April 25, 2019
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Legislature Pushes to Adjournment
The Iowa Legislature is still in session. Members of the House and Senate have been working many late hours this week to adjourn earlier than May 3, the 110th day of the session, which is when the legislators' per diem expenses will end.

On Tuesday, the Iowa House debated six of the 10 budget bills. In addition to the budget bills, the Legislature has come to agreements on tax policy and has advanced bouncing policy bills.

In other news at the Capitol this week, Rep. Andy McKean (R-Anamosa) announced he was leaving the Republican Party and will now caucus with the Democrats. Following the move, the GOP will maintain its majority in the House 53-47.  Read more .

As soon as the Legislature adjourns for the year, whether it's this weekend or next week, ABI will email a sine die newsletter to give you the most updated information at the end of session.

ABI President Advocates for Free Trade
ABI President Mike Ralston on Wednesday participated in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Senator Ernst, farmers, and business and manufacturing leaders about the importance of free trade to Iowa’s economy.
Empower Rural Iowa Legislation Heads to Governor
Earlier this month, ABI’s  Business Record Iowa  highlighted the leadership and efforts of Gov. Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Gregg of their Empower Rural Iowa initiative and the task forces they appointed to make recommendations to increase vitality and opportunities in rural Iowa. On Tuesday, the House acted upon the task force recommendations by passing the Empower Rural Iowa Act 97-0. Read more .

Local Government Property Tax Transparency Passes Legislature
The Iowa Senate on Wednesday debated  SF 634 , which prescribes the process a local government must follow when increasing property taxes. The bill passed on a bipartisan 33 to 17 vote as Sen. Bisignano (D-Des Moines) joined the Republicans in supporting the bill. The House debated the legislation late Wednesday into Thursday morning. The bill passed the House on a party-line vote. Read more .

$13 Million for Last Dollar Scholarships; $1.2 Million for Employer Innovation Fund
The House and Senate agreed on final budget numbers and policy language for the overall budget last week. This week, key budgets ABI followed for Future Ready Iowa were finalized. First, the Education Appropriations bill includes a little more than $13 million for Future Ready Iowa’s Last-Dollar Scholarship program. The agreed to language that was adopted by both the House and Senate is found in amendment  H-1288  to  HF 758 Read more .

Sports Betting Heads to Governor’s Desk
On Monday evening, the House passed  SF 617 , which legalizes betting on sporting events and fantasy sports in the state of Iowa. The Senate passed the bill last Wednesday, which means the legislation now heads to Gov. Reynolds for her consideration. The vote in both the House and Senate was bipartisan with several Republicans and Democrats voting for and against the bill. Read more .

DNR Workshop: EPA Regional Priorities, Pretreatment Requirements and New Pharmaceutical & Aerosol Rules
The DNR invites ABI members to attend the Iowa Strategic Goals Program one-day workshop on May 1, 2019. EPA Regional Administrator Jim Gulliford will discuss the EPA’s environmental priorities. According to the DNR, an environmental specialist will discuss and answer your questions about the pre-treatment requirements for industry and how to comply. Read more .
ABI UPDATE
Nominate a Leader for the ABI Foundation's Leadership Program
Now is the time to nominate for the upcoming class of Leadership Iowa. Consider nominating the leaders in your life for an outstanding experience in Iowa's premier statewide issues-awareness program. Don't wait–nominations must be made by this coming Wednesday, May 1, to qualify for the '19-'20 program year. Learn more about Leadership Iowa and nominate others (or yourself!) today at  www.LeadershipIowa.com .
FROM THE DESK OF...
The 8 Most Essential People to Help Sell Your Business
Mark K. Phillips
Cash Management Services Manager
Bank Iowa

Setting a course for the future of your business is a team sport. While many of the decisions you’ll have to make will be deeply personal, a trusted crew of advisors can help you make them more confidently.

So, who are the people you need around the table? Identifying them by name comes later. Let’s start by pinpointing their areas of expertise.

Keep in mind every sale is different and may require unique or specialized expertise. From a generational hand-over to a strategic buy from a competitor, there are literally hundreds of forms a sale can take. That said, these eight experts are foundational to a successful transition and should be involved whenever possible.  Read more .
MEMBER NEWS
Iowa Property Tax Appeal Appeal Deadline Alert
The staff at JM Tax Advocates wants to remind ABI members that most Iowa counties require real estate property tax assessment appeal filings by April 30, 2019. If you’ve seen a property tax bill recently for your business, you might have wondered if your taxes are too high. Your business sense may be right on point. According to JM Tax Advocates staff, 80% of the time, their clients’ property tax bills are inaccurate—some by as much as 50%. Contact Nick Rhoad for more information.

One More Customer Business Roundtable is May 2 in Des Moines
Join business leaders at the One More Customer business roundtable, May 2, 8:30-9:45 a.m., at Freedom Blend Coffee, 2329 Hickman Road, in Des Moines. The event will include networking, a webcast interview with NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton and NBA Champion Kevin Willis, and live coaching on creating and sustaining peak performance. Register by contacting Terry Ebke at 515-371-8606 or terryebke@msn.com .

Cybersecurity Conference is May 7-8 in West Des Moines
CyberCon IV, powered by the Iowa Communications Alliance and Aureon, will be held at the Sheraton in West Des Moines on May 7-8. The three general sessions will cover the FBI's current Cyber Task Force, Social Engineering, and Cybersecurity Threats and the Dark Web. Registration is just $179. Learn more and register .

Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm and Four Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2019
Four lawyers from Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., a Des Moines-based law firm, were recently selected for inclusion in the Chambers USA   2019 edition. The firm was also recognized in the practice areas of Labor & Employment and Litigation: General Commercial. Since 1990, Chambers USA ranks the leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas throughout America and globally. Read the full news release .

HealthPartners UnityPoint Health to Host Purchaser Symposium
Join HealthPartners UnityPoint Health for the 2019 Purchaser Symposium in Sioux City, May 9, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Their staff enjoys bringing businesses and communities together with integrated care and coverage solutions that deliver a great experience at the lowest total cost. Learn more and register .

NIACC Pappajohn Center to Host Youth Entrepreneurial Academy in June
The North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center will again be conducting the Youth Entrepreneurial Academy on June 10-14, 2019. The academy is designed to help students launch their own businesses with a chance to earn seed money using a curriculum called Lean Canvas. Read the full news release .

Greater Iowa Apartment Association Recognizes R&R Apartments in Six Categories
R&R Realty Group's apartment teams took home awards in six categories at the 2019 Pinnacle of Excellence Awards in March. Held each year by the Greater Iowa Apartment Association (GIAA), the Pinnacle Awards recognize people and communities that display excellence in the world of multifamily living. See the categories and winners .
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