(Radio Iowa) – Iowa voters are likely to decide in the 2026 election if Iowa’s constitution has a new amendment that sets a higher threshold for future state income tax increases. The Iowa Senate has given its final approval to the proposed amendment. It would require that “super majorities” of at least 34 state senators and 67 representatives approve any future increases in the individual income tax or the state’s corporate tax. Senator Rocky DeWitt of Lawton says Iowa’s Constitution is meant to confine government.

“It’s not a guardrail, not a little lowly speed bump. It’s a barrier that guarantees those folks that voted us in their freedoms,” DeWitt said, “and freedom from excessive taxation is real.” DeWitt says 14 other states have this type of limitation in their constitutions and he predicts Iowa voters will approve it. “They are in favor of the extra protections from us,” DeWitt said. “…Raising taxes on anything, I don’t care what, should be hard.”

Democrats oppose the concept. Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines says requiring two-thirds votes in the legislature to raise income taxes will tie the hands of future lawmakers who have to respond to declining tax revenue during an economic downturn. “This particular proposal is nuclear,” Bisignano said “…and what you’re done is…set this state up for probably one of the largest sales tax increases we will ever see.”

Proposed amendments to Iowa’s constitution must win approval in the Iowa Senate AND House twice over a four year period. This was the second time the Senate endorsed the proposal. The House is likely to approve it a second time this year or during the 2026 legislative session. If adopted by voters, this would be the 52nd amendment to Iowa’s Constitution.

(Rural Carroll County, Iowa) – A collision Monday night southwest of Carroll resulted in two deaths and one person injured. The Iowa State Patrol says a John Deere tractor driven by 51-year-old Troy Bluml, of Carroll, was traveling east on 220th Street near Hawthorne Avenue at around 10:30-p.m., when Bluml failed to stop at the intersection.

A 2007 Hyundai Sante Fe (SUV) driven by 17-year-old Elvin Ariel Murilla Castro, of Carroll, was traveling northbound on Hawthorne Avenue when the vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by the tractor. Following the impact, the  tractor left the scene. Castro and a rear seat passenger in his SUV –  56-year-old Pedro Castro, of Carroll – died at the scene. A front seat passenger in the vehicle, 24-year-old Carlos Castro, also of Carroll, was critically injured and flown by Life Flight helicopter to Unity Point Hospital in Des Moines.

Bluml and his tractor were found at his residence. Bluml was arrested and charged with knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, which is a Class C felony.

Troy Bluml

(Radio Iowa) – A spokesman for the IRS says an estimated 147,000 Iowa taxpayers will request an extension this year. Spokesman Chris Miller says an extension is an option if you can’t meet today’s filing deadline.

“If you don’t think you have everything together in time to file an accurate tax return by the deadline, then you should consider filing for an extension,” Miller says. He says the extension lets you avoid late filing penalties. “An extension gives you an additional six months to file your tax return until October 15th to file without penalties. It’s important to remember that an extension of time to file your tax return does not give taxpayers extra time to pay if they owe,” he says.

Miller says you can use the IRS Free File program for an extension. “All individual filers can use the program to request an extension regardless of income and at no cost to them. And taxpayers at that point in time when using the free file program will estimate their tax liability and file by the deadline to receive the extension,” he says. In addition to using last year’s tax return to estimate taxes owed, individuals can also use Form 1040-ES.

Miller says there are a few groups that get an automatic extension. “Members of the military on duty outside the U.S and Puerto Rico — they receive an automatic two month extension to file. And also those serving in combat zones, they have at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file tax returns and pay any taxes due. And then taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas,” he says.

Miller says there expect to receive an estimated 1.6 million individual Iowa tax returns. You can find out more information at IRS.gov.

• A person under 19 years old
• A person who is over 64 years old
• A person who is disabled
• A person who is medically frail or medically exempt under Medicaid
• A caretaker of a dependent child under six years old
• A woman with a high-risk pregnancy
• A person receiving unemployment benefits
• A person participating in substance use disorder treatment

Iowans who do not meet the new requirements will be given time to do so; those who choose not to will no longer be eligible for Medicaid coverage. This proposed change aims to help members take an active role in their health and well-being, while preserving Medicaid for those who need it most. Today approximately 171,000 able-bodied adults are enrolled in Iowa’s Medicaid program through the Iowa Health and Wellness plan. Nearly 100,000 of those members report no income.

(Creston, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier report, officials with the Creston Police Department say two people were transported by private vehicles to the hospital in Creston, following a three-vehicle collision Monday evening. Authorities say 79-year-old Anthony Groumoutis, of Creston, was driving a 2010 Chrysler 300 sedan southbound on Spruce Street at around 5:40-p.m., when he failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection with Prairie Street.

His car struck a 2022 Nissan pickup driven by 41-year-old Kristina Harris, of Creston, as she was traveling west on Prairie Street. As a result of the impact, the pickup swung-around and hit a 2021 Dodge pickup, driven by 35-year-old Brandyn Lilienthal, of Creston, who was traveling east on Prairie Street. The car driven by Groumoutis then struck the Dodge pickup, away from the intersection. A running dash cam in Lilienthal’s pickup, police say, shows Groumoutis running the stop sign and striking the other two vehicles.

Groumoutis was not injured in the crash. Damage from the collisions amounted to a police-estimated $37,500 altogether. No citations were issued, but the police reported stated Groumoutis’ “Old age may be impeding his ability to drive properly.”