Capital Beat: February 15

State of Iowa Seal

The Iowa General Assembly was in session today. The Senate convened at 9:00 am. Three introductions were made in the senate, those being: Beth Townsend- Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission; David Lingren – Director of the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission and Debi Durham – Director of the Dept. of Economic Development. Before adjourning for the day, the Senate referred SF 209, An Act relating to public funding and regulatory matters by 1 making appropriations, providing for updated Code references 2 to the Internal Revenue Code, increasing the state earned 3 income tax credit, and including effective date and 4 retroactive applicability provisions, to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In the morning session of the House, two bills were introduced. HF 271, An Act relating to bail restrictions placed on criminal 1 defendants, was introduced by the House Committee on Judiciary. HF 277, An Act relating to the Iowa civil rights Act and discrimination 1 based upon a person’s status as a veteran, sponsored by 61 House members was also introduced. In the afternoon session of the House, the House passed two bills and messaged them to the Senate for consideration. HF 245, An Act relating to the status of posthumously conceived and 1 born children in the context of legitimacy, inheritance, 2 rights to claim an after-born child’s share, and other 3 rights, was passed on a vote of 98-0. HF 243, An Act relating to instruments used to update the county 1 transfer books and index maintained by the county auditor, was also passed on a vote of 98-0.

The State Legislature will be in action again tomorrow with the Senate convening at 9:00 am and the House convening at 8:30 am.