The Rozenboom Report – February 3, 2018
Gov Kim Reynolds (left) signed into law a water quality bill managed by Sen. Ken Rozenboom (right).
by Ken Rozenboom
The pace has really started to pick up at the Iowa Capitol as legislation works through subcommittees and committees. Among the bills moving through the Senate process is SSB 3048 which allows the use of blue and white lights on snow plows to prevent car accidents. The program was originally a study planned to sunset next year. After results of the study showed the lights were effective in preventing crashes, many believe the tactic should be implemented statewide.
Another bill has surfaced this year calling for the ban of traffic cameras. Last year the legislature took steps to bill regulate the cameras; this bill, SSB 3025, would ban them completely. There is more interest in the ban this year because some cities have begun using collection agencies to collect fines generated by traffic cameras, reinforcing the belief of many that traffic cameras are primarily used to generate money for cities.
An education bill, SSB 3002, gives the board of directors of a school district greater discretion in determining ride times of a student’s bus route. Currently, the law restricts bus ride times to 60 minutes for elementary school students, and 75 minutes for high school students. This change allows school boards the authority to allow up to 75 minute ride times for all students. In addition, if school boards wish to exceed the 75 minute limit, they could hold two public hearings to gather input from parents and pass a resolution to extend the ride times more. These changes could potentially eliminate costly bus routes and save districts up to $100,000 annually.
Another bill that I filed this week, SF2126, is intended to curb the annoying tele-marketing phone calls that appear to come from local phone numbers, commonly called “spoofing”. The bill “prohibits a person from knowingly using or providing false or misleading caller identification information to an Iowa telephone subscriber who is physically located in Iowa.” Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $40,000 per incident. The Attorney General’s office strongly supports this legislation as another tool to use against unscrupulous tele-marketers.
A sea of navy blue coats flooded the second floor rotunda Tuesday at the Iowa Capitol. Hundreds of Iowa Future Farmers of America high school students descended upon the Statehouse to discuss the importance of agriculture with their elected representatives. Iowa’s FFA Day at the capitol never ceases to amaze me because of the large number of students and advisors that travel to Des Moines to speak with legislators. The Iowa FFA program boasts of more than 14,800 members, and I was happy to speak with a number of them from Senate District 40. It’s always refreshing to see students and fellow Iowans talk about something they believe in with so much passion. Listening to FFA members talk so ardently and knowledgeably about Iowa agriculture reassures me the future of agriculture is in great hands.
“With the signing of Senate File 512, we now have a long-term, dedicated, and growing source of funding.” – Governor Kim Reynolds
It was exciting to be a part of Governor Reynold’s first bill signing ceremony this week. As the floor manager of Senate File 512, it has been a privilege to work with the governor and my colleagues in the House to pass the most significant water quality legislation in Iowa history.
My next public forum is next Saturday, February 10, at Smokey Row in Oskaloosa from 8:30 to 9:30 am.
