
In an effort to jump-start the state’s economy, Iowa lawmakers recently approved a historic tax cut that slashes revenue by more than $2 billion over the next six years. The Republican-dominated legislature pushed the bill through on May 5, which awaits the signature of Governor Kim Reynolds.
“Republicans led on tax reform in 2018,” Reynolds said in a release after the bill was passed. “As a result, hardworking, middle-class Iowa families, farmers, small business owners and workers get meaningful relief, all while Iowa’s budget priorities in future years are protected.”
For the first four years, the $2.2 billion bill will focus on reducing income taxes, in addition to tax cuts for businesses. Republicans say the tax cut is crisis-proof, and the cuts have built-in safety measures that protect Iowa from budget meltdowns seen in other GOP-led states.
Senator Jim Carlin said the multi-year plan eases into the cuts instead of introducing them immediately. While states like Kansas, which passed a large tax reform bill in 2012, face budgetary ramifications, these tax cuts are tentative. If state revenue does not meet projections, the cuts will not go into effect.
In 2019, the plan will reduce taxes in all income brackets, while dropping the number of brackets from nine to four by 2023. Meanwhile, the top tax bracket percentage will drop from 8.53 to 6.5 percent. The Iowa Department of Revenue estimates that Iowans will save an average of $300 a year, while lower-income residents may only see an annual savings of $18. Those earning more than $1 million annually could approach $25,000.
The bill raises taxes on digital services like Netflix and Uber and is expected to bring more than $66 million in revenue during the first year.
Democrats strongly opposed the bill, saying cutting taxes on the wealthy will only help large corporations, while cuts to education and other necessary programs will become inevitable in the future.
Latest News
Photo credit: iStock.com/Techa Tungateja Smart glasses can translate conversations in real time, provide hands-free directions, capture images and audio, and help people with vision or hearing loss navigate daily life more independently. Because they can [...]
Photo credit: iStock.com/master1305 *UPDATE: This post was updated to reflect Gov. Katie Hobbs' signing of HB 2704 and Gov. Tina Kotek's signing of SB 100 in late June 2025. In 2025, several state legislatures [...]
Photo credit: iStock.com/StockRocket The “right to repair” has become a growing national conversation, centered on the idea that consumers should have access to the tools, parts, software, and information needed to repair or maintain the [...]
Photo credit: iStock.com/Urupong Since our last update on social media regulation for minors, the conversation around protecting young users online has intensified, with states across the U.S. advancing bold legislative measures in 2025. From Nevada’s [...]






Stay In Touch