potential points of contention

Elimination of sports tourism program: Stakeholders invested in sports tourism marketing may view the discontinuation as reducing focus on a specific economic driver, potentially affecting athletic events and related tourism revenue.

Funding allocation priorities: The bill's distribution across infrastructure, courts, and the new tourism program reflects spending priorities that some may view as inadequate for certain sectors or regions.

County court furnishings responsibility: Shifting court furnishing costs to counties could increase local budget pressures or create disparities in judicial facility quality across Iowa counties.