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Bill

HSB 305

A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the Iowa economic development authority, including tax credit limits, targeted jobs tax credits, and the major economic growth attraction program; creation of the business incentives for growth program, the seed investor tax credit program, the Iowa film production incentive program, the research and development tax credit program, and the sustainable aviation fuel production tax credit program; elimination of the high quality jobs program, the investments in qualifying businesses tax credit, employer child care tax credits, assistive device tax credits, endow Iowa tax credits, and research activities tax credits; and including effective date provisions and criminal penalties.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa eliminates six tax incentive programs and creates five new ones, redirecting economic development credits toward film, aviation fuel, and seed investment while cutting research and child care support.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 1054.
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Bill Summary · HSB 305

Legislative bill overview

HSB 305 restructures Iowa's tax credit and economic development incentive landscape by eliminating six existing programs (including high quality jobs credits, research activities credits, and child care credits) while creating five new ones (business growth incentives, seed investor credits, film production incentives, R&D credits, and sustainable aviation fuel credits). The bill also adjusts tax credit limits and modifies the state's major economic growth attraction program administration.

Why is this important

This represents a significant shift in how Iowa allocates roughly $100+ million in annual tax incentives to businesses and investors. The changes will directly affect which industries receive state support, potentially redirecting resources toward emerging sectors like sustainable aviation while eliminating support for research activities and employer child care—areas some view as important workforce development. Companies currently benefiting from eliminated programs will lose those credits, requiring business planning adjustments.

Potential points of contention

  • Elimination of research credits: Removing research activities tax credits may disadvantage Iowa's biotech and advanced manufacturing sectors that rely on R&D incentives for competitiveness
  • Child care credit removal: Ending employer child care tax credits eliminates workforce development support and may reduce affordable child care access in rural areas where employers historically subsidized this benefit
  • Program effectiveness unclear: The bill creates new programs without clear evidence that film production and sustainable aviation fuels justify replacing proven incentive structures that supported qualified job creation
  • Revenue impact and winners/losers: The shift favors specific industries (film, aviation fuel) over others (traditional manufacturing, research), creating concentrated economic development bets rather than broad-based support

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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