In the final moments of the 2025 legislative session, a provision was passed that could impact public safety funds at the county level. 

According to a release from the Iowa Chapters of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), The legislation states, “the Iowa 911 Program the authority to charge local 911 service boards for undefined ‘reasonable costs’ associated with delivering 911 traffic to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). These costs must be paid within 30 days of billing, with no clarity on the amounts, timing, or billing process.”

KCII spoke with Washington County 911 Supervisor Cara Sorrells to learn more about what this could mean for Washington County, “What’s going to happen here, is if, we have a shortfall in 911, you know, to cover the delivery of a 911 call here in my local 911 budget, it means I will have to look for money someplace else. There could be tax implications, the communications budget could be short for having to offset 911 to pay for, you know, things that are normally paid for through the 911 budget.”

A press conference was held Monday in Polk County, to urge Governor Kim Reynolds to veto the legislation, and work collaboratively with local stakeholders to come to an agreement. The release also states, “Throughout the 2025 session, APCO and NENA engaged with lawmakers in a transparent, solutions-focused manner, seeking clarity and fairness in any statewide policy changes to 911 operations. This last-minute provision: Emergency Communication Services in Senate File 659, circumvents that process and undermines that collaboration.” KCII will bring you more information as it becomes official. 

Listen to today’s Washington Page with Cara Sorrells to learn more about this topic.