Key takeaways
- Iowa state government spent $31.6 billion in fiscal 2024, the 30th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Department of Administrative Services, Central Procurement, and vendors register and find bids in Iowa Bid Opportunities.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes by Feb. 1.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 11 and is scheduled to adjourn April 30.
- A new governor, Rob Sand, takes office January 2027.
Iowa government at a glance
| Fact | Iowa |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $31.6 billion (30th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually by Feb. 1 |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 11 to April 30 (110 days) |
| Governor-elect | Rob Sand, takes office January 2027 |
| Central procurement office | Department of Administrative Services, Central Procurement |
| Bid and vendor portal | Iowa Bid Opportunities |
| State CIO | Matt Behrens, State Chief Information Officer |
| Local governments | 1,826 total, including 445 special districts and 342 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 135 public power utilities and 42 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 8,831 (end of 2023) |
How Iowa buys
- Central purchasing. The Department of Administrative Services, Central Procurement handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. Iowa Bid Opportunities is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Iowa vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Iowa's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released By Feb. 1. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 11 and is scheduled to adjourn April 30. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
- New administration. Governor-elect Rob Sand takes office January 2027. New administrations often bring new agency leaders and priorities; see new governors in 2027.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Matt Behrens, State Chief Information Officer, leads the Office of the Chief Information Officer. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts no executive orders, no laws and 1 agency policy on government AI use. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Iowa
The biggest Iowa entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines International | Airport | 1,596,784 passengers boarded (2025) | 85 of 100 busiest |
| Central Iowa Water Works (Des Moines) | Water utility | 246,055 people served | 155 of 208 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 1,826 local governments. That includes 445 special districts and 342 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 135 public power utilities and 42 electric cooperatives serve 466,639 customers, 27% of the state. See Iowa utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Iowa buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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