A bill for an act creating a Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder monument tax credit and fund available against the individual and corporate income taxes, the franchise tax, the insurance premiums tax, and the moneys and credits tax.
HF 203 creates a new state tax credit and dedicated fund to support construction of a monument honoring Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2030, eligible taxpayers could claim a credit equal to 25% of donations made to the new monument fund. The credit would apply against individual and corporate income taxes, the franchise tax, the insurance premiums tax, and the moneys and credits tax.
The bill also establishes the Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder monument tax credit fund in the state treasury, under the control of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Money in the fund would be used to pay for the monument, with the authority coordinating donation solicitation with the governor’s office, the University of Iowa, and legislative leaders to determine the monument’s location and design. The bill includes administrative rules for credit authorization, caps total credits at $1 million, limits any one taxpayer to 5% of the total credits, reserves 10% of credits for smaller donations, and makes the credit nontransferable and nonrefundable, though excess credits may be carried forward for up to five years.
The bill would amend multiple parts of Iowa tax law to add the new credit to the affected tax chapters and would create a new statutory fund outside the general fund. It also specifies that the donation amount used to claim the credit is not deductible for state income tax purposes. Both the credit and the fund are set to repeal on December 31, 2035, with any remaining fund balance transferred to the state general fund.
Because the bill was only introduced and referred to the Ways and Means Committee, there is no recorded vote or committee transcript showing formal support or opposition. Based on the bill text, the measure appears designed as a commemorative, donor-supported project rather than a broad tax policy change, and its structure suggests an effort to limit fiscal exposure through a capped credit program and a sunset date.
No specific points of contention are documented in the available history, but likely issues would include the use of tax credits to subsidize a monument, the selection process for the monument’s location and design, and whether state tax policy should be used to support a tribute to two public figures. The reserved allocation for smaller donations and the cap on total credits indicate an attempt to balance broad participation with fiscal restraint.
HF 203 would add a new tax credit to Iowa Code and require conforming amendments across the individual income tax, corporate income tax, franchise tax, insurance premiums tax, and moneys and credits tax provisions. It would also create a new state treasury fund administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority to receive donations and finance a monument honoring Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder. The bill would temporarily reduce state tax revenue by up to $1 million in credits, while establishing reporting, administration, carryforward, and sunset rules for the program.
There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so formal sentiment cannot be measured from legislative action. The bill’s introduction suggests at least initial sponsorship interest, and its subject matter indicates a celebratory, commemorative purpose likely intended to appeal to supporters of the University of Iowa and women’s basketball. At the same time, the absence of recorded support or opposition means the broader legislative reception is not yet known.
No explicit contention appears in the available transcripts or vote record because none were provided. Potential areas of disagreement include whether a state tax credit should be used to fund a monument, whether the state should honor private individuals through a public monument, and how the monument’s location and design should be chosen. Fiscal concerns could also arise from the $1 million credit cap, the administrative burden on the Economic Development Authority, and the decision to reserve a portion of credits for smaller donations.