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SSB 3199

A bill for an act relating to state and local government and finances, including by making, modifying, limiting, or reducing appropriations, distributions, or transfers, authorizing expenditure of unappropriated moneys in special funds, making corrections, and providing for properly related matters including the national electrical code, local civil rights laws, political party state central committees, noxious weeds, nonresident deer hunting licenses, proprietary treatment systems, poultry associations, tax credits, alternative nicotine and vapor products, public assistance programs, judicial branch and county attorney salaries, civil litigation abuse, human trafficking, federal grants and loans notifications, quarterly payments to area education agencies, civic proficiency in higher education, charter schools under the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, school district incentives, extracurricular interscholastic eligibility, and levy increases, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

The bill makes broad state and local government financing and regulatory changes, including major shifts in appropriations, adoption of the 2023 NEC with local limits, civil rights

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as [].
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Bill Summary · SSB 3199

Summary of SSB 3199 (Session 2025-2026) — Iowa

A Senate Study Bill proposing broad state and local government and finance changes across appropriations, governance, and various policy areas. The bill includes many divisions with substantive provisions, effective dates, and retroactive provisions. The following summary highlights the core purposes, key provisions, affected parties, and procedural/timeline notes.

1) Main purpose and intent

  • To adjust state and local government finances, authorize transfers and expenditures from special funds, and impose corrective provisions related to existing or proposed statutes.
  • To establish or modify requirements in numerous areas including education funding, public health, civil rights, electrical code adoption, and various programmatic authorities.
  • To align or correct provisions in response to prior acts and ongoing policy initiatives (e.g., national electrical code adoption, school funding adjustments, and tax or grant mechanisms).

2) Key provisions and changes

A. Appropriations, distributions, and expenditure authority

  • Limitations on FY 2026-2027 standing appropriations for:
    • Nonpublic school pupil transportation claims (cap set at $8,997,091; prorated if claims exceed cap).
    • Instructional support state aid (appropriation under 257.20 becomes zero for FY 2026-2027).
  • Use of federal incentive payments by the Department of Workforce Development:
    • Allow up to $12,000,000 (FY 2025-2026 and FY 2026-2027) for unemployment administration and modernization.
  • Transfer of coronavirus relief fund balances to the Information Technology Fund for HHHS, with specific IT projects funded (Medicaid management system, essential needs eligibility modernization, child support IT, etc.).
  • Salary adjustments for certain funds/funds’ revolving accounts using unappropriated funds.
  • Health care-related tax adjustments and credits (see below).

B. National Electrical Code (NEC)

  • Adopts NEC as the basis for electrical code with specific amendments (2023 NEC, with
    • Provisions for 125-250V kitchen receptacles, reduced AFCI requirements for some dwellings, island receptacle standards, load calculations excluding garages, ceiling outlet requirements, etc.).
  • Political subdivisions may not adopt stricter local codes than NEC.
  • Board of Electrical Examiners must analyze cost impacts before adopting NEC changes; analysis published in Iowa Administrative Bulletin.
  • Immediate effect; NEC provisions phased out when NEC 2026 edition is adopted by the board.

C. Local civil rights

  • Cities must protect rights under Iowa Civil Rights Act and may not enact broader discriminatory practices than permitted.

D. Political party central committees

  • State party constitutions/bylaws cannot prohibit elected officials from serving on state central committees.
  • Central committees must be audited annually by a CPA and maintain officer roles (chair, co-chair, treasurer, secretary).

E. Noxious weeds

  • Japanese knotweed designated a primary noxious weed.

F. Other programmatic/regulatory provisions

  • Nonresident deer hunting license: adds one license allocated to the Iowa State Fair Foundation.
  • Proprietary treatment systems: new framework for inspection, reporting, and a public database; DNR to review data and report findings; no fees for reporting.
  • Poultry associations: shifts references to North Central Poultry Association.
  • Health care access and innovation tax credit: creates a 25% credit against certain insurer taxes for eligible expenditures; cap of $3 million per tax year; retroactive to 2026.
  • Alternative nicotine and vapor products: reporting requirements for shipments; tax-related provisions tied to pediatric cancer research funding if new SF 2480 is enacted; effective Jan 1, 2027 if enacted.
  • Pediatric cancer research funding: from sports wagering receipts fund to Regents for research and therapy access; $3 million annually (FY 2026-2027), with reporting requirements.
  • Higher education civic proficiency: require general education courses in American history and government (minimum 3 credits) for Regents institutions; implemented for undergraduates starting with 2028 enrollment; designate specific centers for civics coursework.
  • Civil litigation abuse: creates a private right of action for civil litigation abuse between private parties, requiring proof of ulterior motive and improper use of civil process; allows recovery of actual damages and attorney fees.
  • Judicial branch pay/budget: requires a comprehensive pay/benefits plan for judicial officers and court administration; repeals certain existing salary statutes; rules on unpaid leave to be possible under certain conditions.

3) Who or what is affected

  • State employees, judiciary, and court system (pay/benefits and operations).
  • School districts and area education agencies (cash flow timing changes and special education funding adjustments).
  • Local governments and counties (electrical code standards and civil rights provisions).
  • Property taxpayers and school levy authorities (levy limits, cash reserve adjustments, and potential levy changes).
  • Taxpayers of insurers and patients (health care tax credit, Medicare/Medicaid IT systems, and essential needs eligibility).
  • Businesses and utilities (reporting and compliance for NEC; proprietary treatment systems).
  • Agricultural and poultry sectors (North Central Poultry Association references; potential funding via agricultural programs).
  • Public health and pediatric cancer research (funding via sports wagering receipts and nicotine/vape product taxes).

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Several provisions take effect immediately upon enactment; NEC-related changes reference future NEC editions (adoption contingent on board actions).
  • Civic education requirements apply to undergraduates enrolling on or after July 1, 2028.
  • Health care credit and tobacco product tax provisions are retroactive to 2026 for tax years beginning January 1, 2026 or later, if related acts are enacted.
  • Certain divisions depend on the enactment of companion 2026 acts (e.g., SF 2480, SF 2422) for contingent effective dates.

Note: This summary captures the bill’s substantive content and potential impact, focusing on major themes and fiscal/operational implications.

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

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