Candidates Polled for Supporting Food Bank Sales Tax Exemption

Iowa state legislative candidates respond to supporting sales tax exemption for food banks serving Iowans. The questionnaire was sent to legislative candidates in 5 out of the 6 food bank service areas across western and eastern Iowa.

The Iowa Food Bank Association, in collaboration with its member food banks, is sharing the results to the questionnaire sent to legislative candidates in western, and eastern Iowa. Each legislative candidate was asked if they would support sales tax exemption for the food banks in Iowa during the upcoming 2021 legislative session. Every $1 that is paid to the state from the food bank through sales tax could be used to help fight hunger. Food banks in Iowa are able to provide 5.5 meals for every $1 received from donations or grants.

Background: There are six food banks in the Feeding America network that serve Iowa. One is located in Nebraska, and one is a community action program, which is already exempt from sales tax. That leaves four food banks whose supporters make donations intended to feed food-insecure people, a portion of which is instead paid to the State in sales taxes.

In the 2020 legislative year, this bill passed the Iowa House, but not the Senate. The fiscal note totaled $202,000. Given how essential food banks are to feeding Iowans facing food insecurity and their extraordinary role in the State's COVID response, Governor Reynolds is on record supporting tax exemption for Iowa's food banks in the next legislative session.

All candidates not listed are invited to add their name to this list of supporters committed to signing on to sales tax exemption legislation for the food banks serving Iowa. Candidates and legislators can contact linda@iowafba.org to add their name to support the food banks feeding Iowans across the state.

Due to the COVID-19 the sustained high demand for food, the food banks across the state have distributed 40% more food since March 2020.

Iowa House Representatives & Candidates Signed to Support Sales Tax Exemption for Food Banks

Jane Podgorniak
Timi Brown-Powers
Tracy Ehlert
Christina Blackcloud
Chris Hall
Dave Jacoby
Bob Kressig
Monica Kurth
Sean Hanley
Jon Vance
Ryan Quinn
Gary M. Mohr
Marue Gleason
Norlin G. Mommsen
Ryan Zeskey
Anne Osmundson
Jennifer Kaker
Sandy Salmon
Phyllis Thede
Mike Vondran
Karen Koenig
Dave Williams
Rob Howard
Cindy Winckler
Mary Lynn Wolfe
Joma Short
Kamal Hammouda
Eric Gjerde
Ruby Bodeker

District 51 (Mitchell/Floyd)
District 61 (Black Hawk)
District 70 (Linn)
District 72
District 13 (Woodbury)
District 74 (Johnson)
District 59 (Black Hawk)
District 89 (Scott)
District 89 (Scott)
District 89 (Scott)
District 57 (Dubuque)
District 94 (Scott)
District 94 (Scott)
District 97 (Clinton)
District 97 (Clinton)
District 56 (Clayton)
District 92 (Scott)
District 63 (Black Hawk/Bremer)
District 93 (Scott)
District 93 (Scott)
District 54 (Cerro Gordo)
District 60 (Black Hawk)
District 60 (Black Hawk)
District 90 (Scott)
District 98 (Clinton)
District 98 (Clinton)
District 76 (Iowa)
District 67 (Linn)
District 75 (Iowa, Benton)

Iowa House Senators & Candidates Signed to Support Sales Tax Exemption for Food Banks

Jim Carlin
Dave Degner
Eric Giddens
Harold Youngblut
Ivy Schuster

District 3 (Woodbury)
District 36
District 30 (Black Hawk)
District 30
District 38 (Benton)