February 23, 2024

You Need to Know

• As a bill moves through the legislative process, it evolves. It is often amended with new language, receives a new bill number, or completely changed. Have a question about how a bill has evolved? Contact us at LegislativeStaff@IowaLeague.org.

• Several bills that the League is registered in support of are moving through the process. Make sure you are contacting your legislator to thank them for their public service and to encourage them to vote yes on city friendly bills such as HF 2299, HSB 717, SF 2331, and SF 2205. Read more about these bills below.

• It is common for many ideas to be filed as legislation, but very few bills make it to the Governor's desk. As we advance towards summer, the legislature will begin to hone in on their priorities as they increasingly focus on putting the state budget together. 

Legislation

SF 2331 | Publication Requirement Relief

• Alters many details about publishing government notices and minutes including allowing a city to “deliver” minutes to a newspaper rather than “cause to be published” within 15 days. Requires newspapers to publish public notices online with no additional charge if they use a website. Allows a city to publish notice to their website if a newspaper refuses to publish their notice. Prevents a newspaper from charging a city for an affidavit of publishing. Requires newspapers to refund any money to a local government if they fail to publish and the city publishes on their website. Gives the Iowa Public Information Board the ability to resolve disputes that arise from conflicts within Code of Iowa Chapter 618.

• Passed the Senate with bipartisan support and will be sent to the House for consideration.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support of this legislation because it modernizes an outdated and burdensome unfunded mandate. Please contact your House of Representatives member and encourage them to support SF 2331.

SF 2205 | Civil Service Hiring

• Allows a local government to temporarily suspend the requirements of Code of Iowa Section 400.11 paragraph 1 subsection a. This is commonly referred to as “Civil Service Hiring List”.

• Passed the Senate and will be scheduled for subcommittee in the House Local Government Committee.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support because this allows local control to suspend a bureaucratic and time-consuming procedure.

HF 2276 | Maternity Group Home Zoning

• Allows for Maternity Group Homes, which are defined in the bill, to be considered residential use for the purposes of zoning without a special or conditional use permit.

• Passed out of the House and sent to the Senate where it will be considered by the Local Government Committee.

HF 2101 | Purchase of Water Utility Oversight

• Increases the threshold that the sale of a water utility can cost before triggering Iowa Utility Board oversight from $500k to $3M.

• Passed out of the House where a companion bill is already on the Senate Debate Calendar.

HF 2482 | MFPRSI Definition of Cancer

• Strikes the specific list of cancers which are presumed to be work-related within the MFPRSI benefits and replaces them with a definition of cancer, effectively making all cancers to be presumed work-related and, therefore, covered by the city.
  

• Amendment H-8045 was filed, which would allow cities to utilize an insurance policy to cover work-related injuries. Additional amendments are expected.

SSB 3038 | Governor’s Omnibus Tax Bill

• Division 6 provides the residential rollback to daycare facilities. Other divisions affect income tax policy. 

• Passed out of subcommittee and will be eligible for consideration by the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

League Registered Undecided

• The League is registered undecided. While this will have a fiscal impact, childcare has been a top priority for many cities across the state who view the lack of childcare as an economic development and talent retention issue.

HF 2325 | Warrantless Searches of Tobacco Permit Premises

• Specifies that a retail permit to sell tobacco that also allows tobacco consumption on the premises shall grant public safety and health department officials the ability to search the business where products are stored, sold, used, or consumed without a warrant. 

• Passed out of the House and sent to the Senate where a similar bill is already on the debate calendar.

HSB 717 | Small City Budget Meetings

• Allows a city with a population of less than 1,000 to forgo the budget meeting requirement found in Code of IowaSection 24.2A subsection 4a.

• Passed out of subcommittee in the House and will be eligible for consideration by the House Ways & Means Committee. 

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support for reducing the administrative burden for cities and will be working with the legislature to understand the fiscal and time allocations that added administration consumes.

HF 2464 | Local Government Records of Firearm Sales

• Prevents a local government or a financial institution from keeping a registry or record of registered firearms in private ownership. 

• Passed out of the House and sent to the Senate where it will be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee

SF 2096 |  Gender Balance Requirement for Appointed Boards

• Strikes the requirement that governmental bodies make a good faith effort to maintain gender balance on appointed boards. A Federal Judge recently ruled the requirement to be unconstitutional on the Iowa Judicial Nominating Commission. 

• Passed out of the Senate and sent to the House where a similar bill is on the debate calendar.

SF 2161 | Anti-”Swatting” Enhanced Penalties

• Enhances penalties for an individual who knowingly reports to public safety a crime that they know did not occur. This has become known as “swatting”.

• Passed out of the Senate and sent to the House where a similar bill is on the debate calendar.

League Registered in Support

• The League is registered in support for two reasons. First, this practice causes a waste of public safety time and resources. Second, it has been known to target public officials.

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 the House and sent to the Senate. Has not been referred to a specific committee yet.

HF 2388 | Limitations on Residential Facade Requirements

• Preempts a local government from restricting the exterior facade of residential buildings with limited exceptions for historic districts or Homeowners Association requirements. 

• Passed out of the House with bipartisan opposition and will be sent to the Senate where a similar bill is on the debate calendar.

Upcoming Legislative Forums

Rock Rapids Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 24, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Where: Forster Community Center, 404 1st Ave., Rock Rapids

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Skyler Wheeler, Sen. Jeff Taylor

Windsor Heights Talk with Officials Forum

When: Feb. 24, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

Where: Iowa Realty Office - Aisha R. Syed Board Room, 2830 100th St., Ste. 110, Urbandale

Confirmed Participants: Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, Sen. Claire Celsi, Polk County Supervisor Matt McCoy, Mayor Mike Jones

Oskaloosa Coffee & Conversation

When: Feb. 24, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Where: Smokey Row Coffee, 109 S. Market St., Oskaloosa

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

Fort Dodge Eggs & Issues Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 24, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Where: Iowa Central Community College - Triton Café, One Triton Circle, Fort Dodge

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Ann Meyer

Camanche Legislative Coffee

When: Feb.24, 9 -- 10 a.m.

Where: City of Camanche City Hall, 818 7th Ave., Camanche

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Cournoyer

Spencer Eggs & Issues Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 24, 9 – 10:30 a.m.

Where: Spencer City Hall - Council Chambers, 101 W. 5th St., Spencer

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Megan Jones, Rep. John Wills

Iowa City Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 24, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Iowa City Senior Center - Assembly Room, 28 S. Linn St., Iowa City

Carroll Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 24, 10 -- 11 a.m.

Where: DMACC Carroll Campus, 906 N. Grand Rd., Carroll

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Jason Schultz, Rep. Brian Best

Sioux City Legislative Town Hall

When: Feb. 24, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Sioux City Public Museum, 607 4th St., Sioux City

Urbandale Talk with Officials Forum

When: Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m. -- 12 p.m.

Where: Urbandale Chamber of Commerce Office, 2830 100th St., Ste. 110, Urbandale

Confirmed Participants: Rep. John Forbes, Rep. Eddie Andrews, Urbandale School Board Member Jason Menke

Webster City Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 24, 11 a.m. -- 12 p.m.

Where: Iowa Central Community College, 1725 Beach St., Webster City

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Dennis Guth

Dewitt Legislative Coffee

When: Feb. 24, 11 a.m. -- 12 p.m.

Where: DeWitt Community Center, 512 10th St., DeWitt

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Chris Cournoyer

Eldridge Legislative Forum

When: Feb. 24, 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Where: Eldridge Library, 200 N. 6th Ave., Eldridge

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Chris Cournoyer

Des Moines Office Hours with Rep. Baeth

When: Feb. 26, 8 -- 9 p.m.

Where: Lua Brewing, 1525 High St., Des Moines

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Austin Baeth

Waterloo Legislative Forum

When: Mar. 1, 8 -- 9 a.m.

Where: Lincoln Savings Bank Central Campus, 360 Westfield Ave., Ste. 6, Waterloo

Forest City Town Hall

When: Mar. 1, 2 – 3 p.m.

Where: Waldorf University - Salveson Hall, 106 S. 6th St., Forest City

Confirmed Participants: Sen. Dennis Guth

West Des Moines Listening Post

When: Mar. 1, 3 – 5 p.m.

Where: West Des Moines Library, 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines

Confirmed Participants: Rep. Mary Madison

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).