Today (January 9) marks the start of the 2012 Iowa Legislative Session.

As we have reported previously, property tax reform promises to be one of several key issues discussed during this year’s session. Governor Branstad has publicly stated his intention to make property tax reform a key piece of legislation this year, and the governor’s staff has been working on drafting legislation that could change how property taxes are assessed across residential and commercial property classes. Specifically, the goal of the legislation is to reduce the property tax burden on Iowa businesses, with the belief that lower property taxes will make the business climate more favorable in Iowa, thereby helping businesses to grow and add jobs. Concerns remain about how property tax changes will affect residential property owners, as residential property owners likely do not want to be on the hook financially for any commercial property tax reductions. Cities and local governments will also be watching closely to make sure their property tax revenues are not changed significantly. So there are many interested players in property tax reform, and all will be watching and working to make sure their respective interests are considered in any legislation. We will be watching as well and let you know how the various legislative proposals shape up as the legislative session progresses.

According to the Des Moines Register, legislators will also be considering changes to Iowa’s mental health system – in particular how services are provided in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. Additionally, some legislators have made education reform a priority for 2012. What “education reform” means specifically is yet to be determined…

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