Legislative News

2020

• Feb 13, 2020

  Next Legislative Update Call Tomorrow

  The ABI public policy team will host a legislative update teleconference call tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

• Feb 13, 2020

  Opportunity for Involvement: Boards and Commission Openings

  ABI members have the opportunity to get involved with statewide boards and commissions by applying for an opening.

• Feb 13, 2020

  Feedback Requested: Manufacturing Exemption Rule

  During the last legislative session, ABI was instrumental in getting a clarification to a definitional change in the 2018 tax bill related to manufacturers primarily engaged in manufacturing.

• Feb 13, 2020

  Governor’s Initiatives Advance, Statewide Tour Announced

  This week at her press conference, Gov. Reynolds was joined by a diverse group of stakeholders in support of SSB 3116, her Invest in Iowa Act.

• Feb 13, 2020

  Less Than a Month Away: Iowa Business Day on Hill

  With less than a month away, don’t forget to register for Iowa Business Day on the Hill!

• Feb 13, 2020

  First Legislative Deadline Is Next Week; Job Crushers Advance

  With one week until the first funnel, several bad for business bills have moved through the first step in the legislative process, which is the passage of a subcommittee panel of three legislators.

• Feb 6, 2020

  Legislative Update Calls to Occur Every Other Week

  Following feedback from ABI members on last week’s legislative teleconference call, the ABI public policy team has decided to hold the calls every other week from now through the end of the session.

• Feb 6, 2020

  Opportunity to Comment on FY21 Air Quality Bureau Budget

  Iowa DNR’s Air Quality Bureau is seeking feedback from the public and stakeholders on the Air Quality Bureau Budget for Fiscal Year 2021. 

• Feb 6, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: Trump Acquitted by the Senate

  President Donald Trump, the third U.S. President to be impeached by the U.S. House, was acquitted of two impeachment charges by the U.S. Senate yesterday. 

• Feb 6, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: U.S. House to Vote Today on State Right to Work Laws Elimination

  The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote later today on the PRO Act.

• Feb 6, 2020

  Capitol Action This Week

  Over 120 subcommittee meetings were held this shortened week at the Capitol as legislators look to advance their priorities prior to the first funnel deadline on Feb. 21. 

• Jan 30, 2020

  First Legislative Update Call Tomorrow

  The ABI public policy team will hold the first legislative update teleconference call tomorrow, Jan. 31, at 8 a.m.

• Jan 30, 2020

  Iowa Caucuses on Monday, Feb. 3

  Make sure you’re prepared to caucus by checking out ABI’s IAVotes.com Caucus Toolkit.

• Jan 30, 2020

  Governor Selects Oxley for the Iowa Supreme Court

  Gov. Reynolds named Cedar Rapids attorney Dana Oxley to the Iowa Supreme Court on Tuesday. 

• Jan 30, 2020

  Secretary of State Unveils Fast Track Filing for Biennial Reports

  Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced last week that the fast track filing system for biennial reports is now up and running. 

• Jan 30, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: Trump Signs USMCA Into Law

  On Wednesday, President Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law, which is a tremendous victory for the business and agriculture communities. 

• Jan 30, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: Trump Announces Rule to Replace WOTUS

  President Trump’s administration unveiled a new rule last week that will take the place of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

• Jan 30, 2020

  Week Three at the Capitol is Complete

  The Legislature concluded its third week of the 2020 legislative session this week. 

• Jan 23, 2020

  Legislature Kicks Into High Gear

  The 2020 Legislative Session has concluded its second week, and the ABI public policy team attended a number of subcommittee meetings throughout the week. 

• Jan 23, 2020

  First Legislative Update Call Next Friday

  JD Davis and Brad Hartkopf will lead ABI’s first legislative teleconference next Friday, Jan. 31 at 8 a.m. 

• Jan 23, 2020

  Air Quality Fee Review Meetings Next Week

  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources invites stakeholders and the public to review and comment on the draft Air Quality Budget for the coming fiscal year. 

• Jan 23, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: Trump Administration Proposes Streamlining Environmental Rules

  President Trump’s Council on Environmental Quality is looking to put forward rules that would update the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the first time in 40 years. 

• Jan 23, 2020

  State of Manufacturing Address Live from Iowa

  Jay Timmons, president & CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, gave the state of manufacturing address at ABI member company Vermeer Corporation yesterday. 

• Jan 23, 2020

  Caucus Toolkit: Be Ready to Caucus on Feb. 3

  The Iowa caucuses are 11 days away.

• 

  Jan 16, 2020

  Record Turnout for Legislative Briefing and Reception

  Members, lawmakers, statewide elected officials and agency directors turned out in force as ABI kicked off the first week of the 2020 legislative session.

• Jan 16, 2020

  2020 Legislative Session Kicks Off

  The second session of the 88th Iowa General Assembly commenced on Monday with opening speeches from legislative leaders. 

• Jan 16, 2020

  Wiggins Retirement and Three Finalists Announced for Iowa Supreme Court

  There has been a whirlwind of activity over the last few weeks in the Iowa Judicial Branch. 

• Jan 16, 2020

  Governor Chooses Interim Director for DOT

  Last Friday, Gov. Reynolds selected Stuart Anderson, a civil engineer with the Iowa Department of Transportation for 28 years, to serve as interim director of the agency. 

• Jan 16, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: USMCA Passes Senate; Trump Signs Phase One Trade Agreement with China

  There was an incredible amount of positive news on the trade front this week.

• Jan 9, 2020

  ABI Files Lawsuit Against Waterloo Over Ban The Box Ordinance

  Last week, ABI filed a petition against the city of Waterloo for the city’s criminal history ordinance that was passed late last year.

• Jan 9, 2020

  Legislative Session Begins Next Week

  The second session of the 88th Iowa General Assembly commences on Monday, January 23. 

• Jan 9, 2020

  Iowa Caucuses in Less than a Month; Utilize ABI’s Caucus Toolkit

  Registered Iowa Democrats and Republicans will have the opportunity to make their voices heard before the world on Monday, February 3 as the first-in-the-nation caucuses will take be in the Hawkeye State.

• Jan 9, 2020

  Register for Monthly ABI Legislative Update Calls

  One way you can stay up to speed and have your company’s voice heard on policy matters is by registering for the monthly ABI legislative update calls. 

• Jan 9, 2020

  EPA to Host Webinars on American Iron and Steel Requirements

  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct two webinars over the next two weeks to discuss the State Revolving Fund (SRF) American Iron and Steel (AIS) Requirements.

• Jan 9, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: USMCA Passes Senate Committee

  On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Finance overwhelmingly approved the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a resounding vote of 25-3. 

• Jan 2, 2020

  Legislative Briefing and Reception Approaching Fast; Sign Up Today

  One of ABI’s most popular events is set to take place in less than two weeks. 

• Jan 2, 2020

  Agencies Pre-file Legislation for 2020

  We’re just under two weeks out from the legislative session commencing, and several bills have already been pre-filed by a variety of agencies and departments. 

• Jan 2, 2020

  Business Tax Changes Have Arrived

  As we move into 2020, it’s important to note significant changes to Iowa’s tax code that will affect the business community. 

• Jan 2, 2020

  Empower Rural Iowa Recommendations Unveiled

  The Empower Rural Iowa task forces recently released their recommendations for the 2020 legislative session. 

• Jan 2, 2020

  ABI Attends DNR Water Rules Meeting

  Brad Hartkopf, ABI director of public policy, attended a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stakeholder meeting on Dec. 19 about proposed changes to drinking water, wastewater, private sewage disposal systems and sludge. 

• Jan 2, 2020

  List of Applicants for Iowa Supreme Court Vacancy Set

  Twelve individuals are set to be interviewed to fill the opening on the Iowa Supreme Court.

• Jan 2, 2020

  Federal Spotlight: New DOL Overtime Rule Goes Into Effect

  Several new laws and regulations have gone into effect now that we have entered the new year.