Across our district, I hear the same thing at doors, community events, and in conversations with farmers, homeowners, and small business owners: property taxes are too high, and they keep going up.
Whether it’s a family trying to afford their home or a farmer working to hold onto their land, people feel like they are working harder every year just to keep what they already own— and they’re right.
My main concern is, if you’re unable to pay your property taxes, you will lose your home. You therefore never actually own it. You are renting it from the government.
What’s Being Proposed Isn’t Real Relief
Once again, lawmakers in Des Moines are talking about property tax reform. When you look closely at the proposals from the House, Senate, and Governor, they share the same basic approach: they don’t actually lower property taxes, they just try to slow how fast they grow.
Most plans focus on limiting local government revenue growth to around 2% per year, combined with a mix of exemptions, freezes, and technical adjustments.
Slowing the increase is not the same as lowering the cost.
Other States Are Thinking Bigger
While Iowa debates caps and tweaks, other states are asking a more serious question: what if we eliminated property taxes altogether?
In 2026, states like Texas, Florida, Indiana, and North Dakota are exploring ways to significantly reduce—or even phase out—property taxes. Some proposals would replace them with broader consumption-based taxes, others would use state surpluses to ease the burden, and others in combination with a direct fee based approach to continue funding services while taking your home out of the equation.
At least those states are having the right conversation.
It’s Time for Bold Leadership
The people of our state aren’t asking for complicated formulas or political talking points. They are asking for fairness, relief, and for leadership willing to think bigger.
We don’t need another year of half measures. It’s time to stop managing the problem and start solving it.