Legislative focus shifts to budget as the 100th day nears

Tuesday, April 18, is the 100th day of the legislative session and the final day Iowa legislators will receive per diem for their time at the Capitol. However that does not mean the session is over. The current focus at the Capitol is the state budget. The Legislature has until June 30 to develop the budget for state fiscal year 2018, which begins July 1, 2017. All signals point to an end to the legislative session within the next two weeks.

In addition to budget discussions, there are proposals being discussed that affect the fees business pay when filing with the Secretary of State’s office and fees hotel and food establishments and processing plants must pay for Department of Inspections and Appeals inspections. ABI is working to ensure the fees that are paid by businesses will improve the services businesses receive from the respective state agencies. For questions about pending budget and fee proposals, contact Jessica Harder, jharder@iowaabi.org, or Nicole Crain, ncrain@iowaabi.org.