Iowa GOP touts legislative victories; Democrats decry ‘culture wars’ – Iowa Capital Dispatch

Republican legislative leaders cheered the accomplishments of the 2022 legislative session, which ended early Wednesday and included main tax cuts and the fruits of years of labor on points starting from the bottle invoice to biofuels.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, in an announcement early Wednesday, applauded the approval of a lot of her priorities. “This legislative session, I charged the Home and Senate to work collectively to additional advance Iowa’s robust progress by way of insurance policies that minimize taxes, spend money on biofuels and strengthen our households, communities, colleges, workforce and economic system. I’m proud that our state is main the nation in lots of of those areas and delivering on the guarantees we made to the individuals of Iowa.”

Senate Majority Chief Jack Whitver, assembly with reporters early Wednesday, previewed the GOP message to Iowa voters.

“Yeah, I feel the pitch goes to be that during the last two years, it’s been a really troublesome time for us to steer or anyone to steer on this very unsure, unsure surroundings that all of us must reside in proper now,” Whitver, R-Ankeny, mentioned. “However at each flip, we’ve had Iowans’ again, whether or not it’s getting our youngsters again at school, whether or not it’s supporting our police, whether or not it’s addressing the masks state of affairs in colleges, simply time and time once more, we’re making an attempt to have Iowans’ again and we’re making an attempt to place our belief in Iowans, whether or not it’s opening up the economic system or trusting mother and father … with their youngsters.”

Home Speaker Pat Grassley mentioned the “crown jewel” of the session was the tax minimize that Reynolds signed into legislation on March 1. The invoice, when absolutely carried out, will create a single 3.9% earnings tax price, scale back company taxes and get rid of the state tax on retirement earnings.

“With inflation at a document excessive and prices rising on nearly all the pieces, it grew to become much more essential that we proceed to ease the tax burden on Iowans,” Grassley mentioned in a midnight speech to shut the session.

Democratic leaders mentioned the GOP majority was targeted on “tradition wars” on the expense of doing extra to handle the state’s workforce scarcity.

“There could possibly be no clearer signal that Republicans have zero curiosity in addressing the substantial financial headwinds dealing with our state: inflation, excessive gasoline costs, a components scarcity, and the continuing Reynolds workforce disaster,” Senate Minority Chief Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, mentioned late Tuesday. “As a result of relatively than deal with these points head-on, Iowa Republicans have spent 2022 pouring gasoline on the flames of the tradition conflict and made many of those challenges a lot worse.”

Home Minority Chief Jennifer Konfrst pointed to one of many GOP’s most controversial proposals, which might have transferred public college help to oldsters who select to maneuver their youngsters to personal colleges. The invoice, regardless of vital strain from Reynolds and a month-long session delay, did not cross. Laws requiring lecturers to put up all lesson plans and supplies for public overview, and proposed penalties for offering “obscene” supplies to college students, additionally failed.

“A majority of Iowans are against the governor’s voucher scheme and a majority of us on this chamber listened to Iowans and stood robust to characterize the individuals we serve,” Konfrst mentioned. “It was a troublesome struggle.” 

State price range accepted 

After back-and-forth between the Legislature and the governor’s workplace, the state lastly settled on a $8.2 billion price range for the fiscal 12 months that begins July 1. The price range for the present fiscal 12 months, 2022, is about $8 billion.

The state ended the earlier fiscal 12 months with a surplus of $1.2 billion, and over $800 million in reserves. 

The ultimate legislative motion spent about $8 million greater than the governor proposed. 

Right here’s a take a look at a number of the session highlights and some of the proposals that didn’t make the minimize.

Handed

Biofuels: Most Iowa gasoline stations will likely be required to dispense 15% ethanol-blended gas, often known as E15, from about half of their pumps by 2026. The invoice offers $5 million a 12 months in grants for retailers that improve their tools to promote E15 and better ethanol blends. Smaller companies are exempt. Gov. Reynolds signed Home File 2128 on Could 17.

Bottle invoice: Most grocers could be allowed to decide out of accepting bottle-and-can returns underneath Senate File 2378, which awaits the governor’s signature. The laws will increase the dealing with price for redemption facilities to three cents per container, up from the present penny. That price is paid by beverage distributors, however the distributors get to maintain the complete 5 cents for containers that aren’t redeemed. Retailers can cease taking the containers if they’re licensed to arrange ready-to-eat meals or are situated inside a sure distance from a redemption middle or cell redemption middle. That distance is 10 miles in counties with 30,000 or extra residents and 15 miles for smaller counties.

Little one care

• Home File 2127, accepted by each chambers of the Legislature and awaiting the governor’s signature, would permit little one care suppliers to cost mother and father the distinction between state little one care help and the personal pay price at that middle. It was a advice from the governor’s little one care job drive, which decided that the present program could “be a disincentive for little one care suppliers to simply accept youngsters” receiving state help.
• Lawmakers voted to incorporate a $2 million employer tax credit score in Home File 2564, the price range invoice for financial improvement.  “I’m very happy with quite a lot of issues shifting by way of this price range, particularly our employer little one care tax credit score,” mentioned flooring supervisor Rep. Phil Thompson, R- Boone. “I do imagine that’s going to repair quite a lot of our little one care points in our state.” 
• Lawmakers additionally handed Home File 2198, which permits 16-year-olds to oversee school-age youngsters with out an grownup current, and will increase the allowable variety of toddlers per workers member.
• A guardian with a everlasting incapacity will likely be allowed to entry state little one care help underneath Home File 2252, permitting the different guardian to work exterior the house. At present, a guardian can solely entry help whereas on short-term incapacity. Reynolds signed the invoice Could 24.

Little one labor: The Legislature exempted from little one labor legal guidelines the operation of a kind of pizza dough curler with safeguards to forestall damage whereas working. Senate File 2190 awaits the governor’s signature.

COVID-19 vaccines: COVID-19 vaccination can’t be required for attendance at school, school or a toddler care middle underneath a invoice that’s headed to the governor’s desk. Home File 2298 wouldn’t permit mandates for attendance at any licensed little one care middle, elementary or secondary college or postsecondary college earlier than July 1, 2029. 

Prison justice and policing

• Catalytic converter theft: The governor signed Senate File 2287 on Monday, a invoice aimed toward making it harder to promote stolen catalytic converters. The invoice requires proof of the vendor’s identification and possession of the system earlier than a used catalytic converter will be bought. 
• Firearms: Lawmakers voted Tuesday to reinforce legal penalties for minors in possession of a firearm, creating a category D felony punishable as much as 5 years of incarceration. Minors may be charged with an aggravated misdemeanor with as much as two years of jail time and a $250 nice. 
• Rubbish search: Reynolds signed into legislation SF 2296 which grants legislation enforcement the correct to look rubbish positioned exterior of the personal property. 
• Police misconduct: Prosecutors who blacklist law enforcement officials whose credibility has been known as into query should create formal procedures to inform the officer and permit them to contest their standing underneath Home File 2496, which is awaiting the governor’s signature.
• Police imaginative and prescient exams: The Iowa Legislation Enforcement Academy, which trains and certifies law enforcement officials, would not impose a imaginative and prescient requirement and would as an alternative depart imaginative and prescient guidelines to the hiring police departments underneath Home File 2358. The Senate accepted the invoice unanimously and despatched it to the governor.
• Intercourse abuse: Lawmakers handed a number of payments associated to prosecution of sexual abuse. Home File  2239, signed into legislation this week, would permit testimony about out-of-court statements a sufferer who’s a toddler or individual with disabilities has made to an grownup concerning the alleged abuse. Senate File 2363 creates a course of for former offenders looking for to be faraway from the state’s intercourse offender registry.

Deer searching: In response to rising deer populations, there will likely be a brand new searching season for antlerless deer that can lengthen to January. Senate File 581 permits hunters to make use of semi-automatic rifles throughout the brand new season. Fines for taking an antlerless deer with out a license had been decreased to $750 per deer. 

Schooling

• Open enrollment: GOP lawmakers voted to get rid of the March 1 deadline for varsity open enrollment, a transfer that supporters mentioned put Iowans first. Democrats argued the transfer would depart districts unable to plan for staffing and different wants as a result of they couldn’t predict what number of college students they might be serving. The open enrollment invoice was a last-minute add on to the Administrative and Regulation price range, passing within the remaining day of the 2022 legislative session.
• Trainer assessments: The Home and Senate voted to terminate the take a look at Iowa educators should take in an effort to acquire a instructing license. Home File 2081 now awaits a signature from Reynolds. Proponents mentioned the take a look at didn’t replicate lecturers’ capability within the classroom and acted as one other barrier, exacerbating the educator scarcity.  
• Enhance for Regents universities: After two years with out a increase, the College of Iowa, Iowa State College and the College of Northern Iowan will obtain a $5.5 million improve usually state help. Initially, Home Republicans proposed zero improve and a $12 million scholarship program aimed toward lecturers and different high-demand jobs. The ultimate invoice eradicated the scholarship fund.
• Radon testing: The governor this week signed Home File 2412, which requires radon testing and mitigation in public colleges.
• Deaf and hard-of-hearing scholar literacy: The governor signed Home File 604 into legislation this week aimed toward creating new assets for language and literacy improvement for kids who’re deaf or listening to impaired.

Meals supply: As half of a bigger alcohol invoice, lawmakers on Tuesday accepted new restrictions on third-party meals supply providers. The proposal, hooked up to Senate File 2374 by the Home, would require third-party supply providers to enter into a proper settlement with eating places from which they ship. Which means the apps couldn’t promote a restaurant’s menu with out first reaching an settlement with the restaurant proprietor. New food-safety necessities are additionally included within the laws.

Well being care

• Bronchial asthma remedy in colleges: Home File 771 permits college students with respiratory illnesses comparable to bronchial asthma to maintain and use an inhaler or different remedy at school, with written parental permission and a health care provider’s assertion. Faculties could be allowed to inventory the medicines and acceptable personnel could administer it to college students fairly believed to be in respiratory misery.
• Psychological well being mortgage forgiveness: Home File 2549 establishes a mortgage reimbursement program for social staff, psychological well being counselors, psychologists and different psychological well being professionals who comply with follow in Iowa for 5 years or as much as seven years if working half time.
• Fertility fraud: Senate File 529 creates a reason behind motion for a lawsuit and a legal sexual abuse cost for fertility fraud. In instances across the nation associated to fertility help, fraud has been found when a DNA take a look at confirmed that the doctor or another person had fathered the kid as an alternative of the agreed-upon sperm donor. 
• Opioid remedy fund: Below Home File 2573, first responders and faculty workers will likely be outfitted with opioid antagonist remedy to save lots of Iowans experiencing an opioid overdose. The invoice creates an opioid settlement fund, which is predicted to gather about $174 million in settlement funds with pharmaceutical corporations, to fight the state opioid disaster. 
• Prescription drug costs: This bipartisan laws takes a primary step towards the regulation of pharmacy profit managers, whose function as middlemen between pharmacies and insurers has drawn nationwide consideration. Senate File 2231 permits copayments for prescribed drugs to use to deductibles. It additionally prevents pharmacy profit managers from reimbursing pharmacies lower than the typical drug value, whereas requiring pharmacy profit managers to reimburse a shelling out price at least the Iowa Medicaid price. The invoice offers the state insurance coverage commissioner enforcement powers for violation of this legislation.

Cell house resident protections: Tenants of cell house parks will get an extra month’s discover earlier than evictions or will increase to their lease and utility charges. The governor signed Home File 2562 into legislation on Could 17. 

Public radio: Republican lawmakers defunded Iowa Public Radio, imposing a minimize of about $345,000 as in comparison with the present 12 months. The community, which additionally depends on donor contributions, is not a part of the college system and can obtain no state cash in fiscal 12 months 2023. 

Tax cuts 

All Iowans pays a flat earnings tax price of three.9%. That is paired with cuts to company taxes and the elimination of the state retirement earnings tax. These reductions had been key targets to the governor’s agenda, passing by way of the Republican trifecta again in March. 

Lawmakers accepted laws to overhaul the gross sales tax assortment course of. Home File 2385 eliminates the gross sales tax on diapers and female hygiene merchandise comparable to tampons. Companies would see quite a lot of modifications. Banks, which at present pay a 5% franchise price, would have that price minimize to three.5% over 5 years. The invoice would additionally exempt from state taxation the $1,000 bonuses paid to lecturers and different educators by way of the governor’s appropriation of federal stimulus funds.

Transgender women sports activities: Reynolds signed Home File 2416, which prohibits transgender women and girls from enjoying on ladies’s groups at Okay-12 colleges, group schools and public universities which can be members of the NCAA.

Unemployment: Iowans who lose their jobs with out trigger could have much less time to gather unemployment insurance coverage advantages. Home File 2355, accepted by each the Home and Senate, is awaiting the governor’s signature. It shortens the interval of eligibility for jobless advantages from the present 26 weeks to 16 weeks. The invoice additionally modifications the definition of a “appropriate job” to at least one that pays lower than the individual’s earlier place, permitting advantages to be minimize off sooner if the recipient refuses a suggestion of a “appropriate” job.

Failed

Listed below are just a few of the payments thought-about this 12 months that didn’t cross:

Non-public college vouchers and fogeys’ rights: Reynolds’ proposal to supply public cash for college students desirous to attend personal colleges handed the Senate however did not obtain sufficient votes from the Home. Home File 2369 and Senate File 2205 additionally would have required public college lecturers to put up lesson plan materials for parental overview. 

“Obscene” college books: Senate File 2198 would have created a legal penalty for lecturers or college officers who present “obscene materials” or “hard-core pornography” at school libraries or require such supplies for use at school.

Eminent area restrictions: After the Senate killed a invoice that may have blocked using eminent area by personal corporations constructing liquid-carbon pipelines, the Home voted to place a short lived moratorium on using eminent area right into a price range invoice. The Senate stripped out the language from the ultimate invoice.

Medical malpractice and trucker legal responsibility: The governor, in her Situation of the State message, proposed elevated legal responsibility protections for trucking corporations and medical services. The Home took up trucker legal responsibility in March, however the proposal failed on the ground.

Medical freedom invoice: Home File 2545 would have prohibited companies from requiring any vaccines, inquiring about vaccination standing, or mandating masks. Anti-mandate and anti-vaccination teams rallied across the proposal, which by no means made it to the Home flooring.

Written consent earlier than vaccination: Senate File 2335 would require the written consent of a guardian or guardian earlier than a toddler receives a vaccination. Opponents of the invoice mentioned medical suppliers already should acquire verbal consent, and a written kind could be unnecessarily difficult. 

Little one sex-abuse statute of limitations: Democrats tried a number of instances to advance laws that may get rid of the statute of limitations for civil instances introduced by the survivors of childhood sexual abuse. 

Everlasting daylight saving time: Lawmakers once more thought-about a invoice to transition Iowa to sunlight saving time year-round – if the federal authorities approves the concept and border states additionally make the swap. 

Iowa PBS public information: Home File 2488 would permit individuals to request and use public information from Iowa PBS to create new tasks. It handed the Home however stalled within the Senate.

Insurance coverage appraisal modifications: Home File 2299 would have modified the insurance coverage appraisal course of. It superior by way of the Home on a unanimous vote, however senators halted consideration of the invoice after a sequence of tornadoes swept by way of Iowa and destroyed a number of houses.