See what legislative proposals survived the funnel
March 3, 2017
Today is the first funnel deadline imposed by the Iowa Legislature in an effort to narrow their focus on key policy issues. Bills needed to have moved from one committee in one chamber to receive further consideration this session. Bills taken up by the Ways and Means and Appropriations committees are exempt from the funnel. ABI is tracking nearly 400 bills. Below is the status of a few key bills the association is following for the year.
Workers' compensation reform advances, show your support on Tuesday
Legislation that would reform Iowa's workers' compensation passed the Commerce committees in both the House and Senate, yesterday afternoon. HSB 169 and SSB 1170 passed their respective committees on a party-line vote.
A public hearing was requested by House Democrats. The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at the Capitol. Please consider speaking in support of the bill at this hearing. We need a strong business showing. Click here to register to speak. If you plan to speak, please contact Nicole Crain, ncrain@iowaabi.org.
Even if you don't speak, we still need you to contact your legislators before Tuesday's hearing and tell them to support HSB 169 and SSB 1170. Your business experience with the current workers' compensation system will help them understand why the change is necessary. Click here to contact your legislators now!
The following bills made it through the funnel and are still ALIVE:
HSB 169/SSB 1170 – Workers’ compensation reform: This is ABI’s top priority during the session. The bills passed out of subcommittees and full committees this week. You can find more information about the issue here.
ABI Position: For
ABI Priority: Workforce
HF 295 – Minimum wage preemption: The bill would help create clarity for businesses, and minimize administrative burden of tracking multiple wage and benefit policies in political subdivisions. The bill would prevent local governments from creating a patchwork of minimum wage, benefits and hiring practices through the passage of local ordinances.
ABI Position: For
ABI Priority: Competitive Business Climate
HSB 135/SSB 1034 – Water quality: The House and Senate passed two pieces of legislation through committee that addresses Iowa’s nutrient reduction strategy. The House bill includes industry at the table as a partner to address water quality through a grant program and state revolving loan fund aimed at reducing nutrients. The Senate bill has some of the same components, but does not include industry. Both bills address non-point source nutrient reduction.
ABI Position: Undecided
ABI Priority: Environmental Investment and Accountability
HSB 144 – Unemployment benefits: Increases the amount needed to re-qualify for a second benefit year of unemployment benefits from $250 to 10 times the individual’s weekly benefit amount. The Labor Committee approved the bill on a party line vote. An amendment adopted to the bill reduced the amount from 10 times to 8 times the individual’s weekly benefits amount which puts Iowa in the middle of the pack.
ABI Position: For
ABI Priority: Competitive Business Climate
HSB 143 – Qualification for unemployment benefits: The bill attempts to fix the Irving Iowa Supreme Court case. In that case, the Iowa Supreme Court determined a claimant who was disqualified from misconduct from supplemental/concurrent employment may still draw wages credits from other base employers. The House Labor Committee approved the bill unanimously. An amendment is expected prior to full floor debate.
ABI Position: For
ABI Priority: Competitive Business Climate
HSB 168 - Iowa Workforce Development Board federal conformity bill: The bill brings Iowa’s board into compliance with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) requirements. The bill also allows Iowa Workforce Development to use the previously allocated monies for unemployment insurance system modernization for a different system than the one previously approved by the Iowa legislature. The bill passed the Economic Growth Committee Thursday.
ABI Position: Undecided
ABI Priority: Workforce
HF 507/SF 274 – Computer science: This is a bill proposed by the governor’s office that encourages schools at all levels to teach computer science classes. The legislation provides incentives for schools that adopt the guidelines of the program. This kind of education is key for the workforce in the 21st century.
ABI Position: For
ABI Priority: Workforce
HSB 145 - Increases OSHA penalties and includes an automatic indexing: The legislation is required to conform to Federal rules updating the OSHA program. According to Iowa Workforce Development, if Iowa does not adopt legislation, the state will be out of compliance and the federal government could take over the program.
ABI Position: Oppose
SF 32 - Drug testing: This would allow employers to use hair for drug testing employees. The bill has passed the Senate and has been assigned a subcommittee in the House.
ABI Position: For
ABI Priority: Workforce
SSB 1145 - Project labor agreements: This legislation would prevent state and local governments from mandating the use of project labor agreements for public construction projects.
ABI Position: For
HF 3/ SF 413 - Statute of repose: Shortens the amount of time statute of repose can be brought forward concerning real property. The statute of repose is currently 15 years and this legislation lowers it to eight to 15 years depending on the type of property.
ABI Position: For
HSB 163 - Environmental Sustainability: This bill repeals the current beverage containers control program (bottle bill) and replaces it with a new environmental sustainability program. The bill is technically alive, but for all intents and purposes dead for this session. Rep. Ross Paustian, Chair of Environmental Protection said it will not pass this year and will be a multi-year process. Paustian said he is working to achieve bipartisan support for this legislation.
ABI Position: For
ABI Priority: Environmental Investment & Accountability
HF 251/SF 260 – Trespass liability: Codifies common law as it concerns the liability of trespassers. Both bills have passed their respective Judiciary committees and are eligible for debate.
ABI Position: For
SF 356/HF 478 – Property Assessment Appeal Board: Makes permanent the Property Assessment Appeals Board (PAAB). The bills also make changes to how an appeal is filed. The bills are eligible for debate.
ABI Position: For
HF 69 – Trespass penalties: Increases the penalty and makes trespassing a scheduled fine. The goal is to deter individuals from trespassing on private property.
ABI Position: For
SF 376/HF 476 – Asbestos: These bills deal with tort reform concerning asbestos related cases. Both bills have come out of the Judiciary committee.
ABI Position: For
HF 293 – IowaPrison industries: Allows manufacturers to competitively bid for contracts from departments and agencies against Iowa Prison Industries. The products must be manufactured in the state of Iowa. The bill has passed both chambers.
ABI Position: For
HF 231 – Apprenticeship grants: This bill requires that apprentices be Iowa residents in order for companies to be eligible to receive financial awards from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Gov. Terry Branstad signed this bill into law on Wednesday.
ABI Position: For
SF 172 – E-verify: Requires employers with 10 or more employees to comply with federal E-Verify system. This language of the bill is fairly broad and there is currently only one lobbyist registered in favor of this legislation. A companion bill in the House, HF205, did not receive a subcommittee assignment.
ABI Position: Undecided
HSB 89 – Opioids: The bill originally mandated that employers and insurance providers provide health care coverage for abuse deterrent opioid drug products. There was an amendment adopted in the Public Safety Committee that struck that entire section of the bill. The remainder of the bill moved forward to the full House.
ABI Position: Against
HSB 147 - Staffing agency mandate: Mandates staffing agencies that work with health care facilities, assisted living programs or other providers provide background checks on prospective employees. The bill passed the Human Resources Committee and was amended, but there are still liability issues for staffing agencies who provide these services.
ABI Position: Undecided
The following bills did not make it through the funnel and are likely DEAD
The Legislature considered several policies that increase the cost of doing business or add burdens to employers. Several proposals discussed were health care mandates that could increase the cost of health insurance for employers and employees. ABI worked to educate legislators about the business impact the legislation could have if it were passed.
No bill is ever truly dead in the Legislature, and many of these proposed bills could show up in amendments to other legislation or in budget bills. These bills will be eligible to begin the process again 2018, the second year of the 87th General Assembly.
HF 162 - Guns in employer parking lots: The bill would prevent employers from having a policy prohibiting employees from bringing guns into the parking lot of a workplace. In addition, the legislation includes contractors and volunteers who may be on an employer’s property for a specific job. The bill did not receive a subcommittee assignment. ABI is following HF 517, which is comprehensive gun rights legislation, for any amendments affecting business.
ABI Position: Against
HF 376 - Pregnancy accommodation: Mandates employers provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant women unless it causes an undue hardship to the employer. A subcommittee was held on the bill and ABI spoke against the legislation and talked about some of the challenges with the bill and lack of definitions. The bill did not pass the House Labor Committee.
ABI Position: Against
HF61 - Dental insurance networks. Legislation that would change dental insurance networks in the state of Iowa. The effect of the legislation would be a lack of incentives for dentists to be in-network with an insurance company, thus causing higher costs of dental premiums to employers and their employees. The bill received lots of conversation until the last day of funnel but did not advance.
ABI Position: Against
ABI Priority: Competitive Business Climate
HSB 132 - Medical cannabis: Expansive medical cannabis bill that did not provide protections for businesses with zero tolerance policies for drugs and alcohol. The bill did not advance past the public safety committee.
ABI Position: Undecided
ABI Priority: Workforce
SSB 1134 / HSB 99- Opioid abuse and mandate: Expansive legislation to address opioid abuse. The legislation also included a major health care mandate on behavioral therapy services with no limitations to provide some premium certain for individuals and small employers. The bills did not advance.
ABI Position: Against
HSB 60 - New development rights: This bill allows local governments to establish policies for development rights of properties. Other states have this concept to help with redevelopment in inner-cities and stopping development into agricultural areas or preserving historical neighborhoods. The proposal is complicated and provides a work-around of the current zoning requirements.
ABI Position: Against
SSB 1130/SSB 1139 - Motor vehicle recyclers: Increases regulations for motor vehicle recyclers. Both pieces of legislation would require additional reporting requirements for vehicle recyclers and increase the cost of doing business. An informal subcommittee was held on the bill this week and both parties agreed to work during the interim to pass the legislation.
ABI Position: Against