Authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers, and making appropriations

Sponsored by the House Appropriations (successor To Hsb 197) Committee

Topics:State budget Cities & counties Public safety & emergencies

Same legislation: SF 165, HSB 197, HF 755, SF 627

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 29, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeMarch 17, 2025
Done: House committeeApril 9, 2025
Done: Passes the HouseApril 22, 202592–0
Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
Done: Passes the SenateMay 14, 202546–0
Done: To the GovernorMay 22, 2025
Done: Signed into lawJune 3, 2025

Signed into law What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Local governments can create special award programs to reward volunteer firefighters, emergency medical workers, and reserve police officers for their service. These programs would use state grant money to help pay for the awards, matching what the local government contributes. The state will provide up to $500 per person through these grants using money from sports wagering.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill authorizes a municipality, defined as a city, county, township, benefited fire district, or agency authorized by law to provide emergency response services, to establish a length of service award program (LOSAP) as described in section 457(e)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers. The bill provides that the governing body of a municipality that establishes a LOSAP shall, in consultation with the chief or other person in command of the fire department and police department serving the municipality, as applicable, adopt guidelines providing for eligibility requirements for participation, minimum vesting requirements, distribution requirements, and such other guidelines as deemed necessary to operate the LOSAP. The bill also establishes a LOSAP grant fund under the control of the department of revenue (department). Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for grants to municipalities that have established a LOSAP to provide contributions on behalf of participants. The bill requires the department to adopt rules establishing a grant application process that shall provide for up to a dollar-for-dollar funding match from a municipality that has established a LOSAP, in an amount not to exceed $500 per award recipient. If the moneys in the fund are insufficient to pay all eligible grants in a fiscal year, the director of revenue must prorate the moneys to each municipality. The bill also requires the grant process to allow a municipality to use moneys received from any source for purposes of providing the funding match required by the bill.5 million from the sports wagering receipts fund to the LOSAP grant fund.

Why it matters. Cities, counties, townships, and other local emergency agencies can create award programs to provide benefits for volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical providers, and reserve peace officers. The Department of Revenue will manage a grant fund that provides up to a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $500 per recipient to help municipalities fund these programs. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the bill appropriates $1.5 million from the sports wagering receipts fund to support these grants.²

Changed since by amendments S-3183, S-3180; see Amendments.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed³

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§100B.51 §100B.52

How the Code works⁴

Lobbying

6 for · 0 against · 7 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 447Cleared committee90th GA SF 272Renumbered90th GA HF 340Passed a chamber90th GA HF 193Renumbered90th GA

Study bill

HSB 197Renumbered

91st General Assembly

SF 165RenumberedSenate companion HF 755Renumberedfrom HSB 197 HF 1002Became lawfrom HF 755 SF 627Didn’t advancefrom SF 165

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in 3 earlier General Assemblies. None became law, though one got through a chamber.

HF 340 Authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emerge…
90th General Assembly · Passed House · same title
Passed a chamber
SF 272 Authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emerge…
90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 447 · same title
Cleared committee
SF 447 Authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emerge…
90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same title
Cleared committee
HF 193 Authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emerge…
90th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 340 · very similar
Cleared committee
HF 2574 Authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, volunteer emerge…
89th General Assembly · Passed House · similar
Passed a chamber
HF 2487 Authorizing length of service award programs for volunteer fire fighters, emergency medica…
88th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · similar
Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.