In the first two weeks of this year’s legislative session, bills were introduced that lawmakers say will help recruit more people to Iowa and improve access to child care in the state. 

• Senate Study Bill 1032 would create a new remote worker grant fund that would provide grants to remote workers who move to Iowa while working for an out-of-state employer.
• Senate Study Bill 1033 would create an income tax credit for people who move to Iowa. It would allow them to take a credit on their income tax starting in either their first or second year in the state and continue for five consecutive years. A companion bill was filed in the House as House File 34 on Jan. 12.
• Senate Study Bill 1034 would create a homestead property tax credit for eligible people who move to Iowa.

Several measures were introduced in the Iowa House in the first two weeks that would provide benefits for the expansion of child care services in the state.

• House File 13 would establish a child care future zones program and fund within the economic development authority to award financial assistance to people involved in child care.
• House File 6 would establish a child care workforce state matching grants program and fund administered by the early childhood Iowa state board to award matching state grants to communities that provide funding for the Child Care WAGE$ Iowa program, the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps scholarship program and other child care service strategies.
• House File 4 would provide businesses with tax credits for providing child care to employees.
• House File 3 would allow new and expanding day care facilities to quality for and receive incentives through the state’s High Quality Jobs program.
• House File 2 would provide developers with sales and use tax refunds and other tax credits for the construction of child care facilities.
• House Study File 2 would increase reimbursements for child care providers who are reimbursed under the child care assistance program.

Also in the first two weeks, a bill was introduced in the Senate (Senate File 8) that would make daylight saving time the official time in Iowa year-round.

The Legislature adjourned on Thursday and is scheduled to reconvene Monday afternoon.