February 16, 2024

You Need to Know

• Today is the First Legislative Funnel. Many bills were kept alive to “continue the conversation” while other bills failed to pass the funnel. Legislation in several committees, such as Ways & Means and Government Oversight, are not subject to the funnels. The Des Moines Register has put together a short video explaining what the legislative funnel is here. 

• The Governor’s proposal to reform the State Boards and Commissions was released this week just in time to survive the first funnel. The Senate and the House have taken slightly different approaches in their consideration of this project. While much of the 300-plus page piece of legislation does not affect city government, it will be a topic of consideration for most of the 2024 session. Read more below.

• Don’t see a bill you’ve been following? Many bills failed to advance the funnel, and many advanced in a prior week. Always feel free to contact us at LegislativeStaff@IowaLeague.org and chat about legislation.

Legislation

HF 2299 | Records Request Fulfillment

• Allows a local government to provide open records in a reasonable and comparable format to what is requested. Allows for publicly available information on the internet to suffice as fulfilling an open records request. 

• Passed out of State Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration in the House.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in favor of this legislation because it provides modernization and flexibility to a rigid mandate on local governments. You are encouraged to contact your House Representatives and ask them to “vote yes on HF 2299.”

HF 2334 | Nuisance Declaration of Adult Cabaret

• Outlines the set of circumstances for which an adult cabaret licensed business can be deemed a public safety nuisance. 

• Passed out of Public Safety Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House floor.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support of this tool for local governments to manage problem actors who pose a threat to the public and a burden to public safety resources.

SSB 3130 | Water Provision Requirements in Manufactured Housing

• Creates a set of circumstances in which a water utility would be required to provide meters to individual users within a manufactured/mobile home community. 

• Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor. 

League Registered in Opposition

• The League is registered opposed to this legislation along with a broad coalition of water utilities because it creates administrative and financial burdens on the public utility at the sole discretion of manufactured/mobile home park owner.

HSB 706 | Square Footage Tax on Manufactured Housing Change

• Alters the income thresholds that grant the owner of a manufactured/mobile home a reduction in the square footage based property tax so that an individual who earns less than $40k annually would not pay tax on their manufactured home.

• Passed out of the Judiciary Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House Floor.

HF 2560 | Civil Asset Forfeiture Changes

• Repeals Code of Iowa Chapter 809A and replaces it with the “Iowa Criminal Forfeiture Process Act” which bans civil forfeiture but allows criminal forfeiture under limited and outlined circumstances. 

• Passed out of Public Safety Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House floor.

SF 2325 | Civil Service for Public Safety - Disciplinary

• Adds additional restrictions on the Civil Service Commissions when bringing disciplinary actions or complaints. 

• Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.

SF 2212 | Local Civil Rights Commission

• Requires local government Civil Rights Commissions, which are required in cities above a certain population, to be under the office of the city executive. Requires complaints against a taxing authority to be filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Allows for complaints filed with the local Civil Rights Commission to be elevated to the state Commission if no progress is made in a certain window.

• Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate floor.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support because this provides clarity to a state mandated office.

HF 706 | Vacant School Demolition Grant

• Creates a grant program within the Iowa Economic Development Authority which provides money to local governments who have acquired former school houses for the purposes of remediation and demolition. 

• Passed out of Appropriations Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House floor.

HF 2533 | Sheriff Pensions, Assault of an Officer Penalty, Officer Relocation Expenses

• This public safety omnibus bill has three divisions which enhance Sheriff and Sheriff Deputy Pensions, enhance penalties for assaulting an officer, and provide tax credits to officers who relocate to Iowa from out of State. 

• Passed out of Public Safety Committee and will be considered in House Ways & Means Committee.

HF 2539 | Fines and Training for Open Meetings and Public Records Violations

• Increases the penalties for violations of Open Meetings and Public Records laws found in Code of Iowa Section 21.6. Requires officials to undergo training upon election or appointment to public office. Allows for a court to remove an elected official from office for these violations.

• Passed out of State Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House floor.

HF 2540 & SF 2096 | Gender Balance Requirement of Boards and Commissions

• Strikes the requirement that governmental bodies make a good faith effort to maintain gender balance on appointed boards. A Federal Judge recently ruled the gender balance requirement on a judicial nominating commission to be unconstitutional. 

• Both the Senate and the House have passed their bill out of State Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration in the respective chambers.

SF 2331 | Publishing Notices Online

• Allows for a local government to publish required notices on their website in addition to in physical format and in the event the newspaper makes an error in printing, the online format will suffice as publication.

• Passed out of Technology Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support of this legislation because it is a common sense solution to modernize and update Iowa’s Public Notice law. Please contact your Senator and encourage them to vote yes on SF 2331.

SF 2336 | Theft of Funds Penalty

• Removes a judge’s discretion in waiving sentencing in the event that a public official is convicted of theft of public funds that exceeds $7,500.

• Passed out of Judiciary and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.

SF 2337 & HSB 707 | Hands Free Mobile Device and Automated Traffic Enforcement

• Bans automated traffic enforcement for local governments. Updates and expands the regulations on using a phone while driving and makes using a phone while driving a moving violation. 

• The House and Senate companions of this legislation both have cleared committee and will be eligible to be voted on in their respective chambers.

League Registered in Opposition

• The League is registered opposed because this legislation removes vital public safety tools for cities. If your city utilizes automated traffic enforcement, it is crucial that your Chief of Police communicate the impacts of this legislation to your public safety and the police department.

HF 518 | Penalties for Violating of Weapons Preemption

• Creates a penalty for government employees who participate in violating local government preemption laws surrounding firearms and firearm attachments. 

• Passed out of Public Safety Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House floor.

HSB 598 | Volunteer Firefighter on Council and Equipment Savings Accounts

• Allows a city to establish a savings account which would then require any award, judgment, or insurance settlement from a damaged public safety vehicle to be put into the account and only money from this can only be used for the replacement or maintenance of public safety equipment. Allows a volunteer firefighter to also be a city councilor without violating the restriction on incompatible office law. 

• Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate floor.

HSB 700 | Competitive Bidder Qualifications

• Allows a local government to create a prequalification for bidders on public improvements which would  prevent a Federal or State designated adversary, or a company who is ineligible, from bidding.

• Passed out of Public Safety Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House floor.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support of this legislation as it allows cities to protect vital infrastructure from cyber security threats.

Upcoming Legislative Forums

Fairfield Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 17, 7:30 – 9 a.m.

Where: Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, 200 North Main Street, Fairfield

Iowa City Legislative Check-In

When: Feb. 17, 9 -- 10 a.m.

Where: Mammitas Coffee, 224 S. Linn St., Iowa City

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Elinor Levin

Linn County Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 17, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Cedar Rapids Public Library, Beems A & B, 450 5th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Ken Rozenboom, Sen. Adrian Dickey, Rep. Helena Hayes, and Rep. Barb Kniff-McCulla

Orange City Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 17, 11 a.m. -- 12 p.m.

Where: MOC - Floyd Valley High School, 615 8th Street SE, Orange City

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Taylor & Rep. Jeneary

Ottumwa Town Hall

When: Feb. 19, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Where: Ottumwa Schools Career Campus, 331 East Main Street, Ottumwa

Des Moines Office Hours With Rep. Baeth

When: Feb. 19, 8 – 9 p.m.

Where: Lua Brewing, 1525 High Street, Des Moines

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Austin Baeth

Ankeny Legislative Office Hours

When: Feb. 23, 9 – 10:30 a.m.

Where: Main Street Café, 2510 SW White Birch Drive, Ankeny

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Heather Matson

Iowa City Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 23, 4 – 5 p.m.

Where: Iowa City Community School District Building, 2836 North Dodge St., Iowa City

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Elinor Levin

You can view all editions of Legislative Link at iowaleague.org/resource/legislative-link.

Like our membership, the Iowa League of Cities is a non-partisan, service-oriented organization that does not participate in elections, make campaign contributions, or have a political action committee (PAC).