Public Policy Regional Meetings Have Kicked Off |
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The ABI public policy team hit the road this week as regional meetings were held in Council Bluffs and Sioux City on Wednesday and Thursday. JD Davis and Brad Hartkopf gave a breakdown of the 2021 legislative session from the business community’s perspective and also delivered an analysis of the state and federal political landscapes. Attendees had the opportunity to provide feedback on issues they would like to see the Iowa Legislature address in 2022. The next regional meeting will be in Des Moines on Wednesday, June 30th. We’ll also be in Ottumwa on Thursday, July 15th. ABI would like to thank the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce and the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce for co-hosting the meetings this week.
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IN AUGUST: The subject-matter committees that are responsible for formally developing policy priorities in the areas of economic growth, employment and workforce, environment, tax and workplace and product safety will meet in less than two months. These meetings will once again be held in person at the ABI offices in Des Moines.
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Governor Establishes Carbon Sequestration Task Force |
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On Tuesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order to create a carbon sequestration task force. This task force is designed to explore economic development opportunities within the subject. The establishment of the task force follows through on a recommendation made by the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board. The task force will be composed of leaders in both the public and private sectors including a number of individuals from ABI member companies and will be bringing forward recommendations for the Governor and Legislature to consider in 2022. The Iowa Economic Development Authority will be sending out a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant team that will work in tandem with the task force. If you would like to serve on an Agriculture or Energy Work Group, click here.
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Grassley Town Meetings Coming Up Next Week |
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Senator Charles Grassley will be hosting three town meetings next week. He will be in:
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Kossuth County on Tuesday, June 29th
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Ida County on Wednesday, June 30th
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Calhoun County on Thursday, July 1
Senator Grassley has already held Q&A sessions in 71 of Iowa’s 99 counties this year. He has visited all 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980. You can find more information here.
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Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Air Quality Rule Changes |
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The Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) recently approved air quality rulemaking related to adopting amendments of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods for measuring air pollutant emissions (stack testing and continuous monitoring). The proposed rule changes also adopt updated federal new source performance standards (NSPS) and air toxics standards, also known as National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).
To review the proposed rulemaking and learn how to provide written comments or participate in the public hearing on Monday, July 19, 2021, at 1:00 pm, please go to Public Participation, scroll down to the Public Input section, and select Rulemaking Available for Public Comment. Contact Christine Paulson if you have any questions.
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Update on Supreme Court decision on Waterloo “Ban the Box” Decision |
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On Friday, June 18, 2021, the Iowa Supreme Court released their decision on the ongoing lawsuit brought by ABI in reaction to a City of Waterloo municipal ordinance that sought to prevent employers from asking job applicants about their criminal history in job applications. The ordinance went even further by placing restrictions on how an employer awards jobs amongst similarly qualified applicants if the only distinction is their criminal history and other issues at the time of job offer.
The court sided with ABI on all arguments except the timing of when criminal history inquiries could be made. The court’s reasoning was that such an inquiry did not constitute a business practice as described by the 2017 law that prevents local governments from passing ordinances affecting such practices.
ABI will be seeking legislative clarification that it was the Iowa Legislature’s intent that business practices include the hiring practices. The full Supreme Court decision is here.
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Marketable Foods for Human Consumption Department of Revenue Administrative Rule Update |
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ABI, on behalf of members in the food processing business, is working to clarify a proposed Iowa Department of Revenue rulemaking that seeks to describe the application of a sales tax exemption available to producers of marketable foods for human consumption. This law allowing the exemption passed in 1985 and neither the Department nor the legislature have placed these limitations in rule or law. Affected taxpayers believe that the Department’s proposed rule limits the exemption beyond the current practice and would disallow the exemption in some ways that the Department has already allowed in settlement proceedings with affected taxpayers.
ABI staff met with the Department and representatives of the Governor’s office. The parties will now work to introduce legislative language in the 2022 session that reflects the taxpayers’ perspectives of the proper application of the 1985 law. Staff will also be working with the Administrative Rules Review Committee to ensure that their process will allow for consideration of the legislative approach in 2022. If your business uses the marketable foods exemption, we would like to hear from you. Please contact JD Davis.
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State Unemployment Rate Slightly Increases; Labor Force Participation Up |
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Iowa’s unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9% for the month of May. It was previously 3.8% in April. However, Iowa’s labor force participation rate went from 66.1% to 66.4%. The number of Iowans in the workforce also increased by 6,300 and the overall number of working Iowans was 1,584,000 for May. The state’s unemployment rate still remains well below the U.S. unemployment rate, which is 5.8%.
You can read more from Iowa Workforce Development’s news release.
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Advanced Manufacturing Conference Workshop Proposals Due June 30 |
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Share your manufacturing expertise at the September 29th 2021 Advanced Manufacturing Conference. ABI is accepting speaker proposals through June 30. Email Holly Mueggenberg
for a proposal form.
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CEO FORUM REGISTRATION OPEN NOW! |
Registration is now open for the ABI CEO Forum in Okoboji on July 29 & 30.
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Your employees, their families and broader community members can benefit greatly from the ABI Foundation programs that cultivate Iowans as enthusiastic citizens, engaged workers and inspired leaders. Share in your employee and company communication about Business Horizons! With only a few more weeks to sign-up, Iowa high school students can experience how their strengths and skills connect to their future careers as they team up to create a solution to a real-world problem during this year’s program.
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New EEOC Guidance on Vaccinations |
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By Danielle "Dani" Smid - Attorney, BrownWinick Law Firm
As Americans continue to be vaccinated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to CDC recommendations, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) updated its COVID-19 guidance on May 28, 2021 regarding employers and COVID-19 vaccines. The update is in the form of Q&A’s relating to mandatory vaccination policies, accommodation, confidentiality, and incentives.
CLICK HERE to read about the key takeaways from this latest EEOC guidance.
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Click on the headlines to learn about the latest ABI member news
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20% Off HR Manual Through BuyABI
BuyABI partner hrsimple.com recently released the 2021 Iowa Human Resources Manual. This employment law publication guides you through COVID-19 in the workplace, employee documentation, how to manage the hiring/firing/discipline process lawfully, and much more.
20% off your Iowa Human Resources Manual.
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WiM SUMMIT -
Early Bird Pricing
Women in Manufacturing's 11th annual SUMMIT will be held October 4 – 6, 2021 as a hybrid conference with a virtual experience and in-person sessions at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown in Cleveland, OH.
Take advantage of early bird pricing and have your top pick of optional activities when you register before July 1! CLICK HERE to register.
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Free Tri-State Career Fair
June 29 - Tyson Events Center, Sioux City
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The Siouxland Initiative, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, Powell Broadcasting and Tyson Events Center have teamed up to make the Tri-State Career Fair and Community Celebration FREE to Siouxland area employers. The career fair will take place Tuesday June 29th from 11am – 6pm at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City.
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