DES MOINES, Iowa — The property tax bill released by the Iowa House and Senate ways & means committee chairs was updated Wednesday evening, which made several changes.

State Representative Bobby Kaufmann (R), District 82 from Wilton and State Senator Dan Dawson (R), District 10 from Council Bluffs released statements about the changes made to the bill that looks to overhaul the rollback system.

“With assessment letters coming out, Iowans have been louder than ever with their concerns about property taxes. Iowans have expressed their concern, rage, and fear about unpredictable increases and their ability to afford staying in their homes. We are working to provide real relief to Iowans and their families, make Iowa a competitive state to live, and deliver a property tax overhaul that focuses on property taxpayers.”

State Representative Bobby Kaufmann (R), District 82 from Wilton

“When we filed our original bill, we were looking to get it out to the public so we could start receiving feedback and input, and the bill filed today (Wednesday) is a result of that feedback. Just today, a study was published by Common Sense Institute that tells us Iowa statewide property tax revenue grew at more than double the rate of inflation over the last two decades. These updated proposals continue our goal of rebuilding the property tax system to bring relief, and bring more predictability and transparency to taxpayers, local governments and businesses.”

State Senator Dan Dawson (R), District 10 from Council Bluffs

Some of the key changes in the new draft of the bill include increasing the homestead tax exemption benefit from $25,000 to $50,000. The highest homestead tax exemption that Iowans can receive currently is $6,500. The five year implementation of the rollback for different property classifications, except agricultural, has been sped up to take effect in July 2027. And there will be minimum budget guarantees for small communities to have something to lean on when going through the budgeting process.

House and Senate Democrats both want relief immediately for residential taxpayers, but are concerned about the republican majority’s attempts in the past falling short.

“We’re still reviewing it,” said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst (D), District 32 from Windsor Heights. “…it’s even more complicated. And look, we’ve been saying for years that, as property tax reform has gone through, rates for commercial properties have gone down and rates for residential properties have gone up. And so until someone can show us that this bill will lower residential property tax rates, we just want to be able to draw that line for homeowners and show that we’re actually finding a discount.”

If the nearly 80 page bill were to be passed through the Iowa Legislature and signed into law, the bill would have to move at lightning speed with only weeks left of the session.

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