Hite Capitol Update: 3/5/20
Today we wrapped up week 8 of session. It was another week full of debate, as we sent quite a few bills over to the Senate for their consideration. On Tuesday, I had the honor of sitting in the Speaker’s Chair and presiding over the full House. It was a neat experience for me and reminded me of all the great Iowans before me that have sat in that chair.
This week marked the 50th day of the 100-day legislative session. I would like to update you on some legislation we are working on to address Iowa’s top concerns. Here is an update on where our priorities currently stand:
Child Care
HF 771: Expanding the child care tax credit to more families – Passed House in 2019
HFs 2593 and 2594: Incentivizing employers to offer and expand child care to their employees – On debate calendar
HF 2424: Addressing the cliff effect to ease Iowans off of government assistance – On debate calendar
HFs 2270 and 2271: Increasing child care assistance provider rates to increase access – On debate calendar
HF 2488: Creating a public-private partnership child care workforce matching grant program – On House calendar
HF 2595: Incentivizing developers to build high quality and safe day care facilities – On debate calendar
Broadband
HF 2213: Extends the Iowa Cell Siting Act to streamline regulations and deploy 5G faster – On debate calendar
HF 2520: Establishes broadband expansion as an economic development tool and reduces installation costs for providers – On debate calendar
HF 2459: Empower Rural Iowa which will provide broadband grants and authorizes more accurate mapping – In Appropriations
HF 2575: Exempts broadband grants from state income tax – On debate calendar
HF 2442: Creates a study on internet exchange points to establish Iowa as a Silicon Prairie – On debate calendar
Education
SF 2142: Increased investment in general aid for K-12 schools by $85 million – Sent to the Governor
SF 2164: Additional $7.65 million in funding for rural school transportation costs – Signed by the Governor
SF 2164: Reducing per pupil inequity in the school funding formula by $10 per student ($5.8 million) – Signed by the Governor
HF 2532: Helping train teachers to deal with disruptive student behavior and make classrooms safe– In Appropriations
Health Care
HFs 2551 and 2553: Prescription drug transparency – On House calendar
HF 2138: Capping out-of-pocket insulin costs – On House calendar
HF 2383: Retaining Iowa health care professionals – Passed House
HF 2197: Exposes health care professionals-in-training to rural areas – Passed House
HF 2192: Increased access to health care services through telehealth – On House calendar
These are just some of the bills we are working on, and I look forward to providing you with updates as they continue to make their way through the legislative process.
As Iowans, we lawmakers must pay attention to the needs of our farmers. That is why I am happy to report that on Tuesday the Iowa House passed House File 2372 by a bipartisan vote of 79-19. The bill amends the definition of ‘chauffeur’ to exclude a farmer or their hired help who is operating a farmer’s own truck that is license plated as a farm truck to transport the farmer’s own products or property to a destination no more than 100-miles from their farmland. The bill was amended by the House to add language that the chauffeur exemption to driving farm-plated semi-trailers does not apply to person under 18-years of age.
Additionally, we have looked to establish transparency at public meetings this year. HF 2308 made a number of changes to notice of public meetings. The current definition of meeting means a gathering in person or by electronic means, formal or informal, of a majority of the members of a governmental body where there is deliberation or action upon any matter within the scope of the governmental body’s policy-making decision. This amendment simply adds budgetary duties to the definition of a meeting.
Current law states that notice shall given at least 24 hours before the meeting of a governmental body unless notice would be impractical or impossible. Then it shall be given with as much notice reasonably possible. This amendment clarifies that weekends and paid holidays are excluded from the 24-hour notice. A new section also allows a meeting to be called without 24-hour notice if only there is a “good cause” that includes a personnel or student matter.
HF 2416 increases the amount of time, from 60 to 90 days, that an aggrieved person may file a complaint with the Public Information Board.
HF 2556 requires that at least 30 days prior to entering into a contract for a lease renewal of at least $50,000, the state agency shall notify the legislative service agency and it shall be submitted to the Government Oversight Committee. The notification shall occur regardless of the source of payment for the lease, renewal of lease, or acquisition of real property. The report shall contain the following information:
Description of the buildings and office space subject to the lease or renewal of lease or a description of the real property to be acquired;
Proposed terms of the contract;
Cost of the contract, including principal and interest costs. If the cost is not known at least 30 days from entering into the contract, the director shall estimate the cost of the contract;
An identification of the means and source of payment of the contract;
An analysis of the consequences of delaying or abandoning the commence of the contract.
Finally, as always, I would like to mention the members of the district that came to the Statehouse this week. Daryl and Ben Bowercamp were here on Tuesday. Ben will be taking over as a clerk for Representative Jarad Klein (R-Washington) for the remainder of session. Also, Claire Carmichael stopped by the Statehouse for Physicians Day on the Hill. If you are coming to the Statehouse and would like to meet with me, please reach out to me at dustin.hite@legis.iowa.gov.
