2020 Iowa Business Day on the Hill Successful!
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ABI members and members of affiliated organizations had the opportunity to hear from legislative leaders and lobby their own legislators on key business issues during our annual Iowa Business Day on the Hill. The event, which took place yesterday, was a success with a good turnout from each participating organization. This year, ABI had the privilege of partnering with the Iowa Taxpayers Association, the Iowa Business Council, the Iowa Chamber Alliance, the Iowa Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Participants heard from Senate Ways & Means Chairman Jake Chapman in the morning. Those who attended the luncheon had the opportunity to hear from and talk with Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Speaker of the House Pat Grassley. Thanks to everyone who participated for making the 2020 Iowa Business Day on the Hill great!
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Second Funnel is Next Friday; House Passes Employer Protections for Marijuana Usage
The Iowa Legislature has completed week 9 of the 2020 legislative session. With that being said, the second self-imposed legislative deadline for the session is next week. A bill, with some exceptions, must have passed through one full chamber and out of a full committee in the other chamber to be considered eligible for the rest of the year. A number of key bills were debated this week, and one of those bills was
HF2589
.
The bill expands the medical cannabidiol program by eliminating the THC cap, adding conditions for which one may use medical cannabidiol,
allowing health care practitioners to prescribe a medical cannabidiol care and allows a patient to have 4.5 grams of THC over a 90-day period with some exceptions. The bill also includes strong employer protections for marijuana usage in the workplace. These added protections ensure that companies may maintain drug-free workplaces. This is something ABI worked hard and educated legislators as to why it was necessary to include in the bill. The House passed the bill late Wednesday night 52-48. It now heads to the Senate.
Three Finalists Announced for Iowa Supreme Court Seat
Last Friday, the Judicial Nominating Commission nominated three individuals to interview before Gov. Reynolds for the opportunity to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court. There will soon be a vacancy as Justice David Wiggins will retire from the bench in the next few weeks. The first finalist was Matt McDermott, who was a finalist for the previous vacancy. McDermott is an attorney at Belin McCormick, P.C. in Des Moines. Judge David May, who is an Iowa Court of Appeals judge from Polk City, was the second finalist. The third finalist was Mary Chicchelly, a District Court Judge out of the Sixth Judicial District in Cedar Rapids. Gov. Reynolds will name the new justice in the near future. This will be her fourth appointment to the High Court during her tenure as governor.
Legislative Update Call Tomorrow
The latest legislative teleconference call will be held tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. JD Davis and Brad Hartkopf of the public policy team will lead the call. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about ABI’s progress on key business bills at the Capitol and ask questions. If you’d like to RSVP, please contact
Michelle Vollstedt
. The call is for ABI members only.
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Coronavirus Resources for Employers
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ABI members, as are people everywhere, are dealing with the outbreak of the respiratory illness known as coronavirus, or COVID-19. ABI's
coronavirus resources
webpage provides basic information from the Centers for Disease Control, along with national and state resources, that may be helpful to you and your company.
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Iowa manufacturers are concerned about supply disruptions due to coronavirus, according to the results of the latest ABI Quarterly Iowa Business Survey. “Uncertainty is never good for business, and members are concerned about the unknown,” said ABI President Mike Ralston. “It’s not clear whether this will be a short-term or a long-term issue.” That uncertainty was reflected in the survey results. Members projected decreased sales, hiring and capital expenditures for the second quarter (April-June). Read the
full news release
.
Media cover highlights:
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Kim Grzywacz, CTIS
CIT Signature Transportation
My husband is always telling me I am trying to put 14 oz. in a 12 oz. cup. I find this statement to be a challenge. So, do I reduce the amount I am pouring? Heck no! I just prove him wrong!
How do I prove him wrong? I use a straw and take sips while pouring.
First Sip: Planning
Have in your head how your day is going to go. Important tasks get a time slot. Figure out how much time they are going to take and stick to that schedule. Plan time for interruptions – but don’t accept all interruptions. There are those that are important and those that can wait. Be discerning. But failing to plan for interruptions is like failing to put the straw in the cup. You are just asking for trouble.
Read more
.
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UNI’s Family Business Forum Breakfast Series Continues in March
The University of Northern Iowa’s
2020 Family Business Breakfast Series
continues in the Des Moines area on March 27, with Bob Vermeer and Mary Andringa from Vermeer Corp. and Jim Mudd, Jr. from Mudd Advertising joining the UNI family business staff for “Succession Planning Today, Tomorrow and Beyond.” The forum will take place on March 27 at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston.
The panelists will discuss succession between a parent and child, succession between siblings and all elements that need to be part of the family discussion that will impact today, tomorrow and the future of family businesses.
Learn more and register
.
Finalists Announced for the 2020 Prometheus Awards Presented by LWBJ
The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2020 Prometheus Awards presented by LWBJ. The most prestigious recognition for Iowa’s technology industry, The Prometheus Awards acknowledge individuals and companies impacting Iowa’s over $10 billion technology industry. This year’s finalists epitomize great talent, solidifying Iowa’s reputation as a technology state. See the
list of finalists
.
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