Travel Federation of Iowa
Legislative Update | Issue #8 | May 11, 2021
As we make our way through Week 18 of the 16-week scheduled session, this a brief update on the Legislature’s progress toward final adjournment for the year (or “sine die” as those in the building call it). Wednesday, May 12th will mark Session Day 122 of the 110-day scheduled session. Since we are past the 110th day, legislative per diems have now expired, so legislators are working without per diems and without clerks. 
 
Tax
The Senate and Governor have agreed on a tax package (SSB 1276, will be renumbered today), but the House is not in agreement with them yet. In fact, the House has introduced their own competing tax bill (HF 893). As you’ll see in the summaries, the tax bills have many similarities, but also a number of differences. We have assembled a side-by-side comparison (HERE) to help you understand the contents.
 
Budget
Two budget bills – Transportation and Administration/Regulation (with $100 million for broadband) are the ONLY budget bills that have been completed. The other nine budget bills cannot be negotiated until the tax package is resolved because they can't allocate dollars for the budget without first knowing how many dollars are coming in. Despite that though, the House passed five budget bills last week in order to keep the paperwork moving. Those bills were all just the House versions, not bills agreed to with the Senate. 
 
House
The House will probably not convene at all this week. Due to absences (health and work, etc.), the House will have some trouble getting the necessary votes in the building for the next two weeks. If that doesn’t change, that could set up the Week of May 23rd as the final week of session (that would be week 20 of the 16-week session).
 
Senate
The Senate is set to do committee work today (Appropriations and Ways & Means) in order to move their tax bill and ensure all the appropriations bills are ready to move once there is a deal. The Senate also has a few Governor’s appointees to confirm, however that probably won’t happen this week.
 
Negotiation Continues
Meanwhile, leaders from both chambers are continuing to negotiate. Once the tax bill is settled, the budget will be settled soon after, and the deal will be in place. Since the number of outstanding bills though is quite large – the tax bill, nine remaining appropriations bills, and probably a couple remaining policy bills – closing everything down for the year will take at least three or four days.
 
What should you be doing?   
Other than broadband, every priority you may have is still up in the air, so the budgets are technically the same as what we reported in the last update (Go HERE and scroll to the budget story). Once a deal is struck, the cards will fall into place VERY quickly. It is critical that you are vocal NOW.

For the tourism industry, the $5 million request to IEDA does not look like it will advance this year. However, every call you make and every email you send, reinforces to legislators the need to INCREASE funding for tourism, whether it be through the gaming funds, sports tourism, CAT funding, parks funding, etc.
TFI Bills of Interest - Bill List
HF384 Off-Site Drinks Summary | Details Sent to Governor
Requires mixed drinks, wine, liquor, beer, and wine sold by class "C" licensees for off-site consumption be in original, unopened containers. 

HF493 Low-Speed Electric Bicycles Summary | Details
Changes definition of "low-speed electric bicycle" and modifies regulations related to low-speed electric bicycles.

HF558 Amusement Ride Training Summary | Details Signed
Establishes a minimum age and training requirements for attendants who control amusement rides.

HF768 Alcohol Licensing Summary | Details Sent to Governor
Authorizes ABD to grant up to two of each license/permit to a native distillery, beer manufacturer, brewery, or wine manufacturer.

HF785 Amusement Concessions Summary | Details Signed
Makes changes to definitions related to amusement concessions and licensing.

HF789 Manufacturing 4.0, Tourism Funding and Other IEDA Programs Summary | Details House Ways & Means Committee
Makes provisions related to Manufacturing 4.0, tourism funding, and other IEDA programs.

HF822 Lobbying Activities Summary | Details Senate Unfinished Business Calendar
Places requirements for local government lobbying and contracts.

HF846 Snowmobile/ATV Transfer Fees Summary | Details Sent to Governor
Waives transfer title fees for snowmobiles and ATVs for surviving spouses.

HF848 Governor's Broadband Proposal Summary | Details Signed
Makes provisions related to broadband service availability and administration of the empower rural Iowa broadband grant fund.

HF860 Agriculture/Natural Resources Budget (House Version) Summary | Details
Makes appropriations for agriculture and natural resources for FY2021-2022.

HF862 Infrastructure/RIFF Budget (House Version) Summary | Details
Makes appropriations for infrastructure for FY2021-2022.

HF871 Economic Development Appropriations (House Version) Summary | Details
Appropriates funds for economic development for FY2021-2022.

HF889 COVID-19 Vaccine Passport Ban Summary | Details Sent to Governor
Bans government-issued COVID-19 vaccine passport and prohibits non-health care businesses from requiring proof of vaccination for entrance.

HF893 House’s Omnibus Tax proposal Summary | Details House Floor
Contains several tax provisions, including repealing triggers, parts of the Governor's housing proposal, child care credits, etc.

HR15 Special Session/175th Statehood Anniversary Summary | Details House Floor
Requests a special session be held on December 28 at the Old Capitol in Iowa City to recognize, honor, and commemorate the 175th anniversary of Iowa's statehood. Sponsored by 32 members of the majority party (Republicans).

SF169 Promotional Play Receipts Summary | Details Senate Floor
Makes changes to promotional play receipts governing gambling games and sports wagering.

SF356 Agricultural Tourism Promotion Act Summary | Details Sent to Governor
Creates the Iowa Agricultural Tourism Promotion Act. 

SF364 Paycheck Protection Program Summary | Details Senate Floor, Second Time
Fully conforms Iowa tax law to federal law regarding money received from the federal paycheck protection program for all taxpayers.

SF475 Statewide Tourism Marketing Summary | Details Senate Appropriations Committee
Transfers funds to IEDA from the beer and liquor control fund to more than double IEDA marketing efforts and supports a statewide tourism marketing organization.

SF548 Advertising Device Regulation Summary | Details Signed
Modifies regulations and requirements relating to advertising devices along highways.

SF549 Governor's Renewable Fuels Bill Summary | Details Senate Ways & Means Committee
Makes provisions related to renewable fuel.

SF587 Mental Health Funding/Backfill Elimination/Triggers/Conservation Summary | Details House Ways & Means Committee
Makes several changes to state and local government financing, programs, and operations.

SF592 Transportation Budget (FY 2022) Summary | Details Sent to Governor
Appropriates funds for transportation services and agencies for fiscal year 2022 (which begins July 1, 2021).

SF595 Economic Development Appropriations (Senate Version) Summary | Details Senate Floor
Appropriates funds to various state departments and for a statewide tourism marketing campaign.

SF598 Agriculture/Natural Resources Budget (Senate Version) Summary | Details Senate Floor
Agriculture/Natural Resource budget for FY2021-2022.

SF600 Infrastructure/RIIF Budget (Senate Version) Summary | Details Senate Floor
Appropriates funds for infrastructure/RIIF for FY2021-2022.

SF602 Alcohol Renewal Fee Rebate Summary | Details Senate Floor
Requires ABD to provide a renewal fee rebate to holders of an annual license/permit to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption who renewed in CY2020.

SF615 Standings Budget (Senate Version) Summary | Details Senate Floor
Budget for unassigned standings (automatic appropriations that are in law) for FY 2022, which beings on July 1, 2021.

SSB 1276 Senate/Governor’s Omnibus Tax proposal Summary | Details Senate Ways & Means Committee
Contains several tax provisions, including repealing triggers, mental health funding, parts of the Governor's housing proposal, child care credits, etc.
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