Property Tax Reduction, Tort Reform Major Victories
Small business owners saw major victories during Iowa’s 2023 legislative session. State Director Matt Everson has been your voice at the state Capitol. Here are the victories NFIB fought for and small business owners will see as a result:
Property Tax Reform – HF 718
NFIB was instrumental in helping pass historical property tax reform that will provide a minimum of $100 million in relief and is the first step in reigning in out-of-control property taxes in Iowa. The legislation also simplifies and consolidates 15 levies into one general levy, automatically reduces tax rates when assessments rise, caps growth of property taxes per year by limiting city and county spending and make the process of raising property taxes more transparent to the property owner/taxpayer.
Gov. Reynolds signed the bill into law on May 4, 2023.
Government Reorganization – SF 514
NFIB was supportive of Governor Reynolds’ plan to reorganize and make more efficient state government for the first time in several decades. This legislation will centralize similar programs into single agencies to achieve best outcomes for Iowans while saving nearly $18 Million dollars per year. It will also consolidate common technologies to improve operations, saving Iowans over $214 million over the next 4 years. Finally, it will reduce agency heads (Cabinet positions) that report to the Governor from 37 to 16 and eliminate 513 current vacant positions within government.
Gov. Reynolds signed the bill into law on April 4, 2023.
Medical Malpractice Reform – HF 161
NFIB was helpful in passing medical malpractice reform that will set a cap on noneconomic damages of $1 million for individual doctors and clinics and will set a cap on noneconomic damages of $2 million for hospitals. These measures, which were long overdue in Iowa, will stabilize insurance rates for small businesses, while also helping to revitalize a struggling healthcare system that has seen an influx of outrageously high medical malpractice lawsuits over the past few years.
Gov. Reynolds signed the bill into law on February 16, 2023.
Commercial Trucking Liability Reform –SF 228
NFIB made it a priority to begin the process of reforming commercial trucking liability. This legislation was a good start as it will limit noneconomic damages to $5 Million per plaintiff, will broaden the list of exceptions to limit noneconomic damages and will Narrow the conditions under which there is no civil liability against an employer.
Gov. Reynolds signed the bill into law on May 12, 2023.
Youth Employment Opportunities – SF 542
NFIB helped update decades old laws as it pertained to youth employment opportunities (operating a microwave is one example). Although this legislation made a lot of noise in the media, this bill was about expanding the hours that minors may work with parental consent, adds many parental guardrails that will allow more youth opportunities in various new and exciting industries (work to learn) and provide Iowa’s youth a much safer and more modernized work environment with the benefit to earn a little more money.
Gov. Reynolds signed the bill into law on May 26, 2023.
