Week 7 of the Iowa Legislature |
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The Iowa Legislature had very few committee meetings this week, but moved several bills off the floors of the Senate and House as policymakers look to keep bills moving through the legislative process. One key item: The Iowa Senate and House both passed tax reform legislation this week. The bill has been sent to the Governor’s desk..
In order to clear a second funnel, a bill must pass one chamber and a committee in another chamber. That means legislators will spend the next few weeks working to get support for their proposals and moving them through the process. The deadline for the second funnel is March 18. ABI’s public policy team continues to track several bills that affect ABI members and are advancing through the legislative process. Some key bills that passed this week are outlined below.
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Tax Reform Bill Awaits Governor’s Approval |
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In a fast-moving agreement between Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Iowa House and Iowa Senate, lawmakers took legislative action on a sweeping tax reduction and reform proposal. With the Senate acting first, HF 2317 (as amended by S-5022) passed 32-16 and the House agreed to the bill with a vote of 61-34 Thursday evening. After the bill passed the Legislature, the Governor issued a statement applauding the efforts of the Legislature. The bill creates a 3.9% personal income flat tax, eliminates taxes on retirement income and removes capital gains taxes from ESOP holdings. Additional changes to cash rent income for retired farmers and capital gains on the sale of farmland were also included. In addition to the tax reductions and tax exemptions, changes were also made to the Research and Activities Credit that will limit the credit by disallowing materials used in research and reducing the refundability of the credit to 50%.
Click here to read a division by division description of the bill.
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HF2411 - Replacements of Permanent Prosthetic Devices Bill
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Legislators in the Iowa House unanimously passed a bill this week that would require workers’ compensation to cover multiple permanent prosthetic replacements for an injury that occurred while they were employed by the employer if the replacement is deemed reasonable medical care under workers’ compensation. The House Commerce Committee had advanced the bill before last week’s deadline.
ABI Position: Against
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Changes to DNR Permitting Notification Passes Iowa Senate |
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Public notice provisions for general permit activities from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would change under SF2311. The bill passed the Senate 36-13 this week and allows DNR to provide the notice of intent electronically as opposed to a newspaper publication with the largest circulation where the facility is located.
Additionally, the bill would also remove a current requirement that an application be written for projects relating to erecting, constructing, using, or maintaining a structure, dam, obstruction, deposit or excavation in or on any floodway or floodplains, as well as on a navigable or meandered stream.
ABI Position: Undecided
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The full Iowa Senate passed SF 2268 this week with a 32-18 vote. The bill would allow the Iowa Department of Human Services to change its rules to allow child care centers to have one child care worker for every seven children two years old. For children who are three years old, the bill’s language also allows one child care worker for every 10 children.
The bill has not passed the full Iowa House, but did advance the House Human Resources Committee. Exploring child care staff ratios was recommended by the Governor’s Child Care Task Force.
ABI Position: For
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DNR Seeks Comments on Draft Impaired Waters List |
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants to hear from the public on its new draft list of impaired waters. This draft is required by the Clean Water Act and outlines the surface waters that need a water quality improvement plan because they do not meet all standards.
The Iowa DNR studied 1,382 water segments. 594 segments are characterized as impaired because they did not entirely meet one or more of the water quality standards. In addition, 15 segments fully met the water quality standards for their intended use, 321 segments did not have an impairment and 295 segments need further investigation.
Public comments can be submitted by email to ircomment@dnr.iowa.gov or by postal mail to Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Attn: Impaired Waters/Segment List Water Quality Monitoring & Assessment Section Wallace State Office Building 502 E. Ninth St. Des Moines, IA 50319.
ABI members with questions can contact ABI Director of Public Policy Brad Hartkopf.
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ABI Day on the Hill - Last Chance to Register! |
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The annual Day on the Hill is on Tuesday, March 8. The event, which begins with a legislative update by ABI’s public policy team and includes remarks from State Sen. Dan Dawson (R-Council Bluffs), is a key opportunity for you to hear legislative updates and connect with your elected officials.
The event started almost 15 years ago when ABI members were working to defend Iowa’s Right-to-Work law and employer direction of care in workers’ compensation. For the last several years, ABI members have had the opportunity to have a proactive agenda and talk to legislators about the importance of advancing key legislation. We hope you will take this opportunity to register today and join ABI and other members for a morning of legislative updates and advocacy.
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Candidate Filing Period Opens Monday |
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The filing period for candidates for statewide and legislative races opens Monday, Feb 28. Interested individuals have until Friday, March 18 at 5:00 pm to file their nomination papers and affidavit of candidates with the Iowa Secretary of State to appear on the primary election ballot. For more information about the process, click here.
The primaries will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 and only individuals who have registered to vote as a Democrat or Republican will be allowed to participate in their respective party’s primary. If you need to update your voter registration, now is a great time to do so! Not sure where you’re registered to vote, or if you’re registered to vote? Check out the SOS site to find out.
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Federal Spotlight: Gov. Kim Reynolds Set to Deliver GOP Response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address |
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican Address to the Nation in response to President Biden’s State of the Union address scheduled on Tuesday, March 1. Gov. Reynolds will deliver the GOP response from Iowa and her speech will likely address Iowa’s economy, education and her legislative priorities. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) praised Gov. Reynolds for her leadership of Iowans in their announcement, citing Iowa’s economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.
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Crain Attends Coalition for Women in Industry Meeting |
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Earlier this week, ABI Executive Vice President Nicole Crain attended the Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Coalition for Women in Industry meeting in Chicago. While there, Crain had the opportunity to meet with other leaders from around the country about issues from barriers to employment to recruitment of workers and increasing the number of women in manufacturing careers. Crain was able to share with other attendees some of the best practices ABI members have implemented, including the establishment of Elevate Advanced Manufacturing and the association’s support of state workforce initiatives. For more information about Women in Manufacturing, contact Nicole.
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Watch: Weekly Business Report with Tim Gould
and Brad Hartkopf
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Tim Gould, Director of Field Advocacy for the Great Lakes & Upper Midwest Regions for the National Association of Manufacturers, and Brad Hartkopf, Director of Public Policy for ABI, discuss latest policy issues affecting manufacturers. |
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Foundation: Nominations for Leadership Iowa 2022-23
due by April 1
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Nominations for Leadership Iowa 2022-23 are due by April 1 this year! Consider those leaders in your life who would benefit from the Leadership Iowa experience and be sure to nominate them today. Self-nominations are also encouraged.
Leadership Iowa looks for the best mix of qualified candidates for selection from diverse occupations, backgrounds, and industries – and most importantly, from all corners of the state.
Nominate yourself or others by April 1 here.
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Is This Your Situation: Keeping Track of Inventory
Let’s start with the basics of the processes in a manufacturing setting. Whether your company is building something large, such as a car, or something small, such as a toy car, every piece of material needed to make these items must be accounted for, as do the hours it takes to build the product.
To track a car’s specifications, sales orders or work orders must to be made. Different stages of production may go into each product, which also need to be monitored. Inventory may need to be tracked at a raw material and at a finished goods level. No matter the scenario, getting a handle on inventory will enable you to have a true picture of your financials.
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Click on the headlines to learn about the latest ABI member news. |
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