State
1. Tax Reform
—
Monitoring,
NEW & UPDATED
·
HSB671
: The Governor's tax bill
· Ways & Means passed SSB3197 bill on 9 to 6 (party-line) vote so it became SF2383
· We support an amendment allowing credit unions to maintain existing tax structure
· Digging into potential impact for Farm Credit Services of America
2. Future Ready Iowa:
SF2327
—Support,
NEW
· Committee approved bill
· Creates a future ready Iowa Act to strengthen workforce development
· Establishes registered apprenticeship development program, a volunteer mentoring program, a summer youth intern program, summer postsecondary courses for H.S. students aligned with high-demand career pathways, an employer innovation fund, and future ready Iowa skilled workforce scholarship and grant programs and funds
· Ties in with
SF2348
: In-Demand Career Assistance would provide $5.73 million in funding in 2022 and $41.36 million in 2026
· Would provide income tax credit for high-demand jobs, require students enroll in training for certain high-demand jobs at community colleges while maintaining a 2.0 GPA
2. IUB Matters:
HSB591
—Monitoring,
ON SENATE DEBATE CALENDAR
· Dual party relay changed to flat $.03/line/month for wireless & wired, instead of variable rate for wired
3. Utility Matters:
SF2311
—Monitoring,
UPDATED
· Removes state policies that are duplicative of existing federal policies
4. Deappropriations:
SF2117
—
Monitoring,
UPDATED
· House side supports cuts of ~$33 million, Senate side ~$44 million
· Placed on calendar as unfinished business on 2.15.18
· Amendment
S5005
cuts $32 million (instead of $52 million) from this year's budget
· Amendments to S5005 (that passed) include,
S5008
: prohibits DOJ reducing victim assistance grants &
S5007
: clarifies supplemental reimbursement for ground emergency transport of medicaid beneficiaries, reduces per diem for legislators to 85 days
5. Corporate Farms:
SF2314
—
Monitoring,
UPDATED
· Committee report recommending approving bill
· Restricts certain business entities (including corporations) from acquiring agricultural land suitable for farming
6. Raw Milk:
HF2055
—
Against
,
UNCHANGED
· Legislation to transfer milk directly from dairy farms, allowing unpasteurized and ungraded milk be sold
· Most milk-related outbreaks (81%) happened in states where selling raw milk was legal (2007-2012)
This week we've continued to listen for more news on Section 199A-- attending an NCGA conference call, talking with Teree Castanias about her suggestions/proposals and speaking with staffers of our federal legislators. We are continuing to talk with folks and work together on wording that creates a sustainable tax structure, benefiting the ag. economy, including our farmer members.
Picture above is from the Welcome Back Reception-- IIC staff, Katie and Stacey with Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig.
Federal
1.
Waters Of The U.S. (WOTUS): Monitoring,
UNCHANGED
· Defines jurisdiction of the EPA & US Army Corps of Engineers over rivers, lakes, etc.
· Farm Bureau says they do not have policy that supports 199A
Want to speak with your federal representatives?
D.C. office numbers and e-mail addresses below.
