Pictured (L-R): Rep. Craig Williams (R-Manning) and Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) during the April 28, 2025 forum in Coon Rapids.
One of the GOP-controlled Iowa Legislature’s goals for the 2025 session was to adopt meaningful property tax reform, but its not clear that will be approved this year according to local legislators. District 6 Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) and District 11 Rep. Craig Williams (R-Manning) both spoke on the issue at this past weekend’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce and Carroll County Growth Partnership (CCGP) forum in Coon Rapids. Schultz predicts the odds are about 50-50.
Schultz says Senate and House Republicans agree that property tax reform is needed; however, finding a solution that works for the whole state has proved challenging.
Schultz sits on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, so he is actively working on the property tax reform bill. Williams’ committee assignments do not include Ways and Means, so he has limited ability to shape the legislation before it reaches the House floor. However, Williams says it is clear that something needs to change regarding property taxes.
Williams adds prior attempts to take some of the tax burden off of property owners, such as the state taking over mental health funding from counties, did not end up lowering levies as intended.
From the listening area, Sac, Carroll, and Guthrie were among the 48 counties that did not pass along the mental health levy savings to taxpayers. The legislators note such actions make them hesitant to shift expenses to the state that don’t result in property tax relief.
