WEEK 7: 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
State Update

CENTRAL FILING/AG LIENS: SSB 1151/HSB 130- OPPOSE
  • SSB 1151 moved out of the Senate State Government Committee Wednesday
  • Central Filing passed on a vote of 10 (yes) to 5 (no-- Senators supporting farmers: Bisignano, Boulton, Celsi, Jochum and Goodwin)
  • An amendment was adopted that takes out grain lien language and moves the effective date to July of 2022, as requested by the Secretary of State's office (detail on amendment at the bottom of this section)

Where is this bill at in the legislative process?
  • We are on step 6 of 10-- click on the button below to see next steps in the process
  • There is a long way to go before this bill is passed by both chambers and sent to the Governor, but we are taking nothing for granted
  • This central filing legislation was introduced by the Iowa Bankers Assn and Wells Fargo
  • Bank lobbyists are saying they cannot send paper notices to all possible buyers because farmers can load a semi and deliver anywhere and they don't know where to send paper notices
  • We have proposed amending Iowa law to allow for electronic communication (e-mail) via direct notice AND set in place a specified location/e-mail address for each entity receiving notices
  • We know lenders can deliver notices to any office/location of the buying entity
  • This bill includes ALL farm products (livestock, would require local sale barns, meat processors, grain buyers, grocers, etc. to check an Iowa based central filing system for each farmer payment

Thank you to members who have continued working on this bill.
Your communications are clearly effective. We continue to hear this is a bank vs. co-op issue, when we know that this negatively impacts farmers and buyers of farm products, not just cooperatives.

Watch comments from the Senate State Govt Committee, including Senator Jason Schultz (R- Schleswig) talking about co-ops.
FYI: Iowa code definition of Farm Products from section 554.9102
BROADBAND GRANT PROGRAM: HSB 133/SF 390- SUPPORT: Passed out of Senate committee, delayed in House IT Committee-- amendment expected
  • The Governor's broadband bill provides a tiered approach to grant funding based on current broadband access/capabilities and has speed requirements
  • Raises minimum speeds for buildout to 100 by 100
  • Increases state match to 75% (tier 1: 1-24 megabits per second download/1-2 mbps upload), 50% (tier 2: 25-49 mbps down/3 up), and 35% (tier 3: 50-80 mbps down/no upload requirement)

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT: HF460/SSB 1088- SUPPORT: Amendment introduced
  • Would allow RECs to trim and cut trees near powerlines to provide reliable service

PRIZE-LINKED SAVINGS:HF 359/SF 86- SUPPORT: Amendments introduced
  •  Allows awards incentivizing and gamifying savings for Iowans at all lending institutions

THE GOVERNOR'S RENEWABLE FUEL BILL: HSB 185/SSB 1179- MONITORING: Passed out of Senate Committee
  • Thank you to Jake Swanson, in the Governor's office, for having an open door for discussions
  • This appears to be a work in progress, especially on the House side
Our legislative YouTube videos can be found HERE.

Find your state legislators HERE.
Want to reach your federal legislators?
D.C. office numbers below: 
Sen. Chuck Grassley: 202-224-4120
Sen. Joni Ernst: 202-224-3254
Rep. Ashley Hinson: 202-225-2911
Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks: 202-225-6576
Rep. Cindy Axne: 202-225-5476
Rep. Randy Feenstra: 202-225-4426
STAY CONNECTED WITH IIC THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
Katie P. Hall
Director of Government Affairs
khall@iowainstitute.coop
C: 712-269-9838