SF 493: Prohibiting political subdivisions from using certain moneys to hire lobbyists or pay instrumentalities, and providing penalties

What it does

This bill prohibits a political subdivision from using moneys received from the imposition of a tax to employ or compensate a lobbyist, or to pay an instrumentality that employs or compensates a lobbyist. For the purposes of the bill, “instrumentality” is defined and includes, among other entities that meet certain qualifications, the Iowa league of cities, the Iowa state association of counties and any of its affiliates, and the Iowa school board association. When used in Code chapter 68B (government ethics and lobbying), “lobbyist” means an individual who, by acting directly, receives compensation to encourage the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order by the members of the general assembly, a state agency, or any statewide elected official; is a designated representative of an organization which has as one of its purposes the encouragement of the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order before the general assembly, a state agency, or any statewide elected official; represents the position of a federal, state, or local government agency, in which the person serves or is employed as the designated representative, for purposes of encouraging the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order by members of the general assembly, a state agency, or any statewide elected official; or makes expenditures of more than $1,000 in a year, other than to pay another lobbyist or to communicate with only the members of the general assembly who represent the district in which the individual resides, to communicate in person with members of the general assembly, a state agency, or any statewide elected official for purposes of encouraging the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order.

Senate subcommittee · named February 18, 2026

• Sen. Dave Sires (R) · dave.sires@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Izaah Knox (D) · izaah.knox@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Cherielynn Westrich (R) · cherielynn.westrich@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 5 for, 4 against

For: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Americans For Prosperity; Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; Iowans for Tax Relief; VALOR Iowa

Against: Iowa League of Cities; Kurtis Bower; Linn County Board of Supervisors; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

1. January 23, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Local Government committee · as SSB 1042
2. January 27, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Webster, Knox and Sires · as SSB 1042
3. January 27, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Sires, Knox and Webster · as SSB 1042
4. January 29, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes · as SSB 1042
5. March 3, 2025Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 493 · as SSB 1042
6. March 4, 2025Filed in the Senate
7. March 4, 2025Approved by the Senate committee
8. March 20, 2025Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
9. June 16, 2025Sent to the Senate Local Government committee
10. January 13, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Sires, Knox and Webster
11. February 18, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Sires, Knox and Westrich
12. February 18, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
13. February 23, 2026Approved by the Senate committee