Hite Capitol Update: March 23, 2019
Rep. Dustin Hite (R-District 79)
by Rep. Dustin Hite
This week has been a rather eventful one in the Iowa House. I have been the floor manager of several bills which saw debate this week. However, this week I am not going to talk about policy or bills, or anything that has gone on at the Statehouse. Instead, I want to focus on the flooding tragedy that has occurred in Western Iowa which has devastated many towns, cities, and farms, and has upset lives and livelihoods.
The Governor recently declared many Iowa counties as disaster areas. Because of this, the Iowa Department of Revenue has granted a 30-day extension and suspension of any penalty or interest for taxpayers whose principal residence or business is located in the disaster areas and whose payment or return is due on or before March 31. This includes all tax types.
The Governor has issued declarations for 41 counties impacted by the recent flooding: Adair, Bremer, Buena Vista, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clay, Clayton, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Franklin, Fremont, Guthrie, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Kossuth, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O’Brien, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Sioux, Tama, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, Worth, and Wright.
Iowa code authorizes Iowa Department of Revenue Director Kraig Paulsen to extend the period of time for filing tax returns and making associated payments. This includes the suspension of any penalty or interest associated with those returns or payments.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) posted a press release in which the state agency detailed a number of resources available over the internet for Iowans and farmers coping with this Spring’s severe flooding that has devastated many Western Iowa communities and farms. The information is as follows:
State Agency Resources:
Flooded grain fact sheet: https://iowaagriculture.gov/sites/default/files/grain/SpoiledGrain-join….
Disaster assistance: Information on disaster assistance and the application link, as well as a current list of counties with disaster proclamations, is available here: https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs.
Iowa Concern Hotline: As Iowans deal with this devastation, stress can take a toll. To find help regarding stress, disaster recovery, or legal education, call the toll-free hotline at 1-800-447-1985 or visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/crisis.html.
Road updates: For information about road closures you may dial 511 or obtain information online at http://www.511ia.org.
Governor’s press releases: The updated disaster proclamations are announced through the Governor’s office. https://governor.iowa.gov/2019/03/gov-reynolds-issues-disaster-proclamation-for-five-additional-counties.
Insurance information: If Iowans have questions or concerns regarding their insurance coverage, they can contact the Iowa Insurance Division. 515-281-5705, https://iid.iowa.gov/.
To volunteer, contact Red Cross, Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity. To volunteer with livestock relief, contact your local Emergency Response Coordinator and the county supervisor. A link to their county coordinators can be found here: https://www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/documents/county/COORD_Public_List.pdf.
Federal Agency Resources
List of county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
Livestock Indemnity Program Fact Sheet: This FSA program financially assists producers when they suffer a loss of livestock due to adverse weather. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/2018/livestock_indemnity_program_fact_sheet_dec_2018.pdf.
Emergency Conservation Program Fact Sheet: ECP can provide some cost-share assistance to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. It also can provide cost-share assistance to help restore fences damaged or lost due to natural disasters. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/2017/emergency_conservation_program_oct2017.pdf
I would simply ask that you share this information with your family and friends who have been affected by the flooding. The stories that I have heard coming from these areas make me proud to be an Iowan. Our cities and counties have risen to the challenge and have worked to address the issues on the front lines. Our emergency responders have continued the tradition of serving our citizens in a time of need.
I hope these resources can help those facing difficult situations. Once again, I would like to offer praise and gratitude for the countless Iowans working to offer assistance and solutions to these problems. If you have any questions regarding the information above or any other concern, please reach out to me at dustin.hite@legis.iowa.gov.
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