House and Senate Advance Pro-growth Legislation

There was a tremendous amount of floor debate this week at the Capitol following the first funnel deadline last Friday. Some legislation even passed both chambers and was sent to the governor on the same day! This is an indication that legislators want to get policy bills addressed and move on to budget and tax issues.

The legislature advanced several pieces of legislation that ABI supports, including the following bills:

SF 220 – Legislation clarifies that S Corporations, LLCs, partnerships and financial institutions can claim the increased expensing allowance deduction on Section 179 property. The bill also allows Corporations to claim the allowance. The bill passed the House 87-7 on Monday, and it previously passed the Senate 48-0. It now heads to Gov. Reynolds.

SF 519 – The House and Senate both approved this bill, which creates a criminal offense for individuals who trespass on an agricultural production facility. Those who use deception to gain access to facilities to cause economic or physical harm to property or individual would be charged with a serious misdemeanor. The governor is expected to sign the bill later today.

HF 327 – The bill clarifies the franchisor/franchisee relationship. The legislation is necessary to address the 2015 Browning-Ferris NLRB decision, which expanded the definition of the joint employer standard. Passed the House 51-45 and is now eligible for debate in the Senate.

HCR 10 – A joint resolution supporting Congressional action on a multilateral trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico passed the House earlier this week and passed the Iowa Senate on Wednesday. Iowa is a leader in trade, and Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature have been very supportive of trade and encouraging the federal government to act.

HF 668 – The Iowa House and Senate debated and passed this bill that relates to Iowa’s three-tier system governing our alcohol beverage manufacturing and distribution in the state. The bill defines an institutional investor and clarifies that an individual who is an institutional investor does not violate the three-tier system. The bill passed the House 80-19 and the Senate 38-11.

HF 487 – Legislation that prohibits a local government from stopping a cell tower from being placed if it relates to public safety broadband network and radio access network. Bill is only applicable to counties under 15,000 in population with a few particular exceptions. It passed the House 74-20 and the Senate 38-10.

SF 229 – Legislation streamlines the water filter certification process by removing an unnecessary step in the process. Iowa would use a national standard to approve water filters and eliminate the Department of Public Health from having to certify third-party tests under the legislation. The House Commerce Committee approved this bill 22-0 on Wednesday.