The 2018 legislative session adjourned last Saturday following a week of several late-night debates where the Legislature hammered out the remaining budget bills and approved a tax reform bill. ABI sent out a sine die newsletter shortly after adjournment. You can read the  newsletter  here . It was another successful session for the business community as many pro-jobs bills passed and were signed into law. Gov. Reynolds praised the Legislature for passing several of the initiatives she laid out in her Condition of the State address in January, which included tax reform, Future Ready Iowa, water quality legislation, a mental health bill, legislation to combat the opioid crisis and healthcare reform for Iowans. You can read remarks from the Governor and Lieutenant Governor  here , and speeches given by the leadership of both parties here .

Second ABI-supported Water Quality Bill Passes

In the waning hours of the legislative session, a water quality bill containing language ABI pushed for from the beginning of the water quality policy discussion passed the Iowa Senate and was sent to the Governor.  HF 2440  makes technical and substantive changes to  SF 512 , the comprehensive water quality bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor early in session.  Key for industry, the bill adds "specified industry" to the definition of "eligible entity" for the revolving loan fund created in  SF 512 . This means industries that must comply with the nutrient reduction strategy--the statewide plan to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in Iowa's waters--will be able to apply for loans or grants from the fund just like other point and non-point sources for water quality improvement projects. Keep reading.

Join ABI in Council Bluffs for Second Regional Meeting

The 2018 legislative session has adjourned, which means you will want to RSVP for our final legislative update call on Monday, June 4, at 10 a.m. The public policy team will provide ABI members with the latest information and the results of the session. This is an excellent opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions of the public policy staff. If you would like to RSVP, please contact Michelle Vollstedt at  mvollstedt@iowaabi.org  or 515-235-0561.

On occasion ABI files amicus curiae, or "friend of the court" briefs, on legal cases that could have outcomes that have a big impact on business. ABI recently joined the Iowa Defense Counsel Association and the Iowa Insurance Institute to ensure the voice of business is heard in a district court appeal in Poweshiek County dealing with the important issue of the use of certain prohibited approaches to a jury by plaintiff attorneys--otherwise known as the "golden rule prohibition." The brief seeks to point out the impacts of violations of the use of emotional appeals to juries not grounded in evidence and the importance of preserving the prohibition on the golden rule approach by plaintiff attorneys to help ensure fair jury trials. Keep reading.

Contribute to IIPAC Before 2018 Conference

The 87th General Assembly has adjourned, and policymakers have gone back to their districts to begin campaigning for the fall elections. Numerous pro-jobs legislators have decided to retire, which means we will see several new faces at the Capitol next year. To continue the business community's success into the 88th General Assembly, we need your support to make sure we can help get pro-jobs candidates elected to the Legislature.  There isn't a better time to contribute than now, as those who contribute at least $100 by May 24 will be recognized at our annual Taking Care of Business conference in Coralville in June.  We're asking for your support, and you can make your personal contribution by clicking  here .  

Primaries Matter--Educate Employees

Although the general election isn't until November, many Iowans have the opportunity to vote for candidates in gubernatorial, congressional and legislative primaries. Iowa has a closed primary, where an individual must be registered with a party to vote in the primary. Iowa Democrats have competitive primaries in the gubernatorial and First and Third District Congressional races. Receiving less attention, but still important, Democrats, Libertarians and Republicans have primaries in some open seat legislative races across the state. Early and absentee voting is now open for the Tuesday, June 5 primary. If you plan to vote in the primary and also attend the ABI conference in Coralville, make sure to vote before you arrive! Also, don't forget to educate your employees and peers about the importance of voting. ABI has a Primaries Matter toolkit produced by BIPAC on the iavotes.com website.  Click here  to see the toolkit and get information you can share on social media and your internal employee portals.