Q&A with House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann

Q: This is your first legislative session as House Majority Leader. Explain to readers what the role of the Majority Leader is and how you plan to execute that over the next several months.

A: The Majority Leader’s role is to set the agenda for House debate, manage debate on the floor, and ensure that our caucus is unified and effective in advancing priorities that matter to Iowans. It also means working closely with the Speaker, committee chairs, and members to move good policy forward in a thoughtful and disciplined way.

Over the next several months, my focus will be on clear communication, steady leadership, and follow-through. I want to make sure members have the support they need, that our process is transparent and efficient, and that we remain focused on delivering results—especially on issues like property tax relief, public safety, and protecting private property rights.

Q: Before becoming Majority Leader, you served as Chair of the Ways & Means Committee... With everyone focused on this topic in 2026, what are your goals for property tax reform?

Iowa has made tremendous progress improving our overall tax climate, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done on income, unemployment, and inheritance taxes. Property taxes are the next major challenge, and they are understandably front-of-mind for homeowners, farmers, and businesses across the state.

Our caucus goal is to provide meaningful, sustainable property tax relief while maintaining predictability for local governments. That means focusing on reforms that slow the growth of property taxes, improve transparency, and ensure taxpayers understand where their dollars are going. We need a system that is fair, competitive, and doesn’t punish Iowans simply for owning a home, farm, or business.

Q: Will property tax reform discussions include the streamlining of local services to eliminate cost pressures on local governments?

That conversation is an important part of the overall discussion. Property taxes are driven largely by local spending, so if we want long-term relief, we need to look at ways to reduce cost pressures on cities, counties, and school districts.

That could include encouraging shared services, reduce unfunded mandates, and modernizing how local governments operate. The goal is not to undermine local control, but to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used as efficiently as possible.

Q: Finding qualified employees for open jobs continues to be difficult... Do you anticipate legislation to address these and other barriers to employment?

Workforce challenges remain a real issue for Iowa employers. Housing affordability, childcare availability, and workforce participation are all connected, and we need to continue taking a holistic approach.

I anticipate ongoing legislative efforts to expand access to affordable childcare, encourage workforce housing development, and remove barriers that keep people out of the workforce. Making Iowa an affordable place to live and raise a family is critical to attracting and retaining workers.

In the Iowa House, we have also made it a priority to refocus our higher education system on filling Iowa’s workforce needs. I see that continuing to be a focus during this legislative session as we work to ensure we are training and retaining the next generation of workers in Iowa.

Q: An important factor in making our state more competitive is enhancing the state’s legal climate... Can you talk a bit about that bill and why it’s important for it to become law in 2026?

This case is an example of the federal government creating an impossible legal environment for an American company that makes their product right here in Iowa. The federal government writes the labeling requirements for a company, and then that company gets sued repeatedly for following those requirements. It’s an unacceptable example of the federal government bureaucracy’s incompetence and I believe it’s an important issue that must be addressed this legislative session. However, as with all
things in the Iowa House, we must reach 51 yes votes within our caucus for me to bring the bill forward as Majority Leader.

Q: Iowa’s reserve funds are full... Can you comment on the state of Iowa’s budget and then how might those reserve dollars be utilized?

Iowa is in a very strong fiscal position. Since taking the majority, Iowa House Republican have produced a balance budget, reduced taxes, and still maintained healthy reserves. That puts us in an excellent budget position moving forward.

For years, Iowans were overpaying with their taxes and the state was collecting so much money that our reserve funds were at their statutory maximums and our taxpayer relief fund had reached over $4 billion. We don’t believe it’s right for the government to be sitting on so much money that could be put back in the hands of Iowans and in turn being spent in Iowa’s economy. So, we cut income taxes to a flat rate of 3.8% and created a responsible plan to navigate a temporary decrease in state revenues through payments from the Taxpayer Relief Fund. Additional reserve funds exist to protect taxpayers during economic downturns, putting Iowa in an even stronger, steadier position moving forward.

Q: Mandates in health care can increase costs... Do you expect any health care mandates to be enacted in 2026?

I am generally cautious about new health care mandates because they often increase costs for employers and employees alike. Any proposal should be carefully evaluated to ensure it does not unintentionally drive up premiums or reduce access to care.

Our focus should remain on affordability, flexibility, and access, rather than adding requirements that could make coverage more expensive.

Q: When the gavel falls on the 2026 Session, how do you hope it is remembered?

I hope the 2026 Session is remembered as one where we delivered real results for Iowans—lowering property taxes, strengthening public safety by cracking down on career criminals, and protecting private property rights.

Above all, I want it to be seen as a session where Iowa House Republicans governed responsibly, stayed focused on the priorities of everyday Iowans, and continued moving Iowa in the right direction. ABI