Bills › 91st General Assembly

SF 636Died when the session ended · April 22, 2025

Relating to the sales tax exemption for the purchase of central office equipment or transmission equipment used by certain entities primarily in the furnishing of telecommunications services on a commercial basis

Sponsored by the Senate Ways and Means (companion To Hf 960 By Committee on Ways and Means) Committee

Topics:Business & economyTaxes

Same legislation: HSB 235, SSB 1209, HF 960

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedMarch 6, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeMarch 7, 2025
  3. Done: Senate committeeApril 21, 2025
  4. Done: Passes the SenateApril 20, 202633–11
  5. Skipped: House committeeSkipped
  6. Done: Passes the HouseApril 21, 202587–4
  7. Done: To the GovernorMay 11, 2026
  8. Done: Signed into lawMay 19, 2026

HF 960 became law → The same legislation passed as HF 960, so this version was set aside. Go to HF 960 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Companies that provide telecommunications services would no longer have to pay sales or use tax on certain types of equipment. This change removes a requirement that the equipment be used "primarily" for those services, meaning all such equipment used for these services would be tax-free. This affects businesses that buy central office or transmission equipment to run their networks.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the sales tax exemption for the purchase of central office equipment or transmission equipment used by certain entities in the furnishing of telecommunications services on a commercial basis. The bill expands the sales tax exemption for the purchase of central office equipment or transmission equipment by striking the term “primarily” and making all such purchases used in the furnishing of telecommunications services exempt from sales tax. Code section 423.3(47A) defines the terms “central office equipment” and “transmission equipment”. By operation of Code section 423.6, an item exempt from the imposition of the sales tax is also exempt from the use tax imposed in Code section 423.5.

Changed since by amendment S-5183; see Amendments.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed2

Senate subcommittee

Named January 14, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.

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 expands sales and use tax exemptions for certain equipment used to provide telecommunications and internet services. Starting in fiscal year 2027, it is estimated to decrease annual revenue for the state's General Fund by $0.9 million, the SAVE Fund by $0.2 million, and the LOST fund by $0.2 million.3

From the note: House File 960 is estimated to decrease annual revenue to the General Fund, the SAVE Fund, and the LOST by the amounts in Figure 1.

Reading a fiscal note4

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§423.3

How the Code works5

Lobbying

13 for · 0 against · 3 undecided · Who →

Family tree

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

Tried before

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

  • HF 2635 Relating to the sales tax exemption for the purchase of central office equipment or transm…
    90th General Assembly · Passed House · same title
    Passed a chamber

Similar bills this General Assembly

  • HSB 126 Relating to the sales tax exemption for the purchase of central office equipment or transm…
    91st General Assembly · In committee
    Nearly identical

Matched by wording or an identical title.