WEEKLY BILL TRACKING

Thurs. March 7 – Wed. March 13, 2019

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF

 

Agriculture

SF 519          Agriculture Facility Trespass. Individuals who use deception to obtain access to ag production facilities can be criminally charged. (passed House 65-32) to Governor.

HF 733         Hemp Regulation. Regulates the cultivation of industrial Hemp (passed committee 21-1) to House Ways and Means Committee.

Appropriations

HF 553        Ag Theft Surcharge. Creates a $500 surcharge for convictions relating to agricultural theft and vandalism. (Passed Committee 21-2) to House Calendar

HSB 164      Budget Practices.  Puts in Iowa Code language that has been in place in the Standings Appropriations bill. (Passed Committee 22-0) to House Appropriations Calendar.

Commerce

HF 260         Permissible Interest Rates. Allows the Banking Superintendent to adjust interest rates and finance charges for $30,000 loans or less (passed House 53-46) to Senate Calendar.

HF 263         Credit Union Exemption. Allows Credit Unions to be exempt from charging denied applicants an application fee. (passed House 94-0) to Senate Commerce Committee.

HF 327         Franchisor and Franchisee. Defines franchisor/franchisee relationship and creates exemptions for franchisors from certain liabilities (passed House 51 to 45) to Senate Calendar.

HF 426         Insurance Division Omnibus. Updates criminal history checks for licenses granted by the Insurance Division. (passed House 94-0) to Senate Calendar.

HF 668         Three-tier Personal Interests. Allows alcohol manufacturers and wholesalers to have a business or personal interest in retailers (passed House 80-19) to Senate Calendar.

SF 229          Water Treatment Systems.  Amends code relating to the sale, lease, or rental of water treatment systems.  (passed Committee 22-0) to House Calendar.

Economic Growth

HF 303         Welcome Centers.  The bill updates old Code language with regards to welcome centers.  The Iowa Economic Development Authority will continue to work with the DOT and other agencies in regards to providing tourism and travel information at welcome centers.  (passed House 99-0) to Senate

HF 485         Targeted Small Business Program Changes.  The bill takes the $10,000 cap, for state agencies from ordering products and services from Targeted Small Businesses without going through the RFP process, out of Code and allows DAS to set the amount through the rules process.  The amount cannot exceed $25,000.  (passed House 96-0) to Senate

HF 486         Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program Changes.  The bill adds the term ‘emergency project’ to the program.  Projects deemed ‘emergency projects’ would be eligible for funding regardless if it is outside the application window.  (passed House 99-0) to Senate

Education

HF 546         SAVE Extension and Reform.  Extends the sunset to the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education fund (SAVE) program until 2051.  It also creates a career academy grant program to help establish career academies that specialize in Career Technical Education (CTE) training.  As amended by the House, the amount provided from SAVE to the Property Tax Relief (PTER) fund would increase to 3.1% in the first year.  After the initial year, if SAVE revenue growth is 2.0% or more in a fiscal year, the amount the amount transferred to the PTER will increase by 1.0%.  Of the amount of the increase going to the PTER fund, 1/2 would stay in the PTER fund and 1/2 would be deposited into a fund for property tax relief for all districts.  The bill also requires changes to a school district’s Revenue Purpose Statement for SAVE projects and allows the ability to petition for a vote on a SAVE project.  (passed House 96-3) to Senate Ways and Means Committee

HF 704         Student liaisons required on school boards.  Requires school boards to a have a student liaison. Many already have them now, and the Iowa State Board of Education has a student member.  As amended in committee, the liaison would not receive confidential information or enter closed session which could involve student or teacher discipline. (passed Committee 19-2) to House Calendar

HF 720         Foster care student supplemental weighting.  As amended in committee, provides supplemental weighting for foster kids which are adjudicated in a licensed facility, not an unlicensed relative foster care placement.  (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar

Human Resources

HF 422         Telehealth at the CCUSO Unit.  Allows the University of Iowa to provide health services for patients at the Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) via telehealth whenever it is deemed medically appropriate. (passed House 98-0) to Senate Human Resources Committee

HF 532         Medical Residency Positions.  Gives preference for Iowa residents and those that graduated from an Iowa institution for medical residency training state matching grants and the University of Iowa federal residency positions. Also states that both of these programs must offer a rural rotation to the candidate. (passed House 96-0) to Senate Human Resources Committee

HF 570         Brain Injury Home and Community-Based Waiver Cap.  Removes the monthly Medicaid cap for those on the brain injury home and community-based services waiver. (passed House 96-0) to Senate Human Resources Committee

HF 606         Online Continuing Education Requirements.  Allows Licensed Social Workers, Marital and Family Therapists, and Mental Health Counselors to take online continuing education credits without limitation, as long as those credits comply with standards set by their Boards. (passed House 93-0) to Senate Human Resources Committee

HF 623         Medication-Assisted Treatment, Medicaid.  Allows one medication-assisted treatment from each of the five classifications to be given to a patient without a prior authorization under the Medicaid program. (passed House 96-0) to Senate Human Resources Committee

HF 642         Human Trafficking Confidential Information.  Allows partners (members of a DHS approved multidisciplinary team) to share information related to human trafficking with each other. Currently, these partners can only share this information when it is part of a child abuse assessment, but not for those cases when children are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. (passed House 96-0) to Senate Human Resources Committee

Judiciary Committee

HF 265         Warrant Confidentiality.  Makes warrants for a search or seizure in a criminal case that results in an acquittal, dismissal, or when there is no criminal case filed confidential.  (passed House 99-0) to Senate Judiciary Committee

HF 594         Life-Sustaining Procedures for Children.  Prohibits a court to have the authority to require the withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures for a minor child over the objection of the parent or guardian.  (passed House 58-36) to Senate Judiciary Committee

HF 739         Child Support Fees.  Eliminates the filing fee for application for child support services in nonassistance cases and increases the annual fee in cases where support has been distributed to the family.  (passed Ways & Means Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

SF 113          OWI Habitual Offender.  Allows a person convicted of a third or subsequent Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) offense to be sentenced as a habitual offender.  (passed House 94-0) to Governor

Local Government

HF 693         Township EMS Proposition for Voter Approval. Allows for voter approval in a township for EMS services and the ability to levy to cover those services.  A valid petition would be signed by eligible of 25% of the electors of the township  of the number of votes cast in the township for the office of President or Governor at the preceding general election. (passed Committee 18-0) to House Ways and Means Committee

HF 698         Pioneer cemeteries.  Moves the number of people that can be buried in a pioneer cemetery and still have the cemetery designated as a pioneer cemetery from 12 to 24. More cemeteries would qualify as a pioneer cemetery under this change. Currently 20 counties are using up to 6 3/4 cent levy to fund the cemeteries but the highest is only 4 1/2 cents. (passed Committee 18-0) to House Calendar

HF 715         Open meetings.  Advisory boards, commissions, taskforces or any other bodies created, would be subject to open meetings when making decisions on policy or budget including motion, resolution amendment or ordinance.  (passed Committee 18-0) to House Calendar

HF 730         Conflict of Interest financial limits for school, city, county officers and employees.  Raises the current threshold of government public contracts that can be purchased from an individual school board, city council, county officer or employee from $2,500 to $6,000.  The threshold was last raised in 2000.  (passed Committee 18-0) to House Calendar

Natural Resources

HF 604         Out of State Contracts with the DNR.  The bill prohibits out of state companies from receiving contracts with the DNR to remove rough fish from in-land lakes.  (passed House 97-0) to Senate

Public Safety

HF 16           Ignition Interlock Device Requirements.  Clarifies that devices are required for every vehicle owned by an offender rather than every vehicle driven by an offender.  (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar.

HF 487         Wireless Telecommunications Infrastructure Installation. Prohibits local government from denying permits for infrastructure installation relating to emergency responders. (passed House 74-20) to Senate Calendar.

HF 553         Ag Theft Surcharge. Creates a $500 surcharge for convictions relating to agricultural theft and vandalism. (passed House Appropriations Committee 21-2) to House Calendar.

HF 585         Iowa Sobriety and Drug Monitoring Program.  Extends current program and requires participants to remain sober during last thirty days of the program.   (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar.

HF 711         Appeal Rights Relating to Veterans Preference.  Establishes a length of service award program for volunteer firefighters.  (passed Committee 21-0) to House Appropriations Committee.

HF 716         Hunting with Firearms.  Allows hunting with handguns.   (passed Committee 12-9) to House Calendar.

HF 732         Expansion of Medical Cannabidiol Act.  Amends current medical cannabidiol program.   (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar.

State Government

HF 392         Government Employees Bidding. Campaign and ethics bill that exempts certain public employees from selling goods or services over $2,000 if there is no competitive bidding for the requirement of this purchase. Currently public employees or officials cannot sell goods or services over $2,000 unless that sale is subject to a competitive bidding process. (Passed the House 95-0) to the Senate.

HF 437         Executive Branch Gifts. Limits reporting requirements for state agencies for gifts they receive to $50. The bill also requires they be reported within 20 days and be filed electronically. (Passed the House 96-0) to the Senate.  

HF 589         Flood Bonds. This extends the amount of time a bond can be retired from 20 to 30 years if spent for a flood related purpose. (Passed House Ways and Means Committee 24-0) to House Ways and Means Calendar.

HF 595         Deputy County Auditor Salaries. Comes from the County Auditors and will allow for the deputy county auditor of elections to be paid up to 85% of the salary of the County Auditor.   (Passed the House 95-1) to Senate.

HF 695         Cosmetology and Barbering License. Creates new licensure for Hairstylists and Barbers and regulations. (Passed Committee 21-1) to House Calendar.

HF 701         Nonconforming Houses. From the manufactured home association and deals with non-conforming use for mobile home units. (Passed Committee 22-0) to House Calendar.

HF 708         Groundwater Hazard. Sets out the process when a groundwater hazard statement needs to be filed with the County Recorder.  (Passed Committee 22-0) to House Calendar.

HF 718         Building Restrictions. Deals with a local entities ability to regulate rental properties. The legislation prohibits a city from enforcing or adopting ordinances permit caps on residential property. (Passed Committee 13-9) to House Calendar.

HSB 167      E-Notary. Expands the ability to use an electronic notary.(Passed Committee 22-0) to House Calendar.

HSB 227      Puppy Mills. Establishes oversight, registration, regulation of breeders, pet stores, transporters, by the state of Iowa (Passed Committee 20-2) to House Calendar.

SF 367          Education Telecommunications. Eliminates the education telecommunications council, at the request of the council.  (Passed the Senate 46-0, Passed the House 96-0) to the Governor.

SJR 17          Abate Toy Run. This resolution allows for ABATE to do their toy run at the capitol and sell merchandise. (Passed the Senate 96-0, Passed the House 94-0) to Governor.

Transportation

HF 345         Motorcycle Lemon Law Removes the motorcycle exception from the lemon law (passed House 96-0) to Senate Transportation Committee.

HF 387         Motor Truck Follow Distance. Removes following distance restrictions for motor trucks on highways. (passed House 94-1) to Senate Transportation Committee.

HF 389         Vessel Registration. Changes certain registration requirements of vessels with county recorders offices. (passed House 95-0) to Senate Transportation Committee

HF 643         Deaf Drivers License Designation. Allows a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to request a mark on their driver’s license and also requires DOT to work with the commission of deaf services to create a video for the deaf (passed House 99-0) to Senate Transportation Committee

Veterans Affairs

HF 386         Veterans Designation on Driver’s Licenses.  Currently, a veteran can go to the Department of Transportation to have this designation added to their driver’s license.  This bill reverts back to pre-2016 law by having the veteran go to the veteran county office instead. (passed House 94-1) to Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

Ways & Means Committee

HF 338         Adoption Tax Credit Clarification.  Allows expenses for a qualified adoption to be claimed in any year when the adoption becomes final.  (passed House 96-0) to Senate Ways & Means Committee

HF 546       SAVE Extension and Reform.  Extends the sunset to the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education fund (SAVE) program until 2051.  It also creates a career academy grant program to help establish career academies that specialize in Career Technical Education (CTE) training.  As amended by the House, the amount provided from SAVE to the Property Tax Relief (PTER) fund would increase to 3.1% in the first year.  After the initial year, if SAVE revenue growth is 2.0% or more in a fiscal year, the amount the amount transferred to the PTER will increase by 1.0%.  Of the amount of the increase going to the PTER fund, 1/2 would stay in the PTER fund and 1/2 would be deposited into a fund for property tax relief for all districts.  The bill also requires changes to a school district’s Revenue Purpose Statement for SAVE projects and allows the ability to petition for a vote on a SAVE project.  (passed House 96-3) to Senate Ways and Means Committee

HF 589         Flood Bonds. This extends the amount of time a bond can be retired from 20 to 30 years if spent for a flood related purpose. (Passed Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

HF 739         Child Support Fees.  Eliminates the filing fee for application for child support services in nonassistance cases and increases the annual fee in cases where support has been distributed to the family.  (passed Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

SF 220          179 Expensing for Corporations.  Expands the increased 179 expensing for individuals to income by corporations, financial institutions, partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies.  (passed House 87-7) to Governor