Following the conclusion of the 2026 Iowa legislative session, Farm Bureau members appreciate the passage of several policy and budget priorities that are important to agriculture and rural Iowa, including property tax reform, oil and gas production laws, water quality funding and veterinarian incentives. 

Members are thankful for the legislature’s action on property tax reform that controls the growth of local government budgets, reduces the reliance on property taxes for K-12 schools, and maintains the productivity formula and rollback on agricultural property.            

“Iowa Farm Bureau has long advocated for property tax reform, and we’re pleased the legislature included several important policies our members advocated for,” says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “This reform will provide long term property tax relief for Iowa homeowners and farmers.”              

Over the past two legislative sessions Iowa lawmakers discussed updates to Iowa’s oil and gas production laws in response to the potential existence of naturally occurring underground hydrogen that could be used as an energy source and in the production of ammonia fertilizer.  IFBF appreciates the legislature’s work to ensure many polices beneficial to Iowans and landowners were included in the final bill.    

Farm Bureau thanks the legislature for continued investments in water quality to support the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a statewide, collaborative approach with many stakeholders, including rural and urban partners. The plan reprioritizes existing funding streams to provide additional funding for water quality practices, as well as financial assistance for drinking water and wastewater projects statewide. The plan includes an additional $3.72 million to the Water Quality Initiative specifically for the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program.  

The future availability of veterinary care is critically important to livestock farmers and rural communities, and members are thankful for efforts to address this important need, such as excluding student loan repayments for veterinarians practicing in underserved areas from state income tax. This would mirror rural physician loan repayments, which are currently tax-exempt, and improve important incentives to promote expanded veterinarian services. This provision was included in the Iowa Farm Act, introduced by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. The legislature also continued the $700,000 appropriation for the rural veterinarian loan repayment program.

“The year-round, active engagement and participation of Farm Bureau members across the state have always been key to our success,” said Johnson.  “Our members’ efforts ensure that lawmakers hear directly from their constituents on the impact of policies, while encouraging support for Iowa farmers, property taxpayers and the agricultural community.”