AC4C Spring Quarterly Work Retreat

starting with AC4C Legislative Learning Breakfast

AC4C will be having its spring two-day work retreat starting with the AC4C Legislative Learning Breakfast at 7:15 a.m. on March 25 at the Capitol Room G15.

The speaker this year is Dr. Mary Charlton, President of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, who led the 2024 Iowa Cancer Report on Alcohol for the Iowa Cancer Registry. Dr. Richard Deming, Vice-President of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, will be attending as well, and is hoping to bring a story of one of his patients who has survived alcohol-related cancer. A discussion will be held on research-based policies to reduce excessive drinking, alcohol-related deaths and illness, and other related consequences in Iowa. Please invite your legislators to this event, even if you cannot make it in person. The Learning Breakfast will not be hybrid. (See flyer below.)

The retreat will follow with Day 1 being held at the DPS near the Capitol. AC4C Board elections will be held in the afternoon. Please let Jennifer know if you would like your name on the ballot as there are four positions up for election/re-election. Day 2, March 26, will be back at MCTC at Camp Dodge. Limited free lodging is available so please register HERE now. A more detailed agenda is below:

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Department of Public Safety Community Room (Oren Pape Building)- Hybrid

Day 1: 9:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Legislative Learning Event at 7:15 a.m.

In Room G15/Legislative Dining Room in the Iowa State Capitol

9:30-9:55 a.m. – Introductions 

9:55-10:00 a.m. – Approval of the December Retreat Minutes

10:00-11:00 a.m. – State Partner Sharing

11:00-11:15 a.m. – Break

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – State Partner Sharing Continued

12:15-1:45 p.m. – Lunch on Your Own – Time for Networking

1:45-2:00 p.m. – Elections

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Work Group & Action Team Sharing

3:00-3:15 p.m. – Wrap up, Highlights, and Preview of Tomorrow

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Camp Dodge (MCTC)- Hybrid

Day 2: 9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

9:00-9:15 a.m. – Introductions:

9:15-10:15 a.m. – AC4C Sustainability Discussion- Katya Boltanova

10:15-10:30 a.m. – Break

10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. – AC4C Sustainability Discussion Continued

11:30-1:00 p.m. – Lunch on Your Own – Time for Networking

1:00-2:15 p.m. – Coalition Sharing- Successes and Any Help Needed?

2:15-2:30 p.m. – Break

2:30-3:00 p.m. – Sharing from CADCA Leadership Conference and AC4C Day on the Hill

3:00-3:15 p.m. - What conferences are you attending for the rest of 2025? Time to plan Prevention Conference 2025! Who wants to help?

3:15-3:30 p.m. – “Health of the Coalition” survey coming out soon

3:30-3:45 p.m. – Highlights of the Day and Upcoming Events 

Upcoming Events:

AC4C Legislative Learning Event: Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 7 a.m., Legislative Dining Room G15 (See more details below.)

AC4C Spring Quarterly Work Retreat: Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 25 and 26, Register HERE. (See information below.)

AC4C Summer Quarterly Work Retreat: Wednesday and Thursday, June 4 and 5. June 5 will likely be the Youth Leadership Reaction Course Day! The Registration link will be available soon,

Iowa Drug Endangered Children's (DEC) Conference: Monday, May 5. Information an Registration can be found HERE.

Resources to Share and Links to check out... 

Members, keep up with the latest in the news

AC4C on Facebook

AC4C Youth on Instagram

Looking for a training

Iowa Board of Certification

Iowa ODCP

Iowa State Patrol

Iowa Health and Human Services & Your Life Iowa

Partnership for A Healthy Iowa

Do you know about RALI Iowa?

Check out this organization and information about their virtual trailer HERE

More resources...

Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau

Drive Smart Iowa

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Traffic Safety Marketing

Stop Drugged Driving

For help quitting tobacco call Quitline Iowa 800-QUIT-NOW

Legislative Update:

There are several bills alive yet related to AC4C's work on alcohol, marijuana, nicotine and other drugs to be watching.

Remember, it is always important to educate about research-based strategies and all of us as citizens have a right to contact our own legislators on our personal time, with our own computers or phones, and from our personal email. Due to limited room in this newsletter, we are highlighting just a few bills.

HF950 This bill has been placed on the House calendar for a vote for all of the Representatives which means it could be voted on immediately. This bill adds dried raw cannabis or vaporizable dried raw cannabis to the list of forms, which would be a first in the medical program in Iowa and is against the recommendation of the Medical CBD Board, per their Denial (again) of the Petition to add vaporizable flower (potentially combustible) as evidenced by their report submitted at the Board meeting in February of 2023. In the explanation of the bill it says it, "changes the definition of "medical cannabidiol" to include flowers of the plant Cannabis sativa L. or Cannabis indica in inhalable form."

SF 475 This bill imposes a tax on certain products containing nicotine or non-nicotine substances. For a vapor cartridge sold at retail, this bill imposes a $1.15 tax per cartridge. For a nicotine pouch, the bill imposes a 6.8 cent tax per pouch. For a vapor product requiring the use of e-liquids, the bill imposes a tax of 15% upon the retail price. For e-liquids sold separately from the vapor cartridge, the bill imposes a tax of 15% as well. The revenue generated from this bill would be credited to the Iowa Cancer Research Fund. This is considered "funnel proof" because it is a tax bill and referred to Ways and Means Committee, therefore remaining viable.

HF 830 This bill provides a minimum unit price used to calculate the price of the alcoholic liquor (spirits/hard liquor) sold by the department. The minimum unit price is an amount equal to 50 cents per 18 ml (per serving) of alcohol in the package. This bill is being studied to see how much money it would bring to the state that could be credited to the Iowa Cancer Research Fund.

For more information please email ia.ac4c@gmail.com.

Join an Action Team or Work Group session every month!

Access the action team meetings on Mondays. Login information here

Other Substances Action Team

Next meeting- April 7 @ 9:30 a.m.

Marijuana Action Team

Next meetings- April 14 @ 9:30 a.m.



Nicotine Action Team 

Next meetings- April 21 @ 10:30 a.m. (Please notice time change.)

Alcohol Action Team

Next meetings- March 24 and April 28 @ 9:30 a.m.

_______________________________

Policy Work Group

Co-Chair:  

Jennifer Husmann

Co-Chair: 

Maggie Ballard



4th Wednesday at 2:00 pm

Looking for a volunteer to replace Jennifer as a Co-chair on this work group. If you are interested in this position please contact a board member or Jennifer.  

Meeting information can be found here

Click here for meeting minutes

Purpose: To collaborate with the community and statewide entities to advocate and educate on substance abuse legislation, policies, and related issues.

_________________________________

Capacity/Sustainability Work Group

Seeking Co-chairs

3rd Monday at 2:00 pm

Click here for meeting minutes

Purpose: Create a network of professionals that have diverse knowledge, experience, and interests to build skills and provide resources to members of AC4C.