Legislators Pass Vaccine Mandate Bill |
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In addition to addressing redistricting during the second special session this week, Iowa lawmakers passed a bill in response to the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for businesses with more than 100 employees, businesses that are federal contractors, and businesses that receive federal reimbursements for health care services.
Under the bill passed (HF 902) Thursday, employees can request a religious exemption from an employer vaccine requirement or a medical exemption from a vaccine requirement by filing a statement that they believe a vaccination could cause them harm. Iowans who are discharged from employment for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine would be eligible to collect unemployment benefits from the state's employer-funded unemployment trust fund.
ABI was the only business organization opposed to the bill and stood up to protect private business interests. The association believes it will put Iowa employers in conflict with federal guidelines and penalties. Businesses will be subject to financial liability under Iowa’s unemployment system. Regardless of an individual company’s compliance with the new state law, all employers will be exposed to increased unemployment tax levies to keep the unemployment trust fund solvent should a large number of claims be filed by workers made newly eligible for benefits under the bill.
Currently, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing this vaccine mandate rule for private sector employers with 100 or more employees. ABI has spoken out against these mandates and communicated our position with Iowa’s delegation in Washington, D.C., the Governor’s office and leaders of the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. All parties were united in opposition to this mandate and all parties hoped to fight it together in legal action. With today’s action, ABI will work to provide help to members on a least-risk compliance path for the conflicting state and federal policies.
This state legislation applies to employers of all sizes and Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to sign it.
Read ABI's press release here.
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Iowa Legislature Approves New Maps for Redistricting |
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On Thursday October 28, 2021, the Iowa Legislature met in a second special legislative session to consider new district maps for the U.S. House, Iowa Senate and Iowa House. On this second attempt the Legislature approved maps developed by a non-partisan legislative agency as outlined in state law. The Iowa Senate passed the redistricting maps on a 48-1 vote. The Iowa House voted 93-2 to approve the maps.
Majority Republicans in the Iowa Senate rejected the first set of maps asking the nonpartisan agency to make another attempt while paying closer attention to the compactness of districts and the population disparity between districts. Both measures were improved to the satisfaction of legislators and districts have now been established for elections that will occur beginning in 2022.
As is the case every ten years this process is undertaken, some new districts without current representation are created and some districts will have more than one incumbent. Over time this will sort itself out as some current members retire, move or seek other offices.
READ MORE:
Des Moines Register: Iowa lawmakers accept second redistricting plan, setting up next decade of politics
Radio Iowa: Iowa Senate votes 48-1 in favor of redistricting Plan 2
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Iowa’s Unemployment Rate is Good News for Employers and Workforce |
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Iowa employers added 6,000 jobs in September 2021, rebounding from a contraction of 3,700 jobs in August. This drove the estimate of unemployed Iowans down to 66,100 in September from 68,000 in August.
Workforce participation in Iowa also climbed in September to 1,594,400, which is 1,900 more than a month ago and 37,600 more than a year ago. In more good news, only 7,176 Iowans lost employment and made initial claims for unemployment benefits in September. This is the second lowest number of initial unemployment claims made in Iowa in 20 years. More details from the Iowa Department of Workforce Development are available here.
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ABI Leaders Addresses Policy Issues in D.C. |
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A group of ABI leaders were in Washington, DC this week meeting with members of the Iowa delegation to speak about pressing issues for Iowa business including workforce, supply chain, inflation, the pending bipartisan infrastructure bill and potential new harmful federal business taxes. ABI members went five for six, meeting with all members of the delegation personally save for Congresswoman Cindy Axne who was in committee hearings.
ABI leaders also held meetings with the association’s federal partner organizations, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and BIPAC to coordinate stateside advocacy for shared positions on issues before Congress.
This was a high-value trip for members and more importantly, we believe provided great insight from Iowa employers to our federal delegation.
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Same Story - Different Day
An Update on the Build Back Better Plan
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For weeks, the Biden Administration and the Democratic Congress have been searching for a consensus on a massive human infrastructure bill that would create and expand entitlement programs funded by taxes targeted at corporations and wealthy individuals. Support in the Democratic Congress for the measure has been soft. To increase support, progressives in Congress have tied their support for a popular bipartisan infrastructure bill to the passage of the social spending bill. Deadlines for compromise on the measure have come and gone in the past weeks and it appears that deadlines this week have passed as well.
ABI members support the bipartisan infrastructure bill with funding for broadband, water systems, electric grid, rail and airports and roads and bridges. A real deadline looms to get this bill passed because without it federally funded road projects will come to a halt after an October 31, 2021 deadline.
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Click on the company names to learn more about the newest ABI members.
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Creators Wanted is Coming to Pella! |
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Celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) Nov. 15-21, 2021. Registered Apprenticeship continues to grow in Iowa to address critical workforce challenges and expand opportunities for rewarding careers. Thank you to the nearly 2,000 employers across Iowa demonstrating that this proven, industry-driven model works. That includes adding a record-breaking 181 new programs and 51 new occupations in the past year. If you are a participating business, please consider highlighting your involvement in Registered Apprenticeship on social media during NAW: #NAW2021. If your company wants to explore starting a program, contact Kris Byam at Iowa Workforce Development: kristopher.byam@iwd.iowa.gov. |
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Make Your Voice Heard by Voting November 2
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate
You might be surprised to learn that the upcoming city-school election may have a bigger impact on your daily life than who is elected president, senator, or governor. While races for those higher offices receive greater attention, the locally elected officials play a more direct and immediate role in your community.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can exercise your civic duty on November 2.
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Click on the headlines to learn about the latest ABI member news
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Free Employment Law Seminar
November 18, 2021
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November 18th, join ABI Advisory Council Member BrownWinick Law Firm for their 2021 Employment Law Seminar. Explore workplace topics you face on a daily basis with a special emphasis on trending topics like challenges associated with the pandemic.
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TOP SUPPORTERS - GOVERNOR |
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