Week 5-February 6-10

The legislature is continuing to move big bills through the process. This week, the medical malpractice tort reform bill passed the Senate and the House and is headed to the Governor to be signed. The caps in the bill were amended slightly from the original $1 million cap on non-economic damages. As it passed the chambers this week, the caps are $1 million if the lawsuit is against a doctor and $2 million if the suit is against a hospital. Read more about the bill here.

The Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) department bill that was discussed last week passed House Ag committee and is now floor debate eligible. The same bill passed Senate subcommittee this week.

IIC bill declarations

This list is the positions IIC has taken on various bills at the statehouse following our Policy Resolutions voted on at the 2022 annual meeting.

HF 131 (Formerly HSB 35) & SSB 1099 Credit Union updates- FOR

This bill makes updates to credit union regulations in Iowa including allowing credit union boards to compensate directors. Right now, credit unions are the only cooperative that is expressly prohibited from compensating directors. HF 131 passed Commerce committee, now eligible for floor debate. SSB 1099 passed subcommittee.

HF 206 (Formerly HSB 67) Aboveground storage tanks property tax- FOR

Expressly states aboveground flammable or combustible liquid storage tanks of any size are not assessed or taxed as real property. Passed House Ways and Means committee.

SSB 1107 Raw Milk- AGAINST

Allows for on farm sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products. Passed subcommittee, now in Senate State Government committee.

HF 201 (formerly HSB 114) & SF 228 (formerly SSB 1114) Trucker tort reform- FOR

Caps recovery for non-economic damages at $1 million. HF 201 & SF 228 eligible for floor debate.

HSB 113 & SSB 1115 IDALS Department bill- FOR

Allows state licensed warehouses to issue warehouse receipts on open storage grain only if requested by depositor. Federal warehouses already have this. Amended to allow credit sale contracts to be written for 15 months rather than 12. HSB 113 passed House Ag committee. SSB 1115 passed subcommittee.