Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to certain companies that censor online content and providing civil penalties
Topics:Courts & civil lawTechnology & privacyKids online & social media
Same legislation: HF 830
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 23, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 24, 2021
- Done: House committeeMarch 5, 2021
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 830
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 830 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 830 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to certain companies that censor online content. The bill creates new Code chapter 554E. The bill defines “dominant social media company” to include a person or an affiliate of a person who owns or operates a social networking website.1, as a specific location on the internet that is determined by internet protocol numbers, by a domain name, or by both.1, as an individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity.
Read the full explanation
The bill defines “social networking website” to include an internet site that allows users to provide information about themselves that is available to the public or to other users, allows users a mechanism for communication with other users, has at least million subscribers or members, and was not affiliated with any one religion or political party from its inception. The bill prohibits a dominant social media company from affecting the ability of a user to create, view, comment, or otherwise interact with content that constitutes constitutionally protected speech on its social networking website by restricting any content on the social networking website, or by restricting the user’s access to the social networking website. The bill provides that, within days after a dominant social media company restricts a user’s content that constitutes constitutionally protected speech on its social networking website, or restricts the user’s access to its social networking website, the dominant social media company shall provide the user with notice explaining why the user’s content was restricted, or why the user’s access to the social networking website was restricted. The bill requires the office of the attorney general to enforce the provisions of new Code chapter 554E, assess a civil penalty for a violation of the new Code chapter in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for each violation, and adopt rules to administer and interpret the bill.
House subcommittee
Named February 24, 2021. On February 25, 2021 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 2-1.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill prohibits technology companies from intentionally blocking elected officials from accessing certain websites and would strip such companies of state and local tax credits or economic benefits if they violate these rules. If one affected taxpayer is found in violation, the bill is estimated to increase General Fund revenue by $6.6 million in fiscal year 2024, $3.8 million in fiscal year 2025, and remain relatively stable through fiscal year 2030. The bill is also estimated to increase revenue to local jurisdictions by $0.6 million in fiscal year 2024, $0.2 million in fiscal year 2025, and $4.8 million in fiscal year 2026, with slight increases continuing through fiscal year 2030.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 830 relates to the ability of elected officials to access and utilize certain Internet websites. The Bill creates new Iowa Code chapter 554E, and prohibits a technology company from intentionally affecting the ability of an elected official to access or utilize numerous technology company websites.
The Bill tasks the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR) or the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to determine that a company violates Iowa Code chapter 554E, which shall prohibit the company from receiving tax credits or other economic benefits from State or local governmental entities until the State determines the company is no longer in violation of Iowa Code chapter 554E.
The Bill requires the Department and the Authority to make available on their Internet sites a system to allow elected officials to report potential violations of Iowa Code chapter 554E. The Bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to tax credits and financial assistance approved before, on, or after the effective date of the Bill that have not yet been claimed by a company in violation of Iowa Code chapter 554E.
Background
The IEDA administers State tax credits, with a statutory cap of $155.0 million in FY 2021. The IEDA has the authority through Iowa Code section 15.333 to award Investment Tax Credits. Businesses may claim a tax credit on corporate, income, and insurance premium taxes equal to a percentage of the new investments directly related to new jobs created or retained by a project. Eligible investments include the cost of machinery and equipment purchased for use in the operation of the business, the purchase price of real property and any buildings and structures located on the property, the cost of improvements made to the property, and base rent paid by a business to a third-party developer. Since 2007, the IEDA has awarded $45.7 million in Investment Tax Credits to four technology firms for four projects totaling $2.800 billion in investments that involve 203 new and retained jobs. Most of these credits are from IEDA’s High Quality Jobs Program (HQJP), which provides tax benefits to eligible companies that create high-paying jobs and make capital investments. The HQJP has a statutory cap of $105.0 million per year to use in tax credits. In FY 2020, IEDA awarded $26.0 million in HQJP tax credits to 24 projects. Tax credits can be claimed for five years in most cases. The IEDA is also authorized to provide sales and use tax exemptions to eligible businesses, including contractors and subcontractors on a project after construction is completed, as part of the HQJP. In FY 2019, $28.3 million was claimed in State sales and use taxes, $24.6 million due to the HQJP. Since 2007, the IEDA has awarded $84.1 million in sales and use tax exemptions to three technology corporations for eight projects totaling $4.9 billion in investments that involve 391 new and retained jobs. Sales and use tax exemptions to eligible businesses can also affect the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) in jurisdictions with local sales and use taxes.
Local governments also have the authority to award eligible businesses property tax credits and economic incentives in conjunction with IEDA’s tax credit programs, including the HQJP. Since 2007, four technology companies have received full or partial property tax exemptions in conjunction with IEDA’s tax credit programs for six projects totaling $2.700 billion. Tax-increment financing (TIF) and infrastructure improvements have also been awarded by local governments to technology corporations for five projects. Iowa Code section 427.1 allows property tax exemptions for web search portal businesses and data center businesses. In 2020, there was $766.9 million in assessed value derived from these exemptions. Assessed property evaluations within a school district affect the amount of State General Fund dollars sent to each school district. The State, by operation of the State School Foundation Aid Formula, funds school districts up to 87.0% of total funding after a uniform levy of $5.40 is assessed on all property within a district. Beyond 87.0%, an additional levy is assessed on all property within a district to reach 100.0% of per pupil funding for a school district.
Assumptions
- There are no potential legal decisions over the next two years that would cause the State to recoup any previously awarded benefits until FY 2024 at the earliest.
- The Legislative Services Agency (LSA) cannot assume the result of theoretical legal proceedings. For purposes of this fiscal note, however, the LSA will illustrate the fiscal impact if one taxpayer that has signed contracts with the State of Iowa and local government jurisdictions, and has been operational in the State since 2019, is found in court to have violated provisions of the Bill prohibiting online censorship.
- The Bill would lead to the revocation of tax credits provided under Iowa Code section 15.335B, including tax credits awarded through the HQJP, including both Investment Tax Credits and Sales and Use Tax Refunds, beginning in FY 2024.
- Prospective Investment Tax Credit and sales tax impacts would occur beginning FY 2024, and prospective property tax impacts would begin with assessment year (AY) 2024 and would affect property tax revenues beginning with FY 2026.
- The estimated timing of fiscal impacts resulting from the revocation of unclaimed tax credits that have already been allocated or awarded reflects the projected timing of awarded claims under current law, according to Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR).
- Estimates of the currently exempt sales made nonexempt by the proposal are based on an Iowa IDR analysis of sales reported as exempt by taxpayers assumed to be affected by the proposal. It is assumed that the share of currently exempt sales tax authorized by Iowa Code section 423.3(92), (93), and (95) and made nonexempt by the proposal is proportionate among all affected taxpayers.
- Estimates of property tax impacts are based on the value of commercial property receiving web/data exemptions under Iowa Code section 427.1(35), (36), and (37). The estimates are from the IDR abstracts of assessment. The value of commercial property receiving web/data exemptions was $766.9 million in AY 2020. This fiscal note assumes that 20.0% of the value will be affected by the Bill.
- Estimated property tax impacts assume a levy rate of $37.21430 per $1,000 of taxable valuation and a commercial rollback rate of 90.0%.
- Property tax impacts would reduce expenditures from the General Fund for per pupil payments based on the School Aid Formula.
- Growth in estimated impacts arising from the elimination of sales tax exemptions and property tax exemptions and rebates reflects 2.0% annual inflation.
- Changes to corporate income tax and sales and use tax liability as a result of the proposal are estimated to lead to General Fund revenue increases. Changes to sales and use tax liability also affect LOST assessed at 1.0%. Changes to property tax liability are assumed to decrease expenditures from the General Fund by operation of the State School Foundation Aid Formula; otherwise such changes will lead to revenue increases for affected local jurisdictions.
- The fiscal note does not include the potential secondary impact that may result from extensive litigation of a large corporation, taxpayer, and/or employer.
Fiscal Impact
If one taxpayer is adversely affected through a legal decision, the Bill is estimated to increase General Fund revenue by $6.6 million beginning in FY 2024 before dropping to a $3.8 million increase in FY 2025, and remaining relatively stable through FY 2030. The Bill increases revenue to local jurisdictions by $0.6 million beginning in FY 2024 before dropping to a $0.2 million positive impact in FY 2025, increasing to $4.8 million in FY 2026, and increasing slightly through FY 2030. Table 1 below outlines the estimated fiscal impact of the Bill on the State General Fund and local government jurisdictions.Fiscal
Year
Revocation
of Tax
Credits
Allocated or
Awarded
Change in
State School
Foundation
Aid
Elimination of
Sales and
Use Tax
Exemptions
Total
General
Fund
Impact
Property
Tax
Local
Options
Sales Tax
(LOST)
Total Impact
on Local
Jurisdictions
FY 2022 -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ FY 2023 - - - - - - - FY 2024 3.1 - 3.5 6.6 - 0.6 0.6 FY 2025 2.4 - 1.5 3.8 - 0.2 0.2 FY 2026 2.0 0.9 1.5 4.4 4.6 0.2 4.8 FY 2027 3.4 0.9 1.5 5.8 4.7 0.3 4.9 FY 2028 1.9 0.9 1.5 4.3 4.8 0.3 5.0 FY 2029 1.2 0.9 1.6 3.7 4.9 0.3 5.1 FY 2030 1.7 1.0 1.6 4.3 5.0 0.3 5.2 Estimated General Fund Increases ($ Millions) Estimated Local Jurisdiction Increases ($ Millions) Table 1: Estimated Tax Impact of House File 830
Sources
- Iowa Economic Development Authority
- Iowa Department of Revenue
- Legislative Services Agency
- Social Media, Censorship · March 22, 2021
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
2 for · 12 against · 11 undecided · Who →
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89th General Assembly