by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 20, 2024 As lawmakers consider restrictions on hemp-derived THC and CBD products, the Senate Ways and Means Committee passed a measure Wednesday that would add a sin tax to consumable hemp products. Senate Study Bill 3186 would set a 25% excise tax on the sales price of consumable hemp […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 15, 2024 Despite a slight reduction in expected incoming taxes, the Revenue Estimating Conference predicted Iowa will collect about $9.6 billion in the current fiscal year as Iowa lawmakers begin review of individual income tax cuts proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds and lawmakers. The three-person panel consists of […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 14, 2024 As lawmakers ended the second “funnel” deadline of the 2024 legislative session, many of the priorities laid out by Republican leadership at the beginning of the session remain in limbo – while many more were taken out of the running for consideration. Though Republicans hold a […]
DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in January, down from the 3.2 percent announced in December but unchanged from a revised December rate. The state’s jobless rate was 2.9 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in January. The total number of unemployed Iowans […]
by Jay Waagmeester, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 8, 2024 Both chambers of Congress continued to work toward approving appropriation bills this week, and the Iowa delegation introduced legislation tied to murder prosecution, environmental regulations, affordable child care and more. Iowa’s four congressional delegates voted in favor of the first of two funding packages to avoid […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 6, 2024 As concerns grow about the misuse of artificial intelligence in creating images and videos, House lawmakers passed several bills Wednesday adding criminal charges for certain uses of AI — as well as passing legislation requiring minors to receive parental consent to access social media. House File […]
by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 29, 2024 Iowa lawmakers are taking another stab at trying to control traffic cameras with the overhaul of a bill that would restrict the uses and locations of automated law enforcement devices and regulate the revenues generated by them. Legislators have been wrestling for years over issues posed […]
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 29, 2024 A buildup of nitrate in farm fields that has likely resulted from Iowa’s longest-running drought in 70 years has set the stage for a potentially massive uptick in stream pollution, state water-quality observers say. Research has shown that nitrogen fertilizer that goes unused by crops can […]
DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 2.9 percent in February, down from 3.0 percent in January and equal to the rate one year ago. Meanwhile, despite widespread job growth across multiple industries, Iowa’s labor force participation rate ticked down from 67.3 percent in January to 67.2 percent in February as […]
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 27, 2024 The operators of a defunct hog confinement in southern Iowa have failed for more than five years to dispose of its leftover manure, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The department recently ordered Raul Flores-Castillo and Virginia Flores to remove all manure from the […]
