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Week 12 Legislative Recap - March 29 - April 2

The House and Senate met for short floor sessions last week, with the primary focus being committee work ahead of the second funnel deadline of Friday, April 2. The second funnel requires policy bills to pass through both House and Senate committees to remain eligible for further work this legislative session. Policy bills that did not make it through committee by Thursday are removed from further consideration this session. A tool that can be used as a placeholder is the "unfinished business" calendar, which allows bills to be considered next legislative session in their current position, rather than requiring a new bill to be filed next year.  

Bottle Bill policy (SF 470) was referred to the Ways and Means Committee in the Senate and passed out of subcommittee last week. Ways and Means bills are exempt from funnel deadlines, so we may expect this bill to make it to the Senate floor for consideration. The main industry groups supporting the bill are the Grocery Industry Association and their members such as HyVee, Fareway, and other retail establishments. The bottle distributors, both beer and soft drink companies, are opposed to the measure, which would remove empty bottles and cans from the stores and revert unclaimed deposits back to the state. Conservation groups are also registered opposed, largely because eliminating grocery stores as a place to return empty containers will likely reduce consumer recycling. Senator Pam Jochum, who served on the subcommittee, raised the issue of a "replacement system" to the current bottle deposit law, and suggested that Iowa look toward Delaware's single stream recycling infrastructure, which has successfully increased the volume of recyclable materials. 

What didn't pass the funnel?

HF 801: Water Quality Projects received some indications of support early on in the House, but stalled due to concerns raised by the agricultural industry around creating a more extensive definition of soil health. Get more details in the water program write up below.  

HF 486: Scenic Byway Fund was introduced for a second year, however, this priority did not move forward for further funding considerations. Get more details in the water program write up below.

HJR 8: A Constitutional Amendment to protect Iowans' rights to hunt and fish did not advance.

SF 565: Bottle Bill II did not advance in favor of another bottle deposit related bill, SF 470 (referenced above).

HF 496: Eliminating Tenure received sharp criticism for proposing to eliminate a cornerstone of Iowa's public academic institutions without consideration for how that would negatively impact the state's colleges and universities. The bill was introduced by Representative Wheeler (R-Orange City) and passed quickly out of committee in the House in February, but did not reach the House floor for a vote. IEC registered against this bill. As a science-based organization, we partner with researchers at all three state universities to ensure our policy proposals are grounded in good science. This bill would have done significant damage to professors whose research is vital to understanding everything from drinking water contamination to the projected effects of climate change on agriculture in Iowa, and it would have made it more difficult for the universities to attract and retain top academics. IEC supports and defends science, and if the bill is taken up next session, we will continue to voice our opposition to such an egregiously punitive bill.

SF 465: Litter Offense establishes additional offenses for littering, such as revocation of privileges, however, this bill did not advance to the Senate floor for a vote. 

Read the program updates below for more detailed information on some of these bills and view this week's bill tracker for updated details on bills IEC is watching this session. 

 

Energy Program Activity

On Monday of last week, the Senate considered the methane and propane gas protection bill, ultimately passing the house version 29-16. House File 555 will now move to the governor’s desk. As IEC has been highlighting in past weeks, the bill protects methane and propane gas companies while creating a host of problems for Iowans. The Energy Program was disappointed the Senate took up the bill and quickly passed it. Along with the Environmental Law & Policy Center, we delivered a letter to the Governor's office last week asking her to veto the bill for all the reasons that make it a bad bill for Iowa.

IEC was pleased that House File 779 and Senate File 552 failed to survive the session’s second funnel. These bills would have unfairly burdened low-income renters by allowing landlords to keep a tenant’s security deposit if the tenant had unpaid utility bills. IEC had many concerns with the disproportionate impact such a law would have on Black, Indiginous, and People of Color in Iowa who already have a larger energy burden. 

The bill that could expand the state solar investment tax credit (ITC) is still in play this session. House File 221 would provide a much-needed funding increase for the program, and pay down the majority of the lengthy waitlist for the credit. In the coming weeks, it’s critical that legislators hear from their constituents in support of expanding solar here in Iowa. Supporters are encouraged to take action using our action alert form today

 

Water Program Activity

After the second funnel deadline, several water and land related bills that failed to advance will be taken off the IEC bill tracker. Here are a few of note:

HF 801: Water Quality Projects, which would have included soil health language into the work of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), received some indications of support early on in the House, but stalled due to concerns raised by the agricultural industry around creating a more extensive definition of soil health. Rep. Mommsen, who introduced the bill, spoke at IEC’s virtual Advocacy Day (at approximately 16:30) about the importance of soil health practices to farmers in the state. While it is disappointing to see a bill with bipartisan appeal fail to pass this year, the bill advanced far enough that it can be taken up on day one of session next year without having to be re-introduced. IEC will be working with partners and legislators to build support for this and other policies to increase conservation practices on the land, which are vital to improving water quality, mitigating flooding, and maintaining the health of our environment. 

HF 486: Scenic Byway Fund was introduced for a second year, however, this priority did not move forward for further funding considerations. In a year where outdoor spaces and natural beauty were crucial to maintaining mental and physical health, this feels like a missed opportunity for the state to invest in Iowans’ quality of life.

As noted earlier, Appropriations and Ways & Means bills are funnel-proof, and therefore still alive this session. IEC continues to oppose SF 587, which would eliminate the conservation tax credit and would make it more difficult to qualify for the forestry tax credit, among other tax policy changes. Stay tuned for communications from IEC on how you can get involved and help stop this bill from advancing. 

 

Legislative Dates of Interest

4/08 - CFRA's Virtual Rural Resiliency Forum with Rep. Ingels
4/08 - Anti-Racist Legislation Rally at the State Capitol
4/15 - Workshop: Meeting With Your Representatives 
4/16 - Legislative Update with IFU
4/20 - MO River: Advocacy for Flood Prevention in Southwest Iowa 
4/23 - Introduction to MRRRI
4/27 - 4/29 - Action Days for Clean Water and Rivers
4/30 - 110th calendar day of session
4/30 - IEC's Legislative Lunch

Take a look at an updated list of forums happening across Iowa this week.

 

Legislative News of Interest 

 
 
 
 
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