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Legislative Update
The Iowa General Assembly concluded its 2026 legislative session, passing key measures to support our service members, expand educational access, and adjust specialized licensing structures. The following updates outline bills that have officially crossed the Governor’s desk to become law.
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SF 2466 County Veterans Services Excellence Legislation Update
The 2026 Iowa Legislature adjourned without passing reforms to increase transparency, consistency, and increased reporting to county commissions of veterans affairs and county boards of supervisors on the delivery individual federal VA benefits to Iowa veterans (SF2466, with ammendment H-8343). Iowa consistently ranks in the lowest tier nationally, currently 47th, in receipt of per capita individual VA benefits. Despite a strong endorsement of the merits of the bill in both chambers as evidenced by a 97-16 record in the eight times this legislation passed various subcommittees, committees, and the full Senate, including the most recent 23-1 vote in the House Appropriations Committee, the bill was pulled from the calendar on the day in which it was to be voted on in the House due to efforts of those opposed. This legislation is supported by the Governor, IDVA, the Iowa National Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans-Iowa, along with many county veterans service officers, veterans, and family members across Iowa. It additionally would have addressed two of the five 2026 legislative priorities of the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs. A link to the Iowa Legislature website showing organizations registered opposed and in favor of the bill: Iowa Legislature - Lobbyist Declarations .
A separate amendment was filed by Representative Matt Rinker of Burlington and publicly favored by some opponents. This amendment was not the one approved by the House Appropriations Committee which maintained the $10K allocation per county and added $250K as an incentive pool based on individual county performance. Instead, it struck the original bill language in its entirety, going in a completely different direction. Among other provisions, it not only would have taken principal from the Iowa Veterans Trust fund, but over a million dollars additionally from the $2.5 million Iowa Lottery transfer ($990,000 of this going to counties, with no performance metrics tied to its receipt) and a third of the annual interest, while eliminating the IDVA education coordinator position proposed in the original bill. Supporters of the original bill with the Appropriations Committee amendment, including IDVA and the Governor's office, were opposed to this amendment.
What effect failure to pass this legislation to proactively improve Iowa's 47th national ranking remains to be seen, as IDVA is aware that there may be efforts to modify or eliminate protections in Iowa Code 546B.pdf that prohibit organizations from charging veterans a fee to file VA claims.
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Signed into Law: Effective July 1, 2026
- Expanding County Commissioner Eligibility (SF 93): Allows members of the National Guard or reserve component that do not meet the definition of veteran per Iowa Code 35.1 to serve on county commissions of veterans affairs.
- 100% Disabled Veteran Tuition Waiver (HF 2491): Requires Regent institutions to waive all tuition and mandatory fees for veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rating of 100% and who applies and is admitted to the institution. All other federal and state sources of assistance must first be exhausted.
- Lifetime Fur Harvester Fees (SF 2471): Sets the fee for a lifetime fur harvester license at $5 for Iowa residents who served on federal active duty and were disabled during military service.
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On the Federal Side:
Here's a great synopsis article from Stars & Stripes about the more than 60 bills that make up the current version of the Take Care of America's Veterans Act . ; (H.R. 9237 / S. 4744).
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1301 Summit St.
Marshalltown, IA 50158
1301 Summit St.
Marshalltown, IA 50158