Pro-jobs Legislation Advances

After funnel week, ABI’s lobbying team shifts its focus to ensuring bills ABI wants to see advance make it onto the debate calendar, drafting amendments to legislation that still needs work and talking to legislators about ABI’s priority bills.

This week several pieces of legislation ABI was advocating for on behalf of members passed the House and Senate.

HF 2383 conforms Iowa alcohol testing law to Federal Motor Safety Carrier regulations, clearing up a grey area in Iowa law. The legislation passed with bipartisan support of 95-2.

On Wednesday, the Iowa Senate passed SF 2262 by a vote of 49-0, which allows Iowa manufacturers of specialized work vehicles, like highway helper trucks, utility trucks and ambulances, to cleanly pass the manufacturer statement of origin (MSO) to the retail buyer. Currently, Iowa code requires these manufacturers to sell their newly manufactured vehicles as used vehicles, creating a significant barrier to doing business. ABI worked with the Iowa Auto Dealers Association and DOT to come up with a solution to eliminate this legal impediment. SF 2262 is now eligible for debate in the Iowa House.

Other bills of note to Iowa businesses also advanced:

• HF 2240: The bill cleans up the code to clarify how employers can electronically provide wage statements to employees. The bill passed the House 98-0. ABI position: Undecided.
• SF 2235: Critical Infrastructure Bill. Bill defines critical infrastructure and makes sabotage of critical infrastructure a felony. The purpose of the legislation addresses when pipelines, utilities, telecommunications facilities or other entities are affected by protestors who damage the infrastructure. The legislation passed the Senate on a vote 33-16. ABI position: Support.
• SF 2169: Dram Shop Reform. The bill limits the liability of those who serve alcoholic beverages and establishments by putting caps on damages that would be incurred by those who serve alcoholic beverages and establishments if they serve someone who then injures a person or damages a person’s property. The bill was approved by the Senate 29-20. ABI position: Support.
• HF 2192: The legislation pertains to the DNR’s Land Recycling Program. It would raise the cap of reimbursable costs to the DNR from $7,500 to $25,000. This change would go into effect July 1, 2018, and not affect any site currently enrolled in the program. It passed the Ways & Means Committee without opposition. ABI position: Undecided.
• HF 2004: The bill changes the definition of “small city” for the purposes of the workforce house tax incentives program. It would allow for small cities that are currently not wholly in one of the most 11 most populous counties to be eligible for the aforementioned housing program. The bill passed the Ways & Means Committee unanimously. ABI position: Undecided.