The Iowa chapters of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) are raising concerns over a last-minute legislative change they say could jeopardize emergency response efforts across the state. A provision added to the standing appropriations bill during the final hours of the 2025 legislative session, now fund under Iowa Code Section 34A.12, gives the Iowa 911 Program the authority to bill local 911 service boards for reasonable costs related to delivering 911 traffic to dispatch centers with little clarity on the charges or billing process. Iowa NENA President Chris Jasper says, “Not only was this provision passed in the middle of the night without stakeholder input, the legislature had previously failed to advance it out of a full committee in the House. There are serious unintended consequences for every Iowan if this law takes effect. Local 911 boards and dispatch centers already operate on razor-thin budgets.” Iowa APCO and NENA are urging Gov. Kim Reynolds to veto the measure, warning it could slow emergency response times and threaten the stability of local 911 systems, especially in rural communities.
