TWELFTH WEEK OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION
With fewer than three weeks remaining until the scheduled April 21 adjournment date, the legislature is unlikely to finish on time. Both chambers and the governor still need to reach agreement on several key policy issues, as well as the state budget.
The Iowa Senate began the budgeting process this week by releasing a topline figure of $9.623 billion—about $40 million below Governor Reynolds’ proposed budget. The Iowa House of Representatives is expected to release its budget proposal early next week.
It was also a shorter legislative week, with lawmakers adjourning after Wednesday’s floor debate.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
It was a strong week for ISC, with the voices of Iowa hunters and farmers making a clear impact at the Capitol.
First, ISC’s bill to eliminate the “celebrity deer tag” advanced out of a House Ways and Means subcommittee with unanimous support.
On Wednesday, nearly 30 outdoorsmen and farmers spoke in opposition a proposal that would allow nonresidents who pay Iowa income tax the ability to claim residency to obtain hunting or fishing licenses—essentially creating a workaround to secure a buck tag. Lawmakers received more than 1,000 emails from across the state, along with input from nonresidents who opposed the bill.
The subcommittee ultimately voted the bill down, stopping the bill from moving forward.
BILL TRACKER
** New Information highlighted in yellow**
**Bills ISC supports are in green**
**Bills ISC opposes are in red**
**Bills ISC is monitoring are in blue**
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Thank you for making your voices heard on HF 2657—the proposal that would have allowed nonresidents to claim Iowa residency in order to obtain hunting or fishing licenses. In practice, this would have created a workaround for nonresidents to secure automatic buck tags.
Over the weekend, legislators received more than 1,000 emails and contacts from hunters and farmers across the state. Your engagement made a difference, and your voices were heard.
Lawmakers are often asked to act on a wide range of issues, and it’s important to recognize when they respond to constituent input. Their names and contact information of the subcommittee members are listed below—please consider sending a quick note of appreciation.
In addition, our bill to eliminate the “celebrity deer tag” has passed a House Ways and Means subcommittee and now moves to the full committee for consideration. Please reach out to members of the full committee and urge them to support SF 424 and advance it forward. A link to the committee is included below.
Subcommittee Members:
Rep. Derek Wulf: derek.wulf@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Chad Behn: chad.behn@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Larry McBurney: larry.mcburney@legis.iowa.gov
Forest Reserve Legislation is Revived
A Senate bill that passed the Senate last year but stalled in the House has now been assigned a subcommittee, with discussion expected as soon as this week.
SF 633 would establish a new tax on land enrolled in the Forest Reserve Program, structured based on the landowner’s residency:
• $2 per acre for landowners who live in the same county as the property
• $3 per acre for landowners who live outside the county
• Approximately $10 per acre for nonresidents, based on a formula in the bill
ISC has long supported adding reasonable guardrails to the program—such as requiring repayment of back taxes if land is developed within a certain number of years and implementing management plan requirements. ISC will continue to advocate for not taxing land that is in forest reserve.
Link to legislator forums across the state. Stop by and talk to your legislators about ISC issues!
https://www.brownwinick.com/iapoliticalevents
PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME!
Phil Jeneary
