Two Weeks Until the Second Funnel

Time is moving quickly as the Iowa Legislature is nearing the second funnel deadline on March 20. Bills will had to have passed a full chamber and then through a full committee to be considered for the rest of session. There are of course exceptions to this rule such as ways & means, appropriations and a few other types of bills. With that in mind, the Legislature has gone into full debate mode as legislators look to move their priorities forward. There was action on pro-business legislation this week, which you can see below.

HF2309 – This ABI priority legislation passed today. It holds that if a party successfully challenges a city or county ordinance, resolution, amendment or motion in court, the municipality must pay reasonable attorney fees and court costs to the prevailing party. The vote was 51-44. ABI position: For

HF2473 – Another ABI priority passed the House this week. The bill creates criminal penalties for those who use synthetic urine to defraud a drug or alcohol test. The purpose of the bill is to deter people from committing acts of fraud that could ultimately endanger the workplace. The legislation passed, with bipartisan support, 55-42. A companion bill in the Senate is also ready for floor debate. ABI position: For

SF2400 – Gov. Reynolds' legislation related to Empower Rural Iowa was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this week. It makes changes to the state’s broadband program by further incentivizing private industry to deploy broadband in underserved and rural areas of the state. The bill and its companion in the House are eligible for floor debate. ABI position: For

HF2573 – The bill exempts airplane repair and replacement parts, maintenance services and remodeling from sales tax. It removes the requirement that must be used in scheduled/nonscheduled FAA to qualify. It passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support in the House with a vote of 89-7. ABI position: For

HF2569 – The legislation sets up a pilot program, subject to a $250,000 appropriation, through Iowa Economic Development Authority to provide up to $5,000 matching grants for businesses that recruit workers from Puerto Rico and bring them to Iowa. The matching grant funds are used for relocation expenses laid out in the bill. The bill, which has already passed the State Government Committee, was approved in an Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday. ABI position: For

HF2417 – The bill requires employers to treat employees who choose to adopt a child the same as an employee who is the biological parent of a newborn child regarding employment policies, benefits and protections for the first year. The bill was amended on the floor to narrow the age range to children who are six years and younger. The legislation passed 94-1. The Senate bill is different as it has language that prohibits short-term disability benefits being awarded to adoptive parents. Should the Senate legislation advance, the bills will have to be reconciled. ABI position: Undecided

HSB671 – The bill increases total maximum annual tax credit allocation for equity investments in a qualifying business or innovation fund by $2 million while reducing the total maximum tax credit allocation for the Innovation Fund Investment Tax Credit by $2 million. The bill passed a Ways & Means Subcommittee on Wednesday. ABI position: For

For questions about these or other bills, please contact JD Davis or Brad Hartkopf.