Iowa House Bill HF722

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/26/23
• Refer: 5/4/23

Caption

A bill for an act expanding the sales and use tax exemption allowed for nonprofit blood centers.(Formerly HSB 247; See HF 2628.)

Impact

If enacted, HF722 will allow blood collection and processing establishments—such as donor centers, blood banks, and facilities conducting quality control and testing for blood products—to benefit from exemptions on a wider range of materials and services. This change could potentially lower operational costs for these organizations, allowing them to allocate more resources toward their core mission of collecting and processing blood and related products. The expansion of the tax exemption aims to encourage the growth of nonprofit blood services, which play a critical role in public health by ensuring an adequate supply of blood and blood products.

Summary

House File 722 is legislation aimed at expanding the sales and use tax exemption for nonprofit blood centers in Iowa. The bill modifies the existing law related to sales tax exemptions for tangible personal property and specific services provided to nonprofit blood centers that are registered under federal regulations. Currently, the exemption applies only to property and services directly used in the processing of human blood. With this new bill, the exemption will extend to include blood collection and processing establishments, broadening the scope of organizations that can benefit from these tax exemptions.

Contention

There are notable considerations surrounding HF722, primarily regarding the implications of expanding tax exemptions. Advocates argue that the expansion will enhance the operational capabilities of nonprofit blood centers, ultimately benefiting community health. However, concerns may arise about the impact on state tax revenues and whether this would require balancing measures in other areas of the budget. Critics of tax exemptions may argue that while helping nonprofits is essential, the extension should be carefully weighed against the overall fiscal responsibilities of the state.