State
1. Broadband Easement:
HSB545
—Monitoring
·
Would allow electric utilities to offer retail broadband using existing electric easement to deliver service
·
SSB3055
(Senate version) introduced on Wednesday via sub-committee meeting
· Sen. Zumbach is asking people involved to get together and create a solution that works because he is determined to get broadband to rural Iowa
2. Tax Reform: Monitoring, UNCHANGED
· Hearing potential bills could increase taxes for credit union members
3. IUB Matters:
HSB591
—Monitoring,
NEW
·
Registration instead of certification
· Dual party relay changed to flat $.03/line/month for wireless & wired, instead of variable rate for wired
4. Raw Milk:
HF2055
—
Against,
NEW
· 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)
5. Utility Matters:
SSB3093
—Monitoring,
NEW
·
Specifically notes natural gas in new wording, creates concerns with propane teams on giving nat. gas a leg up
· Removes state policies that are duplicative of existing federal policies
· Sen. Chapman said his focus is sustainable, long-term energy
· Moved through sub-committee meeting, Senators asked for amendments to address issues/concerns with existing version
6. Balanced Budget:
SSB3089
—Monitoring, UNCHANGED
· Bill cuts of ~$52 million from the budget this year
· Deeper cuts than the Governor suggested
Water Quality:
SF512
—SIGNED INTO LAW
Funding of $282 million over 12 years, signed into law by Gov. Reynolds on Wednesday, January 31st (see picture above).
Met with Senator Ernst’s Iowa team this week and discussed Sect. 199A in further detail. Ben Nuelle is the new Ag Advisor in Des Moines for Team Ernst so if you get a chance, congratulate him on the new position!
Federal
1.
Waters Of The U.S. (WOTUS): Monitoring, UNCHANGED
·
Defines jurisdiction of the EPA & US Army Corps of Engineers over rivers, lakes, etc.
2.
Tax Reform: Monitoring, UNCHANGED
·
Section 199A: Realistic that this will be changed, but asking that it stay as is
· Watching to see when/how change could take place
