Iowa Library Association
Legislative Update | Issue #6 | March 27, 2022
This past Friday marked the end of the 11th week of the 2022 Regular Session of the 89th Iowa General Assembly. Monday, March 28th will be Session Day 78 of the 100-day scheduled session. While the 100th session day when per diems end falls on April 19th, many in the Legislature are pushing for adjournment prior to Easter. 
 
Publication Note - At this time, it is appropriate for us to note that this publication, which typically comes out every two weeks during session, will NOT be published two weeks from now IF it looks like the Legislature could adjourn in the near future. If that is the case, we will instead wait and publish AFTER they adjourn for the year. In the mean time though, keep an eye out for timely alerts requesting you to take action.
 
Remaining Policy
The budget is the one constant from year to year that must get done before the close of session. As we outline below, the House has made some serious progress on that front – introducing eight and passing six of the ten appropriations bills. What about other remaining policy?
 
A number of initiatives proposed by the Governor and legislators are still unresolved. They include the Governor’s biofuels bill (HF 2128), the Governor’s Education Policy proposal (HF 2577 and SF 2369), unemployment benefits (HF 2355), and workforce proposals (HF 2569 and SF 2361). The unemployment benefits bill has passed both chambers, but they have not yet agreed on whether to impose a one week waiting period for benefits. On the workforce bills, the House and Senate are still working on changes to the sections that affect local government zoning and state building codes.
 
Additionally, the Senate still has two major tax proposals they are continuing to push, but it’s unclear if the House has any appetite for more tax legislation this year. The first one, SF 2372, passed the Senate 43-6 and includes a mix of tax cuts, changes to net operating losses and changes to sales tax exemptions. The second, SSB 3157, would fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund and replace local option sales taxes with a one penny increase in the state sales tax. SSB 3157 is still in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
 
Since policy issues aren’t critical to the function of the State government like the budget, failure to come to agreement on any or all of these issues could mean they get thrown overboard for the year.
 
Legislation to put an 11-month moratorium on the use of eminent domain for a carbon pipeline died in the funnel, but was attached to the Administration & Regulation budget bill (HF 2565) in the House this week. This is a reminder that issues can ALWAYS be revived, so if you are tracking an issue, you need to keep watching until the very end.
 
Budget Bills
As stated above, the House has passed THEIR VERSION of six of the ten budget bills they need to pass. They have another one ready for debate (Education), one ready to be voted out of committee (Health & Human Services), and one set to be released Monday (Infrastructure). That will leave only the Standings Bill which is historically the last budget bill and a potential vehicle for last minute policy language.
 
The House and Senate traditionally each start five budget bills. However, this year, the Senate has taken the bills sent over from the House into their Appropriations Committee and is expected to amend them into what becomes the final agreement between the Governor and the two chambers. They are still not on the same page on overall budget numbers as well as amounts for each of the spending bills, so this process could possibly take a while.  
 
Here's a guide to where each of the Appropriation bills sits, along with the link to the Legislative Service Agency’s fiscal analysis, if available:
SFY23 Appropriation Bill/Status/Most Recent LSA Fiscal Analysis (if available)

  1. HF 2557 Transportation Passed House; Now in Senate Appropriations / LSA Link
  2. HF 2558 Judicial Branch  Passed House; Now in Senate Appropriations / LSA Link
  3. HF 2559 Justice Systems  Passed House; Now in Senate Appropriations / LSA Link
  4. HF 2560 Agriculture and Natural Resources Passed House; Now in Senate Appropriations / LSA Link
  5. HF 2564 Economic Development  Passed House 3/24 / LSA Link
  6. HF 2565 Administration & Regulation  Passed House 3/24 / LSA Link
  7. HF 2575 Education  Passed House Appropriations; Ready for full House debate / LSA Not Yet Available
  8. LSB5004YA Health and Human Services Passed House Budget Subcommittee; Now in House Appropriations / LSA Not Yet Available
  9. LSB 5008YA Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) Will be introduced 3/28 LSA N/A
  10. Standings Not yet introduced / LSA N/A
Don't Let Up On Your Advocacy Yet
Those of you that have been actively advocating for libraries all session are probably tired at this point. But please know that your voices are having an effect. We are close to the finish line, and we just need you all to keep doing what you are doing.

In the first eleven weeks of session, we have seen numerous bills die that would have hurt libraries and librarians. We have seen the teacher librarian endorsement changes stall temporarily and the appropriations bills we track for the library community have all been released and show level funding for the State Library ($2,532,594), Enrich Iowa ($2,464,823), and the $150,000 allocation for the workforce test-taking database.

In order to keep library funding intact and to prevent legislation from passing that would be detrimental to teacher librarians or negatively impact school or public libraries, we need to finish the session strong. Keep telling your stories!
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Election News

Anyone wanting to run for office this Fall – for Congress, any statewide office (Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Secretary of Agriculture), or the Legislature - had to file their papers by the end of the day Friday, March 18. Now, we know a lot more about the face of the primary and general election in 2022.  You can see a list of who filed for each office and their contact information here.
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Congress
At the top of the ticket, Republican incumbent Senator Chuck Grassley will face a primary challenge from State Senator Jim Carlin. In November, the Republican winner will face whichever Democrat is successful among that party’s three candidates – Abby Finkenauer, Michael Franken and Glenn Hurst. 
 
In the 1st Congressional District, covering the Southeast quadrant of the State, Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks will face a primary challenge from Kyle Kuehl. Whoever wins that primary will face Democrat Christina Bohannan in the November Election.
 
In the 2nd Congressional District, covering the Northeast quadrant of the State, Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson will face a Democrat State Senator Liz Mathis in the November Election.
 
In the 3rd Congressional District, generally covering Des Moines and the Southwest quadrant of the State, Democrat Congresswoman Cindy Axne will face whichever Republican is successful in that party’s primary among the three candidates – Nicole Hasso, Gary Leffler and State Senator Zach Nunn. 
 
In the 4th Congressional District, covering the Northwest quadrant of the State, Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra will face a Democrat Ryan Melton in the November Election.
 
Statewide Offices
Incumbent Republican Governor Kim Reynolds will face Democrat Deidre DeJear in the November Election.
 
Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate will face whichever Democrat wins their party’s primary between Joel Miller and Eric Van Lancker.
 
Incumbent Democrat State Auditor Rob Sand will face whichever Republican wins their party’s primary between Todd Halbur and former Representative Mary Ann Hanusa. 
 
Incumbent Democrat State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald will face Republican State Senator Roby Smith. 
 
Incumbent Republican Secretary of Agriculture will face Democrat John Norwood.
 
Incumbent Democrat Attorney General Tom Miller will face Republican Brenna Bird. 
 
State Legislature
Those of you that have followed the Iowa Legislature for a while know that it’s not uncommon to have twenty percent, more or less, new legislators in the Iowa General Assembly from one election to the next. This year, due partly to redistricting, we will see a much larger number of new legislators joining the Legislature in November’s Election. Based on the candidate filings, it looks like it will be closer to a third, or about 50 of the 150 legislators, being new faces in January.  
 
Here's a few observations about the Legislature, based on March 18th’s filing deadline:
 
At least 13 State Senators are leaving the Senate in 2022:
 
Six Senators Retiring (4 Democrats, 2 Republicans):
• Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D)
• Sen. Tim Goodwin (R)
• Sen. Rob Hogg (D)
• Sen. Jim Lykam (D)
• Sen. Amanda Ragan (D)
• Sen. Craig Williams (R)
 
Five Senators Running for Different Office (4 Republicans, 1 Democrat)
• Sen. Jim Carlin (R) – he’s running for US Senate
• Sen. Craig Johnson (R) – he’s running for Iowa House
• Sen. Liz Mathis (D) – she’s running for US Congress (District 1)
• Sen. Zach Nunn (R) – he’s running for US Congress (District 3)
• Sen. Roby Smith (R) – he’s running or State Treasurer
 
Four Senators are running against each other (2 Republicans, 2
Democrats:
• Sen. Jake Chapman (R) vs. Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D)
• Sen. Dawn Driscoll (R) vs. Kevin Kinney (D)
 
At least 32 State Representatives are leaving House in 2022:
 
Twenty-one Representatives Retiring (12 Democrats, 9 Republicans):
• Rep. Marti Anderson (D)
• Rep. Rob Bacon (R)
• Rep. Terry Baxter (R)
• Rep. Holly Brink (R)
• Rep. Cecil Dolecheck (R)
• Rep. Chris Hall (D)
• Rep. Bruce Hunter (D)
• Rep. Jon Jacobsen (R)
• Rep. David Kerr (R)
• Rep. Jarad Klein (R)
• Rep. Mary Mascher (D)
• Rep. Charlie McConkey (D)
• Rep. Jo Oldson (D)
• Rep. Ross Paustian (R)
• Rep. Todd Prichard (D)
• Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D)
• Rep. Ras Smith (D)
• Rep. Kristin Sunde (D)
• Rep. Dave Williams (D)
• Rep. Mary Wolfe (D)
• Rep. Gary Worthan (R)
 
Eight Representatives Running for Different Office (4 Republicans, 4 Democrats)
• Rep. Liz Bennett (D) – running for Iowa Senate
• Rep. Christina Bohannan (D) – running for US Congress (District 1)
• Rep. Mike Bousselot (R) – running for Iowa Senate
• Rep. Molly Donahue (D) – running for Iowa Senate
• Rep. Charlie McClintock (R) – running for Iowa Senate
• Rep. Sandy Salmon (R) – running for Iowa Senate
• Rep. Cherielynn Westrich (R) – running for Iowa Senate
• Rep. Cindy Winckler (D) – running for Iowa Senate
 
Six Representatives are running against each other (all Republicans):
• Rep. Dean Fisher (R) vs. Rep. Dave Maxwell (R)
• Rep. Steve Bradley (R) vs. Rep. Lee Hein (R)
• Rep. Jeff Mitchell (R) vs. Rep. Jeff Shipley (R)
 
Some Key Dates
June 7 – Iowa Primary Election
November 8 – General Election
 
All of us have a lot of work to do to ensure we get to know these candidates before the 2023 legislative session starts in January! You can see their new House and Senate maps HERE. To find out your new districts, click HERE. Not sure if you are registered to vote? Check HERE.
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ILA Bills of Interest - Bill List
Budgets
Provides funding for education.

Education
Requires school districts to post information publicly, outlines requirements for a process for school library material selection and parental objection, and requires students to pass citizenship text to graduate as part of US Government class.

Reduces the number of AEAs to four and increases the state teacher salary supplement.

Makes several provisions related to education.

Other
Places requirements for local government lobbying and contracts.

Tax
The House, Senate and Governor's compromise tax reform bill.
Your Bill Tracker
Click above to see status of important bills, or create your own report with our custom download.
Town Halls & Public Forums
Find a local event with your state or federal elected officials here. Three weeks are shown at a time on this website.
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