Government Affairs

IAHU represents all members with one unified and strong voice. On-going legislative and agency lobbying, a top priority of our Association will be designed to educate those who regulate our industry.

 

Schedule August Recess Appointments with Your Legislators

Now is the time to get on the calendars of your representative and senators to talk with them about our legislative priorities. The annual Congressional summer recess is just a few weeks away, with the House scheduled to take a recess from August 1 through September 6 and the Senate currently planning for a recess from August 8 through September 5. This is a prime time to meet with your federal legislators and help guide the next wave of healthcare-reform legislation. NAHU encourages you to work with your local chapter on scheduling meetings with lawmakers during this time.

NAHU's talking points for this summer are focused on the issue of employer reporting and in support of the Commonsense Reporting Act of 2021 (S. 3673/H.R. 7774). The reporting requirements were finalized in March 2014 by the Treasury Department and IRS; they detail what health plan information employers are required to report to the federal government annually for enforcement of the ACA’s individual and employer mandates. NAHU has repeatedly stressed concerns with these requirements, particularly their confusing and complicated nature for businesses of all sizes. We have worked with legislators to develop a common-sense solution to ease what has become an enormously expensive compliance burden. You can access our talking points directly by clicking here or by going to NAHU.org and clicking on “Advocacy” then “Legislative Issues.”

The Commonsense Reporting Act will provide much-needed relief for employers seeking to comply with the reporting requirements under section 6055 and 6056 for enforcement of the ACA's individual and employer mandates. After several years of lobbying on this issue, NAHU has made employer reporting the focal point of this summer’s legislative priorities in order to finally get this bipartisan bill passed.

In addition to the clear benefits of reforming the employer reporting system, we believe the bill’s passage is crucial to the administration’s recently proposed rule to fix the ACA “family glitch.” The Commonsense Reporting Act would ensure that only those individuals who do not have an “affordable” offer of coverage from an employer receive a tax credit. Currently, HHS, IRS and DOL rely on employer data reported after the plan year to reconcile whether an individual appropriately received a subsidy. The IRS then seeks to recoup any access in subsidy that was distributed through an increase in taxes to the individual. However, if f employers were to report at the beginning of the plan year what they are offering to employees, their spouses and dependents so that the IRS would know before distributing a subsidy whether the individual has an affordable offer of coverage from an employer.

While NAHU lobbies on behalf of agents and brokers on a daily basis, often the most important conversations come directly from constituents talking about what is happening to their friends, family, clients and coworkers on a daily basis. And unlike meetings in Washington DC, which you’re able to do during our annual Capitol Conference, and which NAHU staff does regularly throughout the year, the summer recess and district work periods provide the opportunity for more informal and intimate conversations. As health insurance agents and brokers, you have an unparalleled window into what is happening all over your Congressional district and state. Members of Congress want to hear from you as they consider the latest proposals for the healthcare industry.

If you or your chapter has not already scheduled a meeting with your members of Congress, we encourage you to do so. The first step is to reach out to your local chapter’s legislative chair and ask if any meetings are already scheduled or in the works. If not, work with your chapter’s legislative chair and fellow members to get a meeting on the calendar. The best way to schedule a meeting with your members of Congress is to call their district office and speak with the scheduler.

 

2022 IA Legislative Session

 

On Wednesday, May 25th, the Iowa Legislature finished its business for the year.  Below is a summary of key legislative priorities that passed during the 2022 Legislative Session: 
 

Generational state tax reform that benefits all Iowans.  

• 3.9% flat income tax for all Iowans. Individual tax reform is projected to save Iowa taxpayers more than $1.67 billion by tax year 2026. (HF2317) 
• Fully repeals state taxes on retirement income in 2023. Beginning January 1, 2023, an estimated 294,624 Iowa taxpayers will see their retirement tax liability eliminated. (HF2317) 
• Exempts farmer retirement income on either cash rent or capital gains tax. (HF2317) 
• Common sense, pro-business corporate income tax reform including banking franchise tax reform, coupled with a reduction in refundable corporate tax credits. (HF2317 & SF2367) 
• Exempts diapers and feminine hygiene products from sales tax (SF2367) 
• Clears the Solar Energy Tax Credit waitlist (SF2367) 

 

Re-Employing Iowans and Expanding Child Care 

• Modernizes purpose of unemployment benefits to focus on reemployment (HF2355) 
• Reduces weeks of regular unemployment from 26 to 16 weeks, and plant closure unemployment from 39 to 26 weeks to encourage quicker return to the workforce (HF2355) 
• Prevents an employer’s account from being charged for an overpayment of unemployment benefits, if an employer’s failure to respond in a timely manner was due to insufficient notification by IWD (HF2355) 
• Defines employee misconduct for unemployment matters to create consistent unemployment decisions (HF2355) 
• Encourages return to work more quickly by accelerating the prior wage percentage reduction in the definition of suitable work more quickly (HF2355) 
• Allows direct appeal of an ALJ’s unemployment decision to district court to provide swifter final resolution of claims (HF2355) 
• Reforms Voluntary Shared Work (VSW) Program, preventing abuse and allowing use with part-time employees (HF2355) 
• Prohibits duplicative local inspections of federally-inspected manufactured housing (SF2383) 
• Requires annual reporting of Work Based Learning in schools (SF2383) 
• Creates a work-based learning program supervisor for industry professionals to immediately start supervising WBL opportunities, so students can receive credit for WBL experiences (SF2383) 
• Removes one-year out-of-state licensure requirement for universal license recognition (SF2383) 
• Removes residency requirement for universal license recognition for most professions (SF2383) 
• Offers temporary licensure for military spouses if they don’t qualify for universal license recognition (SF2383) 
• Waives initial teaching license fees for those under 200% FPL (SF2383) 
• Waives initial and first renewal licensure fee for all veterans (SF2383) 
• Allows for temporary insurance licensure if background check takes more than 10 business days (SF2383) 
• Creates a low-cost ($5) annual armed forces fishing and hunting license (SF2383) 
• Waives driver’s license fees for 100% disabled veterans (SF2383) 
• Waives CDL fees for veterans (SF2383) 
• Expands CDL third-party testing (SF2337) 
• Provides free public parking for medal of honor recipients, ex-prisoners of war, purple heart recipients, and disabled veterans (SF2383) 

 

Promoting Access to Child Care 

• Opens additional child care slots by establishing new minimum child-to-staff ratios in child care centers of 1:7 for children aged 2 and 1:10 for children aged 3 (HF2198) 
• Addresses workforce challenges by allowing child care center employees who are sixteen years of age or older to work without additional supervision (HF2198) 
• Incentivizes child care providers to accept more Child Care Assistance (CCA) families by allowing parents to pay the difference between CCA rates and rates charged to private pay families (HF2127) 
• Allows a parent with a permanent disability to access CCA so the other parent can pursue employment. Previously, a parent with only a temporary disability could qualify for CCA. (HF2252) 

 

Delivering for Iowa Agriculture & Cutting Red Tape 

• Increases access to higher blends of biofuels through market-based principles and doubles funding for the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (HF2128) 
• Eliminates unnecessary and burdensome environmental and ag regulations (SF2176/HF2343/SF2232/SF2245) 
• Preserves the Iowa Energy Center and refocuses efforts to research and develop strategies for carbon management (SF2325) 
• Creates a “Choose Iowa” program to support & promote products grown on Iowa farms (HF2581) 
• Improves CDL testing and creates a permit to allow oversize & overweight hauling in Iowa (SF2337/SF2376) 

 

Supporting Quality Educational Opportunities for Iowa Children

• Increases per pupil state funding for Fiscal Year 2023 (HF2316) 
• Establishes a special task force to provide support for special education in private educational institutions. (SF2197) 
• Expands open enrollment (HF2589) 
• Expands operational sharing for school superintendents and school resource officers (HF2080) 
• Increases funding for Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) to expand student programming to over 150 new schools (HF2575)  
• Increases the Transportation Equity by 7.28% for a total of $29.5 million dollars (HF2316) 

 

Protecting Girls Sports  

• Requires schools at all levels to designate sporting events as male, female, or co-ed. Only students who are female according to their birth certificate will be eligible to compete in girls sports. No student will be prevented from playing a sport that matches his or her biological sex, or a sport designated as co-ed(HF2416) 

 

Promoting Strong Families 

• Further solidifies the State of Iowa as a leader in implementing the federal Family First Prevention Services Act. Aligning Iowa’s child welfare system with Family First has successfully resulted in significantly fewer children entering foster care, more children placed in safe, family-based settings with relatives or fictive kin, and fewer children and youth placed in congregate care settings. (HF2507)  
• Increases the upper age of an individual in foster care from 18 years to 21 years with additional supports if the individual is willing to participate in a case permanency plan and the Department of Human Services (DHS) has made an application for additional services and increases the upper age of an individual in foster care who can receive family foster care services or supervised apartment living from 18 to 21. (HF2252) 
• Requires adoption petitions for children whose parents had their parental rights terminated to include the names of any known siblings placed separately from the child and the courts’ recommendation on whether continued contact is in the best interest of all siblings. (HF2252) 
• Requires court orders regarding sibling placement to be attached to the adoption petition for a child whose parents have had their parental rights terminated. (HF2252) 
• Requires preplacement reports to include whether the child to be adopted is based on their parents losing parental rights, whether the child has siblings and an ongoing relationship with them, or if a court order has found that contact between the siblings is in the best interest of each sibling. (HF2252) 
• Requires that siblings of a person to be adopted receive notice of the adoption hearing at least 20 days prior to the hearing if the court finds contact between the siblings is in the best interest of each sibling. (HF2252) 
• Removes the requirement that certain adult adoptees obtain a court order to access adoption records though DHS. Limits the simplified procedure to adults adopted following a termination of parental rights. (HF2252) 

 

Improving Access to Mental Health Care  

• Establishes a Mental Health Professional loan repayment program (HF2549) 
• Directs DHS to establish tiered in-patient payment rates in the Medicaid program for acute mental health services (HF2546) 
• Funds additional positions in the University of Iowa Psychiatric Residency Program (HF2578) 

 

Supporting Israel 

• Modifies the definition of a company in Iowa’s anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions law to prohibit certain state funds from going to parent companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries, majority-owned subsidiaries, or affiliates of companies that boycott Israel (HF2373) 

 

Streamlining Public Safety Resources 

• Permanently authorizes counties, cities, and townships to establish an emergency response district that improves the ability of fire, police, and EMS services to share resources and coordinate action (SF2267). 
• Authorizes local emergency management commissions to assume the responsibilities of a joint 911 service board (SF2298). 
• Allows law enforcement agencies to use driver's license photos in missing persons investigations on websites and media for missing individuals and those suspected to be involved in a minor’s disappearance (HF2123). 

 

Enhancing Iowa’s Economic Development 

• Permits an additional 12-month extension and increase of project cost cap for the WF Housing Tax credit (SF2325) 
• Further defines economically distressed counties in the state that are eligible for high quality jobs relief (SF2325) 
• Guarantees the Business Property Tax Credit by altering it from an opt-in benefit to an exemption available to all businesses (HF2552) 
• Expands the sales tax exemption of items and services used by a manufacturer to produce marketable food products to include food ingredients (SF2367)  
• Establishes third-party food delivery requirements, including penalties and food delivery safety standards (SF2374) 

 

Continuing modernization of state government 

• Permits taxpayers to have a combined sales and use tax permit and file a combined sales and use tax return (SF2367) 
• Condenses four sales and use tax filing dates to just two (monthly and annual) (SF2367) 
• Takes the first step to align the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Human Services into a single agency, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. With extensive connections between Iowa’s public health and human services efforts, alignment integrates programs, practices and policies to improve delivery of services and more effectively helps all Iowans live safe, stable and healthy lives. (HF2587). 
• Creates Sunday sales parity for all retail license/alcohol permit types, simplifies fee structures for alcohol licenses, makes charity event planning easier for non-profit organizations, and streamlines ABD’s business processes (SF2374) 
• Moves the Office of the Chief Information Officer into the Department of Management – connected to the Office of the Governor – to strengthen the office and promote streamlined cybersecurity and technology oversight. (HF2589)

 

Iowa Legislatures Pass Heavily Amended PBM Bill

February

IAHU Legislative Update
The week of February 21^st was “funnel week” at the Iowa Legislature.  Funnel Week means any bills which did not make it through the funnel, are dead for this legislative session.  As our IAHU communications indicated last week, a set of companion house and senate bills which have made it through the funnel are our primary focus for the remainder of the session.  These bills, HF 2384 and SF 2231, are being referred to as the “PBM Bills.”  We are opposing both bills because of their expected impact on the cost of care in Iowa, estimated to be as much as +9.3% (see more details below).  As a member of IAHU, we would request you contact your local legislators to make your opinion known regarding each of these bills.

As they stand today, these bills would likely increase the cost of care for our customers and all Iowans.  The two main aspects which has caused us to oppose these bills are:

• Increased Dispensing Fees: The bills would set a minimum dispensing fee paid to pharmacists for every prescription.  This fee would require a dispensing fee, that is equal to the State’s Medicaid dispensing fee, which is currently $10.38.  For example, any plan which currently uses Wellmark’s PBM solution would see an increase in price for each prescription filled by nearly $10.30.  This increased fee does not provide better service or medications.  It is a simple cost increase that is passed through to the member. 
• Drug Prices: There are numerous additional provisions in these bills which handcuff efforts to control drug prices for members.  For example, government price controls that drive up payments to pharmacies, and incentives for drug companies to provide copay coupons to mask the real price of expensive brand drugs.  Based on our analysis, we anticipate these provisions would drive members to more expensive name-brand drugs, which would drastically increase costs.

The Legislative Service Agency, which is tasked with determining the fiscal impact of legislative bills, estimates that prescription drug cost will increase by 8.5% annually, due in part to creating incentives to move away from generics back to name-brand drugs. The estimate of the increase on the State of Iowa’s health plan is between +6.2% and +9.3%, or $20.6 million to $30.8 million per year. These estimates are just for the State of Iowa plan, not to mention similar impacts on every employer group health plan and individual plans.  Neither bill would reduce the cost of care or improve the quality of care for Iowans.  As we did last week, we encourage you to contact your local legislative representatives regarding these bills.  If you have questions about these bills, please contact Mike Elam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Insurance Day on the Hill Recap
It was great to see some of you for Insurance Day on the Hill in Des Moines a couple weeks ago!  IAHU attendees included Marcie Strouse, Sara Bradshaw, Jeanna Gutierrez, James West, and Katie Rosenboom. We were able to meet with both the House and Senate leadership members to talk about the important issues raised by our IAHU Members, including the PBM Bills mentioned previously.  These relationships with our legislators allow us to provide information and feedback to these decision makers as they take positions on various issues related to improving the health and wellness of Iowans.  Please make sure your Iowa legislative members know of your involvement with IAHU and support our efforts.

 

Call to Action: PBM Bill

We wanted to make you aware of a pair of companion bills currently being discussed in the Iowa Legislature that we are opposing because of their expected impact on the cost of care in Iowa. As a member of IAHU, we would request that you contact your local legislators to make your opinion(s) known regarding these bills as well.

The companion house and senate bills are HF 2384 and SF 2231 respectively. Among other things, these bills will significantly increase the cost of care for our customers and all Iowans. Two aspects in particular have caused us to oppose these bills. Those provisions are:

• Increased Dispensing Fees: The bills would set a minimum dispensing fee paid to pharmacists for every prescription. This fee would require a dispensing fee that is equal to the State’s Medicaid dispensing fee which is currently $10.38. Any plan that currently uses Wellmark’s PBM solution, as an example, would see an increase in the price of every single prescription filled by nearly $10.30. This increased fee does not provide any better service or any better medications. It is a simple cost increase that is passed through to the member. 
• Drug Prices: There are numerous other provisions in this bill that handcuff efforts to control drug prices for members, such as government price controls that drive up payments to pharmacies and incentives for drug companies to provide copay coupons to mask the real price of expensive brand drugs. We anticipate these provisions will drive more members to more expensive name-brand drugs, drastically increasing costs.

It is estimated that these bills could increase the annual drug spend for every covered beneficiary of a health plan by hundreds of dollars per year, without doing anything to improve the quality of care received. One estimate by Wellmark is that this will add over $500 million in extra cost per year.
 
IAHU is actively involved in discussions with key legislators about our opposition to these bills on the basis that they are not good for healthcare consumers in Iowa and do nothing to reduce the costs of care or improve the quality of care or service to Iowans. We encourage you to contact your local Iowa Representatives and Senators regarding these bills.

 

January

With the beginning of a new year, comes a new legislative session in Iowa, so our Government Relations Team has been busy!  Many new and recycled bills have been introduced leading up to the first “funnel deadline.”  This is when bills being considered are whittled down for serious consideration.  Early on in the session we have registered our opposition to one bill, which is the SF2016 Non-Medical Switching. This bill would deny health insurers the ability to exclude medications from their drug formulary lists in certain situations, limiting their ability to control costs. You can read the full details of this bill here.
 
Insurance Day on the Hill is scheduled for February 15th from 10:00am–2:00pm at the Iowa State Capitol.  This is an opportunity for anyone in the insurance industry to participate in this event which showcases the importance and contribution of our industry in Iowa.  The IAHU Government Relations Committee will have a booth at the event, so be sure to stop by and say hi!  We will also attend meetings with our legislative leaders to help them understand how we can work together to improve access and affordability of health coverage in Iowa.
 
We’re also busy finalizing our NAHU Capitol Conference visits with our Iowa Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.  These meetings will take place February 28th–March 2nd, and early feedback from the congressional offices indicates these may be a mix of in-person and virtual visits this year.  If you are attending Capitol Conference and have a specific congressional member you want to meet with, please let me know and I will include you on the list of attendees.

In order to follow along with everything happening at the NAHU Capitol Conference, tune into our social media channels and watch for emails from IAHU.  We will be providing updates on the introduction and progress of bills in the Iowa Legislature. 

 

 

2021 IA Legislative Session

Current Bills 

HSB 228 - Lundgren - PBM

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=hsb228

SSB 1225 - Zaun - Noneconomic Damage Awards

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=ssb1225

HF 372 - Moore - Non-Medical Switching

 https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=HF372

HSB 46 – Lundgren – Price Transparency & Cost-Sharing for Prescription Drugs

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=HSB46

HSB 50 – Meyer – Insulin Prescription Costs PASSED House 89-2 2/8/21

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=hsb50

HF 89 – Fry – A bill for an act relating to reimbursement rates for health care services for mental health conditions, illnesses, injuries, or diseases provided to covered persons by telehealth

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF89&ga=89

HF 88 – Fry – A bill for an act relating to the provision of audio-only telehealth or telemedicine by health care professionals.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF88&ga=89

SF 4 – Zaun – Certificate of Need

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=Sf4

F 5 – Zaun – Health Care Costs Lists

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=89&ba=SF%205

 

Week 19 Update

Just before midnight on Wednesday, May 19, the Iowa Legislature wrapped up work for the year.  The second to last bill of the evening was a bill that banned schools, cities and counties from mandating mask requirements.  Governor Reynolds signed the bill shortly after midnight. Effective May 20, mask mandates still in effect are no longer in effect.  (Below is more information on this).

Even though the session went a little long, it was a great year.  Larry and I will keep you informed as bills get signed over the next 30 days.  Thank you for the opportunity to work with you.  We look forward to putting our feet up for a few days, and then getting right back to work preparing for next year!  

Thank you - Jake and Larry

PS - It is very likely the legislature comes back in September to approve the new Iowa electoral map. 

Here are some additional news clips on the last few days:

• 2021 session compete: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/05/19/2021-iowa-legislature-session-has-adjourned-for-the-year/
• Legislature sends Governor Reynolds major tax changes: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/05/18/house-sends-tax-bill-to-governor-reynolds-calls-it-a-win-for-iowans/
• $20 million more for Iowa prisons: https://www.kcrg.com/2021/05/19/iowa-lawmakers-approve-20-million-budget-boost-for-department-of-corrections/
• $2 billion for health and human services budget: https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/house-approves-2-billion-budget-for-health-human-services/article_01099926-8f40-59ae-9f7b-bc1c57c0f359.html

Gov. Reynolds releases statement on 2021 Legislative Session  

DES MOINES - Today, Gov. Reynolds released the following statements on the conclusion of the 2021 legislative session:  

“This legislative session, I charged the House and Senate to work together to further advance Iowa’s strong recovery from COVID-19 and promote policies that strengthen our families, communities, schools, workforce and economy. I’m proud that we delivered on the promises made to the people of Iowa. 

“Our fiscally responsible budget practices and balanced approach to managing the pandemic, put Iowa is in a position to cut taxes and invest in foundational priorities that ensure we remain competitive in the 21^st century. 

“More than $400 million dollars in tax cuts mean Iowans will keep more of their hard-earned money. The phase out of the inheritance tax will lessen the burden of passing on family farms and businesses.  And by eliminating a $100 million property tax levy, the responsibility for funding Iowa’s mental health system comes off the backs of homeowners and into the hands of the state which can provide the stable, sustainable funding to ensure access to care for every Iowan who needs it. 

“Iowa’s historic $100 million investment in broadband will transform our technology infrastructure into a powerful network that enables fast, high-quality connectivity to empower every community across our state, from our urban centers to our small towns. 

“This legislative session, we continued our investment in K-12 education and put more control of our children’s education into the hands of their parents. We supported law enforcement, strengthened our elections, protected our 2^nd Amendment rights, and upheld the sanctity of life. 

“Over the last year, Iowa has been recognized nationally as the #1 state for opportunity and for having one of the fastest and strongest pandemic recoveries... and Iowans deserve the credit. Together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.” 

Lt. Governor Gregg released the following statement: 

“Governor Reynolds led the charge to make Iowa an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. The tax compromise brokered by the governor makes progress on longstanding challenges faced by the state.  

“By speeding up the historic 2018 income tax cuts, incentivizing workforce housing development, and lowering property taxes, this tax reform makes Iowa an even better place to start a family, career, or business. 

"With unprecedented investment in broadband, new incentives to spark housing development, and increased funding for Empower Rural Iowa programs, this session was a real success for rural Iowa. 

“I look forward to seeing the positive impact these changes will have, and exploring further improvement in policy and practice to ensure opportunity and prosperity are present in all corners of our state.” 

Key legislative priorities that passed during the 2020 Legislative Session: 

Tax Relief for Hardworking Iowans  

Reducing taxes benefits Iowa families and makes our state more competitive. 

• $300 million income tax cut by removing triggers for hardworking Iowans (SF619) 
• $100 million property tax relief by fully removing the mental health levy (SF619) 
• Phases out the inheritance tax with complete removal by January 2025 (SF619) 

Putting Students First, Supporting Parental Choice, Investing in Education 

A high-quality education system that offers innovative learning opportunities and empowers parents to choose the best path for their children is the foundation of a strong state. 

• Ensured every child and family in Iowa had the opportunity to attend school 100% in-person during the pandemic beginning in Feb. 2021 (SF160)  
• Allows parents to make health care decisions for their children by prohibiting schools from requiring masks (HF847) 
• Expands charter schools, giving parents and students greater options and flexibility while also allowing for innovation to occur within the classroom (HF813) 
• Allows parents to make educational decisions for their children by expanding open enrollment opportunities for families (HF847) 
• Protects free speech rights of all students in the classroom (HF744) 
• Bans instruction that teaches that America is inherently racist (HF802)  
• Invests a record $3.418 billion for PreK-12 education, a 2.4% increase (SF269) 
• Increases Transportation Equity to buy down cost of transportation for 218 Iowa school districts (SF269) 
• Further reduces per pupil equity gap to $145 (SF269) 

Ensuring Universal Broadband Access 

High-speed internet is as vital to our communities as running water and electricity – this became abundantly clear during the pandemic. 

• Invests $100 million in broadband to transform our infrastructure into a powerful network, enabling fast, high quality connectivity across the entire state and resulting in one of the most significant broadband build-outs in the nation (HF867)  
• Leverages millions more in private dollars to establish a three-tiered grant program that incentivizes providers to prioritize broadband deserts where high-speed internet is rarely offered (HF848) 

Creating Affordable Housing 

Creative solutions that address pent-up demand for affordable housing will encourage families to move where opportunities exist and help our communities thrive.  

• Invests in attainable housing by increasing funding to the State Housing Trust Fund at $7 million a year (SF619) 
• Builds high quality homes in rural and urban Iowa by increasing the Workforce Housing Tax Credit to $40 million for FY22 and then $35 million going forward (SF619)  
• Extends and expands the Brownfield and Grayfield Tax Credits to help rebuild blighted and abandoned properties (SF619) 
• Creates a Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Fund to help Iowans who lost their homes due to a natural disaster (SF619) 

Providing High-quality Affordable Child Care 

Iowa has the third highest percentage of households with both (or the only) parents working. Improving access to childcare will allow parents to nurture their children while remaining in the workforce. 

• Increases eligibility for the Early Childhood and Dependent Tax Credits from $45,000 to $90,000 so families are not penalized for hard work and upward mobility (SF619) 
• Allows an additional school-aged child in a childcare home to increase access for childcare across the state and flexibility on days when school is cancelled (HF260) 
• Establishes a gradual phase-out for childcare assistance so families can pursue higher wages without immediately losing assistance (HF302)  
• Prioritizes High Quality Jobs applicants who propose to provide onsite childcare options for employees (SF619) 

Growing a 21^st Century Economy 

Supporting industry investments and incentives to help Iowa manufacturers remain competitive in the global manufacturing supply chain. 

• Develops a Manufacturing 4.0 strategic roadmap for the future of manufacturing in the state of Iowa (SF619) 
• Allows Iowa companies to make strategic investments in their workplaces by coupling with Federal Bonus Depreciation (SF619) 
• Helps reinvest and reopen communities following the pandemic or a natural disaster by creating a Downtown Loan Guarantee (SF619) 
• Extends the Targeted Jobs Withholding Credit to help border cities compete with our neighboring states (SF619) 

Promoting Strong and Healthy Families 

New models of care delivery based on the needs of Iowans will help to ensure that quality health care remains accessible, affordable, and close to home. 

• Creates a long-term, sustainable funding stream for Iowa’s mental health system and increases mental health funding from $98 million in 2021 to $135 million by 2026, with a mechanism to allow funding to automatically increase as Iowa’s economy grows (SF619) 
• Ensures payment parity for mental health telehealth services (SF619)  
• Expands access to the children’s mental health waiver through increased funding (HF891) 
• Provides additional funding for providers who care for Iowa’s most vulnerable, including PMICs, home and community-based services, nursing facilities and home health agencies (HF891) 
• Creates a center of excellence program to encourage innovation and collaboration among regional health care providers (HF891) 
• Ensures support for OB/GYNs practicing in rural communities through the Rural Iowa Primary Care Loan Repayment Program (SF129) 
• Increases funding for the Psychiatry Residency Training Program (HF891) 
• Streamlines the process for counties to adopt EMS as an essential service (SF615) 

Supporting Law Enforcement  

In Iowa, we will always back our brave men and women in blue. Supporting our police and other law enforcement officers will help to keep our communities safe and strong. 

• Provides additional due process protections for law enforcement officers and protects officers, prosecutors, and judges from being targeted (SF342) 
• Increases the Emergency Volunteer Tax Credit, serving as financial assistance to those that step up and serve (SF619) 
• Puts in place tougher penalties for those who loot, riot, or block our streets (SF342) 

Securing Our Elections, Our Constitutional Rights, and Protecting the Unborn  

Iowans believe in life, liberty, and a constitution that protects it. Iowa is leading the way, and our state stands in stark contrast to the polices of Washington, D.C.  

Election Security 

• Ensures elections are fair, secure, and free from fraud (SF413)  
• Strengthens uniformity by providing Iowa’s election officials with consistent parameters for Election Day, absentee voting, database maintenance, and a clear appeals process for local county auditors 
• Promotes accountability by imposing tougher penalties for election misconduct.  

Constitutional Rights 

• A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of the people to keep and bear arms (SJR 7) 
• Allows Iowans to exercise their 2^nd Amendment rights without purchasing a permit from the government (HF756) 
• Bans vaccine passports (HF 889)  
• Protects the free speech rights of students living on college campuses (HF 744) 

Protecting Life 

• Protects the rights of the unborn by passing a constitutional amendment that clearly states there is not a fundamental right to abortion 

Reinvigorating the Iowa Agriculture Economy  

Farming is a way of life we value in Iowa, and we’re committed to protecting it for our families and future generations.  

• Supports the next generation of Iowa farmers by expanding Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program eligibility (SF619)  
• Safeguards Iowa’s livestock industry through increased funding for foreign animal disease preparedness and protects premise identification information (HF860/SF578)  
• Establishes a small meat processing program to help expand Iowa’s meat processing capacity and support small processors (HF 857)  
• Creates a farm-to-school program to assist schools in purchasing locally grown produce and protein (SF578) 

Gov. Reynolds signs HF 847 into law 

DES MOINES - Today, Gov. Reynolds signed HF 847 into law, legislation that contains several components of the governor’s Students First Act as well as provisions that prohibit K-12 schools from mandating masks as well as cities and counties from mandating masks in businesses. 

“The state of Iowa is putting parents back in control of their child’s education and taking greater steps to protect the rights of all Iowans to make their own health care decisions,” said Gov. Reynolds. “I am proud to be a governor of a state that values personal responsibility and individual liberties. I want to thank the Iowa Legislature for their quick work in bringing this bill to my desk so that it can be signed into law.”  

HF 847: an Act relating to educational programs, funding, tax credits and deductions, open enrollment, supplementary weighting, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions. 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/05/19/gop-lawmakers-vote-to-bar-mask-mandates-in-iowa-schools/

Governor and GOP lawmakers end mask mandates in Iowa schools

MAY 19, 2021 BY O. KAY HENDERSON

Republicans in the Iowa legislature have voted Wednesday evening to ban mask mandates in all Iowa schools, as well as in cities and counties. Governor Reynolds signed the bill shortly after midnight and it became law immediately.

That means as school begins on this Thursday, May 20, mask mandates still in effect in Iowa school districts are nullified. Mask mandates established by city and county officials for private businesses are now banned as well. House Speaker Pat Grassley delivered a copy of the bill to Reynolds in her statehouse office, as a cheering crowd surrounded the governor’s desk for the private event.

“The state of Iowa is putting parents back in control of their child’s education and taking greater steps to protect the rights of all Iowans to make their own health care decisions,” Reynolds said in a written statement.

During House debate a few hours earlier, Republican Representative Dustin Hite of New Sharon said he’s been fielding complaints about mask mandates since the pandemic began.

“You want to talk about something that’s grassroots, this is something I’ve heard about — I’ve lost count,” Hite said.

Representative Marti Anderson, a Democrat from Des Moines, said face coverings are a part of the “public health response” to the pandemic.

“Don’t we have a responsibility to protect the health of the people around us?” Anderson asked.

Representative Eric Gjerdes, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, said banning mask mandates “isn’t based on science, it’s based on perception.”

“Masks make sense right now make sense for folks that are not vaccinated,” he said. “The majority of students in Iowa schools have not been doubly vaccinated.”

Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, said “numerous” parents in his district have had enough and they don’t want their children wearing a mask in school.

“If we believe the vaccines work, if we believe that masks work, then fine. Get the vaccine. Wear the mask and don’t worry about what other people are doing,” Holt said. “You be you and you let them be them. This is about freedom.”

Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, was among those who said the ban could prevent local governments from responding to future public health emergencies.

“Masks work,” Bolkcom said. “They have worked and it’s a good thing that local governments and school districts have taken it upon themselves to encourage the use of masks.”

Senator Chris Cournoyer, a Republican from LeClaire, said it’s time to learn from the lessons of the pandemic.

“Kids do get Covid. My children have had Covid. Kids get colds, kids get cancer and kids get the flu,” Cournoyer said. “We cannot continue to live in an entire bubble.”

The bill passed both the Senate and House early Wednesday evening on what was the final day of the 2021 legislative session.

Gov. Reynolds signs legislation into law  

DES MOINES – Wednesday, May 19, Gov. Reynolds signed the following bills into law:  

SF 517: an Act relating to the provision of academic credit, including social studies coursework, and exemptions for physical education and activity requirements for students who participate in the legislative page program at the state capitol.  

SF 356: an Act limiting civil liability for persons involved in agricultural tourism.  

SF 296: an Act relating to the practice of pharmacy, including the prescription and administration of vaccines and collaborative pharmacy practice. 

HF 603: an Act establishing the sexual assault forensic examiner program.  

HF 426: an Act relating to crime victims, including the collection of evidence in sexual abuse cases and the establishment of an automated tracking system involving sexual abuse evidence collection kits. 

HF 813: an Act modifying and establishing charter school programs and making appropriations. 

HF 855: an Act relating to access to a copy of an original birth certificate by an adoptee or an entitled person, providing for fees, and including effective date provisions. 

HF 761: an Act relating to the local fire protection and emergency medical service providers grant program. 

Additional Legislation signed by Governor Reynolds on Thursday, May 20

DES MOINES - Today, Gov. Reynolds signed the following bills into law: 

HF 196: an Act expanding the health care professional recruitment program.  

HF 285: an Act relating to professional standards for the certification or designation of music therapists and providing penalties. 

HF 304: an Act relating to personal delivery devices, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable. 

HF 309: an Act restricting public agency disclosure of and access to certain personal information related to tax-exempt organizations, and providing penalties. 

HF 380: an Act requiring approved driver education courses to include instruction concerning distracted driving. 

HF 435: an Act relating to emergency contact information for use by the department of transportation and law enforcement, and including effective date provisions. 

HF 452: an Act relating to certain civil and criminal enforcement activities involving the practice of massage therapy and cosmetology, and human trafficking, and providing penalties. 

HF 453: an Act prohibiting the imposition of certain requirements on nonprofit corporations by state agencies or state officials. 

HF 493: an Act relating to low-speed electric bicycles, providing penalties, making penalties applicable, and including applicability provisions. 

HF 527: an Act relating to the authority of county boards of supervisors to amend an agreement between the counties to implement the county land record information system. 

HF 685: an Act relating to requirements for licensees under the purview of the dental board relating to orthodontia services. 

HF 709: an Act relating to pretrial contact between a prosecuting witness who is a minor and the defendant. 

HF 722: an Act relating to the transfer, deposit, and appropriation of moneys to the teach Iowa scholar fund from the teacher shortage forgivable loan repayment fund and the teacher shortage loan forgiveness repayment fund. 

HF 744: an Act providing for training, prohibitions, and requirements relating to first amendment rights at school districts and public institutions of higher education. 

HF 753: an Act relating to unintentionally causing the death of a person by operating a motor vehicle at an excessive speed, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable. 

HF 765: an Act relating to the acquisition and possession of weapons and providing penalties. 

HF 768: an Act concerning licensing of and sales by native distilleries, beer manufacturers, native breweries, and native wine manufacturers. 

HF 793: an Act relating to participation in and credit for physical education under the educational standards. 

HF 828: an Act relating to commercial driver's license driving skills tests, providing fees, and including effective date provisions. 

HF 835: an Act relating to trusts for persons with disabilities. 

HF 839: an Act relating to the financial exploitation of designated eligible adults. 

HF 846: an Act relating to title fees for snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and vessels of surviving spouses.    

HF 869: an Act creating a permit allowing the operation of vehicles of excessive weight transporting fluid milk products, providing fees, and including effective date provisions. 

HF 889: an Act prohibiting the mandatory disclosure of whether a person has received a vaccination for COVID-19, disqualifying certain entities from receiving state grants or contracts, and including effective date provisions. 

SF 387: an Act relating to courses of study and training programs of the Iowa law enforcement academy and veterans educational assistance benefits, and including effective date provisions 

SF 424: an Act relating to the licensure of persons completing an apprenticeship, and including effective date provisions. 

SF 541: an Act relating to electronic transactions by permitting the use of distributed ledger technology and smart contracts and including effective date provisions. 

Yesterday, Gov. Reynolds also signed the following bills into law:  

HF 311: an Act relating to the frequency of game nights conducted by licensed qualified organizations. 

HF 675: an Act relating to rules adopted by the board of educational examiners establishing standards for substitute teacher authorizations. 

HF 770: an Act relating to licensure renewal requirements adopted by rule by the board of educational examiners 

Week 18 Update

The Iowa legislature largely took this week off as they didn't have the votes (too many GOP members out of town) to move bills.  It is now expected both chambers come back next week, officially cut a deal, move the bills, and adjourn sometime next week/weekend.  We will keep you posted as all of this comes together.
 
Here are the headlines this week:

• Iowa Legislature heads to overtime: https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/2021-05-10-iowa-legislature-enters-second-overtime-week-with-no-state-budget/
• Gov. Reynolds ends federal dollars for unemployment, declares time to get to get back to work: https://who13.com/news/its-time-for-everyone-who-can-to-get-back-to-work-gov-reynolds-ending-iowas-federal-pandemic-related-unemployment-participation/
• Gov Reynolds says to longer fear Covid: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/05/12/no-reason-for-us-to-fear-covid-19-any-longer-iowas-governor-says/
• Statue of limitations on sex crimes removed: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/12/gov-kim-reynolds-new-iowa-law-statute-limitations-child-sex-crimes-abuse-human-trafficking/5062099001/
• Gas over $3 a gallon in Iowa: https://who13.com/news/average-price-of-gas-in-iowa-approaching-3-per-gallon/

Iowa adopts insurance data security act for licensed insurers 

Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed into law the Iowa Insurance Data Security Act (House File 719), making Iowa one of more than a dozen states to adopt the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' model cybersecurity law, JD Supra reported. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the act establishes investigation procedures, data security program standards and notification requirements for Iowa Insurance Division-regulated licensees to protect the security and confidentiality of nonpublic information and the security of the licensees' information systems. Licensees with fewer than 20 employees are exempt, as are licensees with less than $5 million in gross annual revenue or less than $10 million in year-end total. Covered licensees must develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program that considers their size, complexity, the scope of their activities, and the results of a required risk assessment. All insurers domiciled in the state must submit annual reports to the commissioner of insurance by April 15, certifying that the licensee is in compliance. 

Week 17 Update

The Iowa Legislative Session continues in overtime!  This week Governor Reynolds and Senate Republicans unveiled a $400 million tax cut compromise.  House Republicans unveiled their own plan, and the stalemate continues.  The main sticking point continues to be how Iowa's mental health system is paid for.  Senate Republicans want to take it off property taxes, and onto the state budget, while House Republicans want to continue as is for now.  

The House debated late into the evening last night, passing their versions of budget bills over to the Senate, and will pass the remaining budget out of their chamber on a rare Friday session today. No agreement between the chambers has been reached on the majority of them. 

It is unclear when an agreement will be reached, so it is likely session will likely continue, at a reduced pace, for at least another few weeks.

Here are the major headlines this week:

• Governor Reynolds, Senate GOP agree to tax plan - https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/05/05/governor-senate-gop-back-a-tax-plan-house-gop-offers-alternative/
• Vaccine passport ban heads to Governor Reynolds for a signature- https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/05/05/iowa-senate-approves-ban-on-vaccine-passports/
• Gov. Reynolds calls for transgender sports ban - https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/reynolds-defends-call-for-ban-on-transgender-girls-in-girls-sports/
• Iowa legislature heads to overtime - https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/2021-05-05-iowa-legislature-still-working-overtime-on-budget-tax-cuts/

 

Week 16 Update

Not over yet! Unfortunately, the 2021 IA Legislative Session is going into OT.  Lawmakers will no longer receive their daily per diem, and likely won't come back until mid-next week when they are closer to a deal. Once a deal is reached, it still takes about a week to process everything.  

The main sticking point between the chambers is tax reform.  Senate Republicans want to remove triggers from the 2018 tax reform bill and implement it immediately.  Secondly, they want to move the cost of mental health care from property taxpayers (lower property taxes) to the state's general fund.  House Republicans have been more cautious with budget issues and aren't sold on this plan yet.  

The lawmakers in charge of budget negotiations can't cut a deal until the tax reform issues are resolved.  Additionally, there are policy issues important to each chamber that haven't been agreed to yet that also complicate the situation. 

Here are the major headlines this week:

• Iowa House votes to ban vaccine passports:https://www.thegazette.com/article/iowa-house-votes-to-ban-un-american-vaccine-passports/
• Charter school bill heads to Governor Reynolds desk: https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/education/iowa-charter-bill-passed-through-senate-goes-to-reynolds-next/524-ccd0cb3e-36c3-44a9-b5f5-93e750e062c6
• Governor Reynolds continues push her fuel mandate bill:https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/29/reynolds-not-giving-up-bill-to-require-sale-of-higher-ethanol-blends/
• Speaker Grassley calls fuel mandate bill a "difficult push":https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/30/speaker-says-iowa-renewable-fuels-standard-a-difficult-push-in-2021/
• Legislature sends Governor Reynolds a flurry of bills: https://kwwl.com/2021/04/28/iowa-legislature-send-flurry-of-bills-to-gov-reynolds-desk/
• Senate Leader Jack Whitver wants tax cuts: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/27/whitver-says-senate-gop-priorities-are-cutting-income-and-property-taxes/
• Governor Reynolds signs broadband bill, $100 million in funding:https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/28/kim-reynolds-signs-law-setting-up-iowa-broadband-grant-program-lawmakers-agreed-100-million-funding/4872869001/
• Covid-19 shots at I-Cubs, Farmers Markets? : https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/28/iowa-could-see-mobile-covid-vaccine-clinics-popular-gathering-spots-cubs-games-kim-reynolds-says/4862012001/

 

Week 15 Update 

The 2021 Iowa Legislative Session is supposed to end next week, but that is looking unlikely as legislative leaders have yet to agree on a few big items like tax reform and final budget numbers.  Once those final agreements are reached, it takes about another week to move the "paper" between both chambers for adjournment.  We will keep you updated on any developments.

Here are the major headlines this week:

• Iowa's unemployment rate 3.7% in March: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/16/iowas-unemployment-rate-in-march-2021-was-3-7/
• House and Senate divided on tax and policy issues: https://www.thegazette.com/government-politics/budget-bill-highlights-iowa-gop-differences/
• House sends Governor Reynolds diversity plans bill: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/21/house-sends-governor-ban-on-diversity-plans-in-5-iowa-districts/
• 43 of Iowa's 99 Counties decline additional vaccine doses as demand slows: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/21/43-iowa-counties-decline-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine-this-week/
• Iowa House pases payment parity for virtual mental health visits again: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/20/house-again-votes-for-reimbursement-parity-for-virtual-mental-health-servies/
• Governor Reynolds get $100 million for broadband deployment in Iowa: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/21/gop-lawmakers-agree-on-100-million-for-broadband-expansion-grants/
• Solar energy growing rapidly in Iowa: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2021/04/22/iowa-wind-energy-seeing-burst-solar-power-projects-opposition-emerging-renewable/7131915002/

 

Week 14 Update 

Iowa Legislative leaders, and budget chairs worked this week to try and find consensus on final agreements.  Progress is being made, but both sides still differ on big ticket items like tax cuts.  My best guess is they will hash out the majority of those differences this week coming week and adjourn right around the scheduled date of 4/30.

Here are the major headlines this week:

• Iowa House and Senate differ on Regent spending: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/09/senate-and-house-gop-differ-on-state-spending-on-ui-isu-uni/
• Senate Leader Jack Whitver reacts to Supreme Court statement on redistricting: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/09/senate-gop-leader-interprets-court-statement-on-redistricting/
• Tax cuts up for debate: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/13/gop-lawmakers-mulling-2021-tax-cut-prospects/
• Bottle Bill debate turns into groundhog day: https://kiwaradio.com/local-news/legislatures-bottle-bill-debate-compared-to-groundhog-day-movie/
• Back the blue legislation passes the Iowa House: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/14/on-63-30-vote-iowa-house-passes-law-enforcement-package/
• Hand Free driving law stalls out: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/15/iowa-unlikely-to-join-26-states-with-hands-free-driving-laws/

On Monday, Governor Reynolds signed the following bills into law:

SF 172:  An Act relating to the definition of Sex Act or Sexual Activity for the purpose of the Iowa criminal code.  

SF 253: An Act relating to sexual abuse In the second degree and sexual abuse in the third degree.   

SF 548: An Act relating to the regulation of advertising near certain highways. 

HF 368: An Act relating to the administration of the reimbursement for rent constituting property taxes paid and related matters and including effective date provisions.  

HF 495: an act relating to certain reporting dates for cities which receive road use tax fund moneys. 

HF 559: An Act relating to financial assistance provided by the economic development authority to certain apprentice sponsors and lead apprentice sponsors, and including applicability provisions. 

HF 655: An Act prohibiting interference with the transportation of an agricultural animal, and providing penalties. 

HF 260: An Act relating to the number of children receiving childcare at any one time in a childcare home. 

HF 552: An Act relating to requirements for using a dog to track a wounded deer.  

HF 555: An Act prohibiting counties and cities from regulating the sale of natural gas and propane. 

SF 444:An Act relating to motor vehicles, including the surrender or transfer of registration plates and cards to a county treasurer, documentary fees charged by a motor vehicle dealers, and a motor vehicles franchise.  

 

Week 13 Update

The Iowa Legislature continued to inch closer to adjournment as both chambers worked on initial budget bills this week.  Additionally, both chambers focused on floor votes moving mostly non-controversial bills down to the Governor or back to the other chamber if an amendment was made.  In the next week or two (hopefully), House and Senate Republicans will announce joint budget targets and final deals will be made. 

This week, the following led the news:

• Governor Reynolds signed permitless carry gun legislation: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/02/iowa-kim-reynolds-signs-law-allowing-no-permit-carry-purchase-handguns-conceal-carry-constitutional/6965689002/
• Wind Power surges in Iowa! https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2021/04/09/iowa-electricity-generation-wind-energy-surges-2020-540-turbines-added-nears-6000/7107580002/
• All Iowans above 15 now allowed to receive the vaccine: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/05/all-iowans-above-age-15-now-eligible-for-covid-shots/
• Iowa budget work underway: https://www.thegazette.com/news/legislative-iowa-budget-work-underway/
• Governor Reynold's broadband bill passes: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/06/framework-for-broadband-grants-approved-money-decision-to-come-later/
• Fuel prices rising! https://www.thegazette.com/business/highest-summer-fuel-prices-forecast-since-2018/
• Constitutional amendment on abortion advances: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/07/senate-gop-advances-proposed-constitutional-amendment-on-abortion/
• Cocktail deliveries to be allowed: http://www.swiowanewssource.com/news/state/article_f71c0d2f-10eb-593d-9b9a-f211608df843.html
• Reynolds and/or Legislature to ban vaccine passports: https://www.thegazette.com/news/gov-kim-reynolds-calls-for-ban-of-vaccine-passports/

 

 

Week 12 Update

This week, the Iowa Legislature completed the second funnel week, and most committee work for the year.  In the weeks moving forward, legislators will be focusing their time on "floor work" and going to their respective caucus meetings to hammer out the final deals of the year.  I'd guess somewhere around 4 weeks of session remaining (hopefully)!

Here are the major headlines for the week:

1. House Republicans call for $100 million in broadband expansion: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/26/house-republicans-plan-100-million-for-broadband-expansion/

2. Iowa see's enrollment decline in schools: https://www.kcrg.com/2021/03/31/iowa-schools-see-first-enrollment-decline-in-a-decade-with-no-way-to-account-for-where-students-went/

3. Charter school legislation advances: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-senators-advance-charter-school-expansion-20210330

4. Iowa Congresswoman MMM officially wins by 6 votes!: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/31/closest-2020-congressional-race-in-us-is-over/

5. April 5th, all Iowans eligible Iowans can get vaccine: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/health/iowa-is-prepared-to-open-covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-gov-kim-reynolds-says-20210331

6. Bottle bill discussions continue: https://wcfcourier.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/changes-to-iowa-bottle-bill-likely-a-non-starter-this-session/article_aa44beb6-c8cc-59b4-9797-868ec12bb878.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

7. Some controversial bills dead after second funnel: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/04/02/bills-related-to-birth-control-tenure-racial-profiling-didnt-meet-deadline-for-action/

8. Governor's biofuel bill continues to be worked on: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/03/31/lawmakers-work-to-soften-governors-controversial-biofuels-bill/

 

Week 11 Update

The second funnel deadline of this year's Iowa Legislative Session is just a week away.  For bills to remain eligible, they must pass a chamber, and clear a committee in the other chamber.  

Here are the major headlines from the week:

Private flood insurance coming to Iowa?: 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/26/house-bill-could-set-up-private-flood-insurance-market-in-iowa/

Tragedy at Iowa State Prison:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/24/few-details-known-about-deadly-attack-at-eastern-iowa-prison/

Governor, Senate Republicans call for Tax Cuts:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/19/governor-says-tax-projections-should-spur-speeding-up-tax-cuts/

Iowa Governments to receive $4 Billion in aid:

https://wcfcourier.com/business/iowa-governments-in-line-for-over-4b-in-covid-19-aid/article_4edbd411-40c2-56b5-bbb3-cf0c4eae2cc8.html

House approves Charter School legislation: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/25/house-approves-new-route-for-charter-schools-in-iowa/

Gun law changes heading to Governor Reynolds desk: 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/24/governor-reviewing-proposed-changes-in-iowa-gun-law/

Iowa's Second Congressional District race outcome under debate:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/25/governor-says-democrats-are-trying-to-federalize-elections/

Rental and mortgage assistance announced: 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/25/195-million-in-assistance-for-low-income-iowans-with-overdue-rent-utility-bills/

Governor Reynolds signed the following bills into law on Monday 3/22:

HF 560:  An Act relating to requirements for eligibility under the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program. 

SF 129: An Act relating to specialty areas, service commitment area distance requirements, and practice – related requirements under the rural Iowa primary care loan repayment program.  

SF 232: An Act relating to notice and reclamation requirements for abandoned vehicles taken into custody by a police authority or private entity.  

SF 235: An Act relating to the denial and contests of probate claims.   

SF 261: An act authorizing the college student aid commission to organize a non profit corporation.  

SF 289: An Act relating to the powers and duties of the board of directors of area education agencies, school districts, and school corporations, and to the election of a director as school board president.  

SF 307: An Act relating to the examination and transportation of dead bodies, including associated fees and costs.   

SF 353: An Act relating to the drainage and levee districts, by providing for notices to interested persons including landowners in the district, and for repairs that require a report by an engineer or soil and water conservation district conservationist.  

SF 482: An Act regulating the application of pesticides, inducing by providing for the certification of applicators, and certain actions taken by the department of agriculture and land stewardship against private applicators and providing penalties.  

 

Week 10 Update

At 11 AM today, the Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference met. This three-person group forecasts the State of Iowa budget.  If they estimate lower numbers than the previous December estimate, legislators work off the March REC.  If the December REC is lower of the two, they work off December.  Today's meeting will give legislators the answers they need to begin the process of winding down session. 

The legislature worked on some pretty big bills this week:

• SF 576 which eliminates the triggers from the 2018 tax reform bill and eliminates the State of Iowa inheritance tax.  This bill now heads to the House. (https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/18/iowa-senate-passes-tax-package-on-46-0-vote/)
• HF 796 which is the Governor's Broadband bill.  Governor Reynolds is asking for $450 million over three years for broadband expansion in the state.
• SF 580 which deals with banning social media censorship: heads to the House (https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-senate-goes-after-big-tech-as-threat-to-free-speech-20210317)
• HF 621 which shields gun and ammo manufacturers from lawsuits: heads to the Senate
• HF756 which authorizes constitutional carry - Heads to the Senate:  (https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/17/iowa-house-passes-bill-to-make-state-permits-to-buy-carry-guns-optional/)

Other big news items this week:

• Starting April 5th, all Iowans could be eligible for the Covid 19 Vaccine: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/17/governor-says-all-iowans-likely-to-be-eligible-to-schedule-covid-shots-april-5/
• House votes on diversity training changes: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/16/house-votes-to-ban-stereotyping-in-diversity-training/
• Iowa's unemployment rate down to 3.5% : https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/15/unemployment-down-to-3-5-in-january/

 

Week 9 Update

This past week was much slower as legislators largely focused on floor work, not committee work after the 1st funnel deadline. Friday, March 19th is the Revenue Estimating Conference meeting.  Once these numbers come out, legislators can begin work on finalizing the budget for the year.  
 
Governor Reynolds signed the following bills into law Monday:
 
HF200: An act relating to the military code and duty performed by a member of the United States Coast Guard.  
  
HF235: An act relating to service charges on consumer credit transactions.  
  
HF232: An act relating to the crime of disorderly conduct and making penalties applicable.    
 
SF240: An act relating to the creation, administration, and termination of custodial trusts.  
  
SF239: An act relating to proper parties in causes of actions following the death of persons entitled or liable to such causes of actions and including applicability provisions.   
  
SF231: An act regarding driving privileges of persons issued a special minor’s driver’s license, and making penalties applicable.   
  
SF173:  An act relating to trusts, including requirements for certifications of trust and the general order of abatement.  
  
SF343: An act relating to authorized access to certain confidential records by employees of the Department of Corrections, a judicial district Department of Correctional Services, and the Board of Parole.    
  
SF285: An act relating to suspension of a student’s participation in the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship program.    
  
SF130: An act relating to a temporary exception to a limitation compensation for a member of a board of directors of a school corporation, and including effective date provisions.   
  
HF386: An act striking certain reporting requirements related to non profit school organizations established by school districts.   
  
HF308: An act relating to eligibility requirements for students under the senior year plus program and including effective date and applicability provisions.   
  
HF283: An act creating the criminal offense of defrauding a drug or alcohol test and providing penalties.     

Week 8 Update

Today officially marks the first funnel deadline of this legislative session.  It was a very busy week of subcommittee and committee work as legislators and lobbyists tried to get bills important to them through. 

Here's a listing of which bills made it, and which bills died:

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/heres-what-alive-and-dead-at-the-iowa-legislature-20210304

Most of the GOP priority bills made it:

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/most-of-iowa-gop-agenda-clears-first-legislative-hurdle-20210304

Governor's Reynold's bill to ban racial profiling bill did not advance:

https://www.iowapublicradio.org/state-government-news/2021-03-04/iowa-lawmakers-fail-to-advance-racial-profiling-ban-ahead-of-deadline

House GOP passes tax breaks for PPP and unemployment dollars:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/03/house-approves-115m-in-tax-breaks-to-iowa-businesses-unemployed/

House GOP goes after big tech censorship:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/03/05/house-gop-plan-focuses-on-big-tech-censoring-politicians/

Iowans under 65, with chronic health conditions will be able to get Covid-19 shot starting Monday:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2021/03/04/iowa-expands-covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-people-chronic-health-conditions-at-risk/4586320001/

Governor's Reynold's school choice legislation hit a roadblock:

https://www.thehawkeye.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/03/governor-kim-reynolds-school-choice-bill-lacks-support-iowa-house/6906823002/

The Bottle bill debate continues:

https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/03/04/lawmakers-uncork-criticism-of-bottle-bill-changes-advance-proposals-anyway/

Week 7 Update

This week the Iowa Legislature was focused on election reform.  After 5 hours of debate Wednesday, the House passed the measure 57-37.  The Senate passed the bill last week and it now heads to the Governor's desk for review.

Major changes include: 

20 days of absentee voting instead of 29

Absentee ballots must be returned to the County Auditor by 8 PM on election day

Instead of being able to request an absentee ballot 120 days out, the earliest one can now be requested is 70 days out

Polls will now close at 8 PM instead of 9 PM

Governor Reynolds signed a 2.4% increase in school funding:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/23/governor-approves-2-4-increase-in-state-per-pupil-spending-on-schools/

Governor Reynolds announced a new Covid-19 vaccine information website:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/25/new-state-of-iowa-website-with-covid-19-vaccine-info/

The Governor also announced more Iowans will be eligible for the shot in March:

https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2021-02-25/reynolds-vaccine-eligibility-to-expand-in-early-march-iowa-launching-vaccine-locator

Governor Reyonold's School Choice bill has hit a roadblock in the Iowa House:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/22/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-school-choice-education-bill-private-schools-republicans-uncomfortable/4436542001/

The Legislature's 1st Funnel deadline is this coming Thursday.  Any bill, other than those within the Ways and Means or Appropriations committee is "dead" if not passed out of committee.

Week 6 Update

The Iowa Legislature's first funnel deadline is in just two weeks.  This means any bill that has been proposed must pass a sub committee, and full committee to be considered alive for this session. With this deadline approaching, the Cap is very busy with sub and full committee meetings to move bills.  Even with these deadlines, technically nothing is ever "dead" as language can always be amended into live bills.  

This week the Legislature passed a 2.4% increase in school spending:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/17/legislature-passes-iowa-education-funding-k-12-schools/6719761002/

The House also passed extra funding for school to cover covid expenses:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/19/house-approves-extra-school-funding-for-covid-costs/

Governor Reynold's fuel mandate bill had its first subcommittee meetings:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/18/state-biofuels-mandate-gets-first-airing-in-iowa-legislature/

Governor says her focus this session is on broadband and childcare:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/16/reynolds-says-legislative-action-needed-on-broadband-housing-child-care-her-focus/

Republicans unveil election reform bill:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/iowa-view/2021/02/19/iowa-legislature-voting-bill-auditors-clarity-improves-system/4493017001/

Week 5 Update

It was another cold, busy week at the Iowa Cap!  

Senator Dickey from SE Iowa was officially sworn in Monday, and the Senate Chamber returned to a 32-18 R advantage.

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/08/winner-of-special-election-sworn-in-as-50th-state-senator/  

This week was largely dominated with the annual school funding debate.  The House, Senate and Governor have all proposed increases ranging from 2.2% to 2.5% while also rewarding schools that remained open during the pandemic with extra funding.

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/12/house-and-senate-republicans-agree-on-general-level-of-spending-for-schools/

The legislature has also begun work on a series of child care bills.  You can read about those here: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/11/package-of-child-care-proposals-clears-iowa-house/

News Clips:

End tenure at Iowa Regent Universities? 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/11/iowa-house-education-committee-votes-to-end-tenure-at-ui-isu-uni/

Insulin reform moves forward

https://kiwaradio.com/local-news/another-push-at-statehouse-to-limit-co-pays-for-insulin/

Governor Reynolds lifts Iowa's mask mandate

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/05/iowas-governor-lifts-mask-mandate-for-public-indoor-spaces/

2021 Iowa State Fair a go!

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/2021/02/12/board-monitoring-safety-protocols-covid-iowa-state-fair-2021/4453501001/

State of Iowa taps Microsoft for vaccine rollout:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2021/02/09/iowa-picked-microsoft-create-covid-19-vaccination-scheduling-system/4449607001/

 

Week 4 Update

Week 4 of the 2021 legislative session is in the books.  Thursday's legislative meetings were largely cancelled due to the storm.  One nice thing about the IA Senate conducting their subcommittees via zoom, is they were able to keep most of those as planned.  

Governor Reynolds held her weekly news conference yesterday, and after months of work, she and her Economic Recovery Advisory Board released their report:

https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/GovAdvisoryBoard_Report_112020_F.pdf

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2021/02/04/executives-back-governor-kim-reynolds-iowa-economy-recovery-plans-covid-19/4392336001/

Governor Reynolds also touched on the need to improve vaccine rollout in the state:

https://kwwl.com/2021/02/04/governor-reynolds-promises-to-find-solutions-for-slow-vaccine-rollout-in-iowa/

Governor Reynolds named former Gov Branstad Chief of Staff as the new Department of Management Director, he replaces retiring Dave Roederer: 

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/01/kim-reynolds-names-michael-bousselot-direct-iowa-department-management-state-budget-david-roederer/4346627001/

Other News Clips:

All Iowa Schools must offer in-person option by Feb 15:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/29/all-iowa-schools-required-to-hold-in-person-classes-by-feb-15/

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag, could be required to start each school day:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/02/reciting-pledge-of-allegiance-would-be-required-to-start-school-day/

Child Care Shortage legislation a priority this session:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/02/legislators-working-on-bills-to-address-child-care-shortage/

House oversight holds meetings on free speech issues at University of Iowa:

https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/iowa-universities-apologize-for-egregious-free-speech-errors/article_1cb814ae-8e55-5f67-b101-0092621ab950.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

OTC Birth Control advances: 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/02/03/house-panel-endorses-birth-control-access-at-pharmacy-counter/

Week 3 Update 

Week 3 was a busy one, with dozens of subcommittee meetings taking place daily.  This fast pace will likely continue until Thursday, March 4th when the first funnel deadline occurs.

Yesterday, both the House and Senate approved SF 160 - a bill that requires school districts to offer 100% in person school.  Governor Reynolds will sign this legislation at 11 AM this morning. 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/28/every-iowa-school-will-be-required-to-hold-100-of-classes-in-person/

Sf 169, the Governor's education reform bill, which includes vouchers for private schools passed the Senate, and now heads to the House for their consideration: 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/28/senate-advances-governors-student-first-scholarships-for-private-school-attendance/

The legislature also passed a constitutional amendment on the right to bear arms this week.  This now heads to the vote of the people in the November 2022 election.  

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/28/there-will-be-a-gun-rights-amendment-on-iowas-2022-ballot/

Other important news:

1. Republicans slam University of Iowa over free speech: 

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/education/university-iowa-college-dentistry-free-speech-bobby-kaufmann-michael-brase-20210128

2. Iowa unemployment rate drops to 3.1% 

https://www.thehawkeye.com/story/money/business/2021/01/26/iowa-unemployment-rate-drops-though-job-recovery-still-lags/4257745001/

3. Republicans advance abortion consitituional amendment, voters to eventually decide

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/27/gop-led-iowa-house-advances-amendment-on-abortion/

4. Penalties proposed for companies that employ undocumented workers:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/26/state-penalties-proposed-for-iowa-firms-hiring-undocumented-workers/

5. Ban smartphones while driving proposed: 

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/27/new-bid-for-ban-on-handling-smart-phones-while-driving/

6. Governor Reynolds calls for fuel mandates:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/26/iowas-governorcalls-for-e15-b11-to-be-offered-from-all-new-fuel-pump/

7. Iowa to get 16% more in vaccine supply:

https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-gov-kim-reynolds-feds-will-increase-covid-19-vaccine-allocation-by-16/35337983

Week 2 Update

Week two of the session began Tuesday and legislators got right to work with dozens of committee and sub committee meetings.  Hundreds of new bills were also filed this week and we continue to go through them.  Governor Reynolds unveiled her return to learn legislation this week and also announced that folks 65+ will soon be eligible for vaccinations in Iowa.  

Important news clips:

1. Governor Reynolds Return to learn/School Choice plan: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/21/proposals-law-legislature-kim-reynolds-supports-would-require-iowa-schools-offer-person-classes/4230792001/

and:

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/education/gov-reynolds-proposes-school-choice-x2014-charter-schools-private-school-scholarships-ability-to-transfer-out-of-districts-20210120

2. Iowans 65+ can now get a vaccine:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/21/iowans-65-now-eligible-in-next-phase-of-covid-vaccinations/

3. Bars and Restaurant State of Iowa relief money:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/dining/2021/01/21/governor-kim-reynolds-announces-iowa-restaurant-bar-relief-grant-program-covid-19-relief/6657162002/

4. Gun Constitutional Rights moves forward: 

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/gun-rights-constitutional-amendment-moves-ahead-in-iowa-legislature-20210121

5. No right to an abortion moves forward: 

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/amendment-declaring-no-right-to-abortion-sent-to-full-iowa-house-20210120

6. Iowa House rejects a mask mandate:

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-house-rejects-call-for-mandatory-masks-remote-hearings-20210121

7. Congresswoman MMM ask for dismissal of challenge to her 6 vote lead:

https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/21/miller-meeks-files-request-for-house-rejection-of-hart-challenge/

Week 1 Update

The first session of the 89th General Assembly is on its way!  On Monday the Legislature convened, seats were chosen, and oaths of office delivered.  This session, like most things recently, is operating much differently with all of the covid-19 protocols. 

On Tuesday, Governor Reynolds delivered her Condition of the State Address: Highlights include: 

Universal Broadband Access

• $150 million per year over three years
• Increasing grant percentage from 35% to 75%

Child Care

• $3 million to fund the Child Care Challenge Fund created in 2020
• $25 Million in federal block grant dollars to address child care deserts

Workforce Housing

• Increase the workforce housing tax credit from $25 million to $50 million
• Increase small city set-aside from $10 to $20 million for three years
• Increase redevelopment tax credit from $10 to $20 million
• Create affordable housing tax credit for new, low-income rental housing - $15 million
• Increase housing trust fund to $4..4 million

Workforce Training

• Expand work-based learning opportunities so all high school students can participate
• $23 million for the Last Dollar Dollar Scholarship Program ($10 million increase) 

Tax Reform

• Governor Reynolds is not pursuing her IWill tax plan she proposed this year due to Covid-19 uncertainty 
• Eliminate triggers from 2018 tax legislation effective for tax year 2023

Education Reform

• 100% in person learning option
• Open-enrollment for all school districts
• More flexibility to expand public charter schools
• Create Educational Savings Accounts

Criminal Justice Reform & Back the Blue

• Ban Racial profiling
• Enhance penalties for those who riot, harass, or assault peace officers

Mental Health

• $15 million increase in FY22 and FY23 for mental health regional services

Other Top Issues

• Continue conservative budget principles 
• Constitutional amendments 
• Redistricting - Legislature could come back in the summer for this to finalize 
• Telehealth
• E-Verify

Budget

• State finished FY 20 with surplus of $305 million and reserve accounts full (over $700 million) 

News Clips from the Governors speech:

• https://www.kcrg.com/2021/01/13/gov-reynolds-outlines-goals-in-condition-of-the-state-address/
• https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/12/reynolds-outlines-2021-agenda-including-150-m-for-broadband/

On Wednesday, Chief Justice Susan Christensen gave the Condition of the Judiciary:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2021/01/13/iowa-courts-chief-justice-susan-christensen-annual-condition-of-the-judiciary-covid-19-pandemic/6640856002/

On Thursday, Adjutant General Correll delivered the Condition of the Guard:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/14/condition-of-iowa-national-guard-address-ben-corell-covid-19-derecho-capitol-riots-inauguration/4147965001/

Legislative Makeup

• GOP Netted 6 seats in the House (59 R - 41 D)
• House leadership stayed the same - Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New Hartfod), Majority Leader Matt Windschitl (R- Missouri Valley), Minority Leader Todd Pritchard (D-Charles City) 
• In the Senate, GOP maintained control (31-18).  State Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Ottumwa) has resigned her seat as she is now in Congress.  A Special Election is scheduled for January 26th.  State Senator Zach Nunn (R-Altoona) is on active military duty and will miss most, if not all of the 2021 session. 
• Republican Leadership: Majority Leader Jack Whitver (R-Ankeny), President Jake Chapman (R-Adel)
• Democrat Leader: Minority Zach Wahls (D-Coralville)

While hundreds of bills were filed this week, and committee meetings were held for organizational purposes, the real work begins next week.  As a reminder, the State Government is closed on Monday for MLK day.  On Tuesday, the sub committee process will really begin.  

Other news:

• Iowa Budget Chief Dave Roederer to Retire: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/08/governors-budget-director-to-retire-january-31/
• New DAS, Homeland Security Directors, new Governor's Office COO: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/14/gov-kim-reynolds-names-new-chief-operating-officer-homeland-security-head/4166192001/
• Sharp exchanges on opening day: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/11/unusually-sharp-exchange-on-iowa-legislatures-opening-day/
• Lawmakers outline priorities: https://ktiv.com/2021/01/11/lawmakers-outline-priorities-as-iowa-legislature-gavels-into-session-during-pandemic/
• Next phase of Covid-19 Vaccines announced: https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-department-of-public-health-announces-next-phase-of-covid-19-vaccine-distribution/35194308
• Continued optimism ahead: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/07/iowa-business-council-survey-shows-continuing-optimism/
• Death penalty debate begins: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/01/15/death-penalty-proposed-for-specific-child-murder-cases/

BULLETIN 20-08

To:      All Insurance Producers and Continuing Education Providers of Iowa
From: Doug Ommen, Iowa Insurance Commissioner
RE:      Iowa Insurance Division Transition to New Version of SBS in June
Date:   April 21, 2020
____________________________________________________

Effective June 10, 2020, Iowa will be transitioning to a new version of State Based Systems (SBS). The ability to submit any transactions to SBS or the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) will be shut down on June 5, 2020 at 3:00 pm CDT and will be turned back on June 10, 2020 in the morning.

The Commissioner rescinds Bulletin 20-02 effective immediately which indicated that the transition to the new version of SBS would occur in May.

Any transaction submitted during this timeframe will be declined and fees will not be collected. This affects all the following Iowa applications:

• · Resident Licensing (RL)
• · Resident Licensing Renewals (RLR)
• · Non- Resident Licensing (NRL)
• · Non- Resident Licensing Renewals (NRR)
• · Non- Resident Adjuster Licensing (NRAL)
• · Non- Resident Adjuster Licensing Renewals (NRAR)
• · Appointment and Terminations (Appt/Term)
• · Contact Change Request (CCR)
• · Continuing Education – posting of credits and submittals of course rosters

In addition, the Division will be making minor changes including requiring Designated Responsible Licensed Producers (DRLP) to be actively licensed and requiring the National Producer Number (NPN) for an individual instead of their tax identification number (SSN) for Appointment & Termination transactions.

More information will be available from the Iowa Insurance Division as it becomes available. Additional information will also be available at www.statebasedsystems.com as the transition date approaches.

### 

Iowa schools to extend closures through end of school year
Schools will continue voluntary and required continuous learning plans while school buildings are closed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 17, 2020

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced today that all school districts and nonpublic schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year and will continue to offer continuous learning to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This also includes the cancellation of spring sports activities. 

“While I would like nothing more than to open up our schools and classrooms in May, we have to prioritize the health and safety of Iowans,” said Gov. Reynolds. “With our students at home, we must rely on continuous learning plans that are in place and prepare school districts for ‘Return to Learn’ in the fall. I greatly appreciate the work of Director Ann Lebo and all our school administrators, educators, and staff during this unprecedented time.”

The decision, which was announced today during Gov. Kim Reynolds’ press conference,

is based on recommendations from the Iowa Department of Public Health to ensure the health and safety of Iowa students, teachers, school administrators and other school staff. View that press conference here. 

“Iowa teachers should be commended for how quickly they have transitioned from the classroom to online and distance learning,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo. “Our schools have really stepped up to the plate and worked hard to develop and implement continuous learning solutions in only a matter of weeks. We appreciate everything schools and families are doing to support children’s well-being while continuing to support their academic progress while school buildings are closed.”

The governor and the Iowa Department of Education also announced that the state of Iowa will:

• Waive instructional time requirements for the remainder of the 2019-2020 regularly scheduled academic year for schools that continue to provide continuous learning through one of two approved options, voluntary educational enrichment opportunities, required educational services, or a combination of the two.
• Require schools to submit a Return to Learn Plan to the Iowa Department of Education by July 1 outlining ways they will address disruptions to learning as a result of COVID-19. This could include summer school, enrichment activities or other opportunities to address the needs of learners.
• Waive the requirement that schools start no earlier than Aug. 23, allowing school districts and nonpublic schools to make local decisions about the length of their 2020-2021 academic year. 

The governor had previously ordered schools to close through April 30. All of Iowa’s 327 public school districts, as well as 179 nonpublic schools, currently offer continuous learning through one of the approved continuous learning options outlined above. Continuous learning encompasses a variety of approaches used to extend learning beyond brick and mortar buildings — online learning, e-learning, distance learning, including paper packets, and virtual learning.

School buildings will remain closed through the end of the school year except for approved meals site locations participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program and those providing temporary emergency childcare.

An announcement on summer sports activities and when other school-sponsored activities can resume will be made by June 1.

For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Education’s COVID-19 Guidance and Information web page.

BULLETIN 20-06 

 

BULLETIN 20-05

 

BULLETIN 20-04

To:       All Health Insurance Companies Writing in the State of Iowa
From:   Doug Ommen, Iowa Insurance Commissioner
RE:     Individual and Small Group Coverage Impacted by COVID-19
Date:    March 19, 2020

In light of Governor Reynolds’s March 17, 2020 proclamation of a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency (the “Proclamation”), the purpose of Bulletin 20-04 is to assist individuals and entities regulated by the Iowa Insurance Division who are impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic and the resulting economic disruptions.The Commissioner requests all health insurers and health maintenance organizations licensed in this state to allow a premium payment grace period for any Iowa individual health benefit plan as defined in Iowa Code section 513C.3 and to any health benefit plan issued to small employers under Iowa Code chapter 513B as follows:

• Health insurers and health maintenance organizations are requested to put procedures in place allowing individual and small employer policyholders affected by the economic disruptions resulting from COVID-19 to request extensions for premium payments beyond the insurers’ normal payment due dates.
• Health insurers and health maintenance organizations are requested to allow any individual or small group policyholder at least 60 days after a premium payment is due before terminating coverage for any such policyholder who has a premium payment initially due between March 17, 2020, and June 30, 2020.
• To the extent that federal law requires a longer or shorter period for payment of premiums, federal law shall control. However, in light of the Proclamation, the Commissioner requests that issuers on the Federally Facilitated Exchange extend premium payment deadlines (such as deadlines for payment to effectuate coverage) and delay cancellations for non-payment of premium that are at least consistent with this Bulletin. The Division further requests that CMS exercise enforcement discretion regarding any provisions of federal law inconsistent with this Bulletin pursuant to section 7.1.4 of the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) and Federally-facilitated Small Business Health Options Program (FF-SHOP) Enrollment Manual.
• For those policies with an automatic bank draft or electronic funds transfer arrangement, health insurers and health maintenance organizations may continue payment deductions unless or until the policyholder terminates this arrangement with the insurer and financial institution.

The Division is not requesting that health insurers or health maintenance organizations waive any premiums or other consideration owed on any policy or contract. Nothing in this Bulletin should be construed as the Division requesting any health insurer or health maintenance organization to refrain from terminating coverage on the basis of fraud on the part of an insured.

We will update you as we get more information. Please watch for information to come from the insurance companies on how these will be handled.

 

House and Senate to Suspend Legislative Session

(DES MOINES) -- This afternoon the House and Senate announced the legislative session will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days following the announcement of community spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. The decision was made in consultation with the Department of Public Health and Governor’s Office based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control related to mass gatherings to protect vulnerable populations.   The House and Senate will convene on Monday at regular scheduled time to consider resolutions regarding continuity of government to ensure delivery of essential services to Iowans. Previously scheduled subcommittee and committee meetings have been cancelled. Standing committees will be on-call as needed.   The Capitol building will open on Monday at 11:00 am, with entrances open on the south and west sides. Prior to entering the Capitol, staff members and the public will be required to undergo a health screening administered by the Department of Public Health (this includes filling out a health questionnaire and temperature reading). All scheduled events, tours, and receptions at the Capitol are cancelled until further notice.   Members of the public over the age of 60 or with underlying health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease) are encouraged to avoid the Capitol.   More information will be shared when it becomes available.

 

Bills that passed the House

HF 2553 PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS 

Establishes requirements for a Pharmacy Benefit Manager to place a drug on the Maximum Allowable Cost list, including that the drug is available to pharmacies statewide. Requires a pharmacy have access to the list. Requires a PBM to update the list within seven days due to changes in acquisition cost or cost methodology. Prohibits a PBM from paying a pharmacy less for a prescription drug than it pays PBM affiliates. Requires that a PBM have an appeals process, with a dedicated phone and internet site. Prohibits PBM from requiring pharmacies to meet accreditation standards or surety requirements beyond state and federal requirements. Prohibits spread pricing and defines such pricing. Prohibits PBM from barring pharmacies from using direct delivery or mail delivery. Includes provisions barring PBMs from retroactively reducing claims. Commissioner: Requires the Insurance Commissioner to review PBM compensation to pharmacies and to adopt rules and take enforcement actions. Other: Makes the bill severable. Repeals some current enforcement provisions and makes conforming changes. 

The House PASSED the bill 100-0; it now GOES to the Senate 

HF 2138 INSULIN PRESCRIPTION COSTS 

Requires insurance coverage for prescription drugs to cap cost-sharing for insulin prescriptions at no more than $100 for a 30-day supply of insulin. 

H 8016 by A Meyer - Makes the supply period 31 days. ADOPTED 

H 8115 to H 8016 by James - Reduces the cost to $50. RULED NOT GERMANE; MTSR FAILED 53-46 

The House PASSED the bill as amended 98-1; it now GOES to the Senate 

HF 2192 TELEHEALTH PAYMENTS 

Requires health carriers to reimburse health care providers for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person services as of January 2021. 

H 8028 by Fry - Requires tele-health procedures to be in real-time. Prohibits the health carrier from requiring additional health care professionals to be present. ADOPTED 

H 8035 to H 8028 by Fry - Corrective. ADOPTED 

The House PASSED the bill as amended 99-0; it now GOES to the Senate 

Amendments to Insulin Bill - HF2138 - Amendment was to remove all insulin drugs to at least one in each type of rapid-acting prescription insulin drugs, short-acting prescription insulin drugs, intermediate-acting prescription insulin drugs, or long-acting prescription insulin drugs. For information follow this link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=88&ba=HF%202138

The following bills were released that are related to health care:

Continuity of Care - HF2089 & SSB3117 - This bill provides that during a covered person's eligibility under a health benefit plan, inclusive of any open enrollment period, a health plan carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization review organization shall not limit or exclude coverage of a prescription drug for the covered person if the covered person is medically stable on the drug as determined by the prescribing health care professional, the drug was previously approved by the health carrier for coverage for the person, and the person's prescribing health care professional has prescribed the drug for the covered person's medical condition within the previous six months. For more information follow these links: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=88&ba=hf2089 AND https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SSB3117&ga=88

Drug Transparency - HF2253 - This bill requires a manufacturer to file an annual report with the commissioner of insurance that discloses the wholesale acquisition cost for all prescription drugs manufactured by the manufacturer that were sold to a person in the state in the immediately preceding calendar year. For more information follow this link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF2253&ga=88

Civil Action - Providers - HSB596 - The bill eliminates the exception to the limitation of $250,000 that would allow the jury to determine if the imposition of such a limitation would deprive the plaintiff of just compensation for the injuries sustained. For more information follow this link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=88&ba=hsb596

SSB 3047 - 1332 Waiver

This bill relates to health insurance and the insurance division of the department of commerce. The bill authorizes the commissioner of insurance to develop by rule a state innovation waiver pursuant to section 1332 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No. 111-148, and to submit an application on behalf of the state to the United States secretary of health and human services and the United States secretary of the treasury for the waiver. IAHU is in support of this current Senate Study Bill. Read more details here:  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=88&ba=SSB%203047 Reach out to Marcie Strouse with any questions. 

HSB 501 - Prescription Insulin drugs

This bill relates to prescription insulin drugs and coverage by policies, contracts, or plans providing for third-party payment or prepayment of health or medical expenses that provide coverage for prescription drugs. The bill requires a policy, contract, or plan providing for third-party payment of prepayment of health or medical expenses that provides coverage for prescription drugs to cap the total amount of cost-sharing that a covered person is required to pay for a prescription insulin drug to an amount not more than $100 for a 30-day supply, regardless of the amount or type of prescription insulin drug required to fill the covered person's prescription. IAHU is undecided at this time. Read more details here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=88&ba=HSB%20501 Reach out to Marcie with any questions. 

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