Thursday, May 4, Sine Die, marked the last day of the first session of the 90th Iowa General Assembly. Legislators were able to reach an agreement on the FY2024 budget in the final weeks and adjourn just 6 days after April 28; the last day they receive their per diem expenses. The session recap provides highlights from the legislative session including the FY2024 budget, caucus priorities, and bills that were either enacted into law or failed to survive. Thank you to Iowa’s elected officials for valuing the power of tourism. Cornerstone Government Affairs, tourism champions, the Legislative tourism caucus, and industry grassroots efforts combined to create the powerful results for Iowa’s tourism industry.
Members may access the full session report from Cornerstone here.
Tourism programming received another great year of funding, including the creation of a new Destination Iowa program. Below is a list of the key tourism funding highlights.
Key tourism funding highlights:
- $1.1 M (stable) to IEDA for tourism advertising and strategic plan
- $1,443,700 (stable) to IEDA for the Tourism Marketing
- $1.4 M (stable) for the administration of the Iowa Arts Council (previously appropriated to the Department of Cultural Affairs)
- $300,000 (stable) to the Iowa Film Office
- $149,710 (decrease) for Iowa Great Places (previously appropriated to the Department of Cultural Affairs)
- $150,000 (new) for Cultural Trust Grants (previously appropriated to the Department of Cultural Affairs)
- $172,000 (new) for Community Cultural Grants (previously appropriated to the Department of Cultural Affairs)
- $10 M (stable) from RIIF to IEDA for the Community Attraction & Tourism (CAT) Fund
- $700,000 ($200,000 new) for Regional Sports Authority Districts (RSAD)
- $5 M (stable) for state park improvements
- $1.5 M (stable) for water trails
- $500,000 (decrease) for Iowa State Fair Authority
- $6 M (new) to fulfill contract obligations with Honey Creek Resort in preparation for sale
- $2.5 M (stable) for Recreational Trails Program
- $1.9 M (stable) for Commercial Service Airport Vertical Improvements
- $10 M (stable) for Infrastructure Improvements at Commercial Airports grants
- $1 M (stable) for General Aviation Airport Vertical Infrastructure grants
- $1.06 M (stable) for County Fair Infrastructure
- $6.5 M (new) Destination Iowa Fund
- $2 M (stable) for statewide tourism marketing services efforts