Another important piece of legislation that the Senate advanced was Senate Study Bill 1253, which cuts property taxes for Iowans and allocates additional funding for mental health in Iowa. Providing property tax relief for Iowans along with finding sustainable and affordable solutions for mental health have been priorities for legislators for several years. This last year has shown us just how important is to bring real relief and changes to both these systems. Homeowners have watched their valuations rise over the years, and more and more Iowans struggled with their mental health while dealing with challenges during the pandemic.
Senate Study Bill 1253 provides more state funding for mental health, simplifies the tax code and cuts property taxes for Iowans by over $100 million. In the first year, the bill provides $60 million in state funding for mental health and $125 million in the second year, while ensuring additional funding moving forward. Additionally, this bill eliminates property tax levies to ensure real property tax relief for Iowans, removes triggers from the 2018 tax bill, provides tax relief for middle-income Iowans, and puts more money back in the pockets of Iowans.
