- February 18 is the first legislative funnel. For a bill to remain eligible, it must have passed out of committee in the chamber of origination. There are exceptions to this rule. Important legislative deadlines can be found on the Legislative Timetable.
- The House passed its version of tax reform, HF 2317. The House tax proposal does not impact Local Option Sales and Service Tax (LOSST).
- Many impactful bills are now through the first funnel, including alterations to LOSST, right-of-way management and alcohol permit/license reform. Contact your legislator to share how these bills impact your community.
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HSB 682 | Licensure Changes and Iowa Building Code Establishment |
- Prohibits cities from enforcing zoning ordinances if 80% of the lots covered do not conform. Prohibits requiring inspections of manufactured homes that have been inspected and built in accordance with federal regulation.
- Prohibits local building codes and creates a statewide building code that local governments cannot raise or lower for electrical, plumbing, fire safety or energy efficiency standards.
- Increases the Veterans Property Tax Credit to reduce a veteran’s taxable value by $2,500.
- Prohibits the enforcement of any parking fee or fine for an individual with a license plate specially designated for purple heart recipients, Prisoners of War or a "DV" designation.
- The League is working to remove or mitigate the negative impacts of this legislation.
- If this legislation impacts your city, we encourage you to share these impacts by emailing legislativestaff@iowaleague.org in addition to contacting your legislators with your concerns.
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HSB 703 | Civil Service Commission Hiring |
- The intention of the legislation is to grant more local authority over certain portions of Chapter 400 Civil Service Commissions and create efficiencies within the hiring process.
- The language will be amended as it moves through the process to better accomplish this goal and to reflect the needs of stakeholders.
- Please email us at legislativestaff@iowaleague.org, if you have suggestions for efficiencies in the Civil Service Process.
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SF 2278 | Civil Service Commission Disciplinary Proceedings |
- Establishes "preponderance of the evidence" burden of proof for removing civil service workers. Requires Civil Service decisions to remove an employee to be unanimous. Requires the commission to hire outside counsel unless the employee consents to the use of the City Attorney by the commission, among other changes.
- Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
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HF 2301 | Alcoholic Beverages Division Omnibus |
- Allows for Class E alcohol permit holders, which includes selling beverages in sealed containers for off-premise consumption, to auto-renew their annual liquor license without involvement with local government.
- Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate State Government Committee.
- The League has submitted an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverages Division to ensure that the role of local government is expressly maintained.
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- Changes liquor licenses to retail alcohol licenses and changes the designations and powers of various licenses.
- Makes significant changes to the fees collected for alcohol sales licenses. We are eager to learn the impacts this would have on your community as well as how fees derived from alcohol licensure are used within your community. Please email us at legislativestaff@iowaleague.org.
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SF 2322 | Cost of Redacting Public Records |
- Requires the lawful custodian of public records to make all reasonable efforts to provide public records at no cost. Allows the requester of documents to challenge the "reasonableness" of a fee. States that legal review should only be utilized for legally protected information.
- Passed out of State Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration by the Senate.
- The League has strong concerns about the costs and risks this legislation presents as it encourages a less stringent review of confidential records and data.
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SSB 3100 | Parking Meters Blocked by Snow |
- Prohibits the enforcement of parking fines or fees on metered parking spots if the meter is inaccessible due to snow piles.
- Passed out of Transportation Committee and will be eligible for consideration by the Senate.
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- Removes oversight of unelected appointees who manage city assets by requiring all removals of utility board appointees to take place through a district court proceeding. Currently, the mayor and council have the authority to remove appointees prior to the end of a six-year term. This legislation removes that authority.
- Passed out of committee and will be eligible for consideration in the Senate and House.
- The League is registered in opposition and will be working to retain local authority to remove appointees.
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SF 2277 | Restrictions on Insurance Settlements for Public Safety Vehicles |
- Requires insurance payments for damage to public safety equipment be placed into a special account if the city has created such a fund.
- Allows volunteer peace officers and firefighters to serve on the city council where they volunteer.
- Passed out of Public Safety Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.
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HSB 621 | Conduit Facilities as an Essential Corporate Purpose |
- Adds conduit facilities as an essential corporate purpose.
- Adds telecommunication facilities to Code of Iowa Chapter 28F.
- Passed out of committee in the House.
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HF 2431 | Home-Based Business Preemption |
- Creates a definition for "no-impact home-based business" and preempts local governments from regulating them.
- Passed out of information Technology Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the House Floor.
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SF 2296 | Garbage is Searchable Without a Warrant |
- Establishes a state policy that a person has no reasonable expectation of privacy in garbage placed outside of the person’s residence for waste collection in a publicly accessible area.
- Preempts local governments from declaring garbage or trash placed on the curb exempt from warrantless searches.
- Passed out of Judiciary Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.
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- Clarifies that the notice to bidders in Code of Iowa Chapter 26 may be received in an electric format as determined by a governmental entity. This legislation is a clarification of a practice that is already occurring in some areas of the state.
- Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.
- The League is registered in support.
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SF 2280 | Property Tax Protest Window |
- Alters the window for property tax protests in counties with an emergency declaration.
- Passed out of Local Government Committee and will be eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
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SSB 3012 | Banning Automated Traffic Enforcement |
- Bans automated traffic enforcement in Iowa and requires existing traffic cameras to be removed.
- Passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
- The League is registered in opposition.
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SF 2078 | Automated Traffic Camera Regulation |
- Provides additional regulation for automated traffic enforcement on communities smaller than 12,000 in population, including requiring a police department not to issue a ticket for going less than 20 mph over the speed limit if they have issued 2.5 times the amount of tickets with the traffic camera than they have with standard police.
- Passed out of Senate Transportation Committee and will be eligible for consideration on the Senate Floor.
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- Makes alterations to Code of Iowa Chapter 28J, port authorities, to allow for the delineation of liability for local governments and businesses.
- Passed out of the Commerce Committee and will be eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
- The League is registered in support.
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Communication with your legislators is crucial to impacting policy in the statehouse. Take advantage of the local legislative forums listed below. Additionally, you can contact your legislative directly.
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February 19
February 21
February 22
February 23
February 24
February 25
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