2014 Iowa Legislative UpdateA Report from the Sausage Factory

Scott Sundstromsasundstrom@nyemaster.com(515) 283-8174#Who Runs the Place?##Democrats Control the Iowa Senate#Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs)Senate Majority LeaderIn his eighth term in the Iowa SenateSenate Majority Leader since 2007

#Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque)Senate PresidentIn her second term in the Iowa SenateEight terms in the Iowa HouseElected Senate President after 2012 elections

#Republicans Control the Iowa House#Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha)Speaker of the HouseIn his sixth term in the Iowa HouseHouse Republican leader since the November 2008 electionSpeaker of the House since 2011

#Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake)House Majority LeaderIn her sixth term in the Iowa HouseBecame House Majority Leader in 2011

#The 2014 Session By the Numbers##Days of SessionPer DiemOdd years= 110 daysEven years= 100 daysSplit controlSingle-party control#Bills and Resolutions FiledSplit controlSingle-party control#Bills That Passed Both ChambersSplit controlSingle-party control#Whats in the Sausage?Results of the 2014 Iowa Legislative Session##For the OverachieversIowa General Assembly websitewww.legis.iowa.gov Full text of all billsFiscal informationLegislator names and contact informationMenus for the Capitol cafeteria

#Labor & Employment IssuesLabor and employment issues are partisan

Labor and employment issues are VERY partisan

So what?Senate Labor Committee met seven times this sessionHouse Labor Committee met eight times this sessionCommerce Committees met twice as often

#Some Bipartisanship . . .HF 2199 Iowa voluntary shared work programConformity with federal lawNow includes part-time employeesSF 303 Home Base IowaPackage of policies to attract veterans to IowaPrivate employers may provide hiring/promotion preferences to (1) veterans; and (2) spouses of disabled veterans or military personnel killed on active dutyExpedited professional licensing for veterans

#And Some PartisanshipSF 2295 Wage theft (did not pass House)Burden of proof on employer to show wage deduction lawfulEmployers liable for attorney fees and liquidated damages even for unintentional underpayment of wagesPresumption of retaliation if adverse action against employee within 90 days of the employee participating in a wage payment disputeSF 2350 Payment by debit card (did not pass House)Employees must consent in writing to be paid by debit cardNotification of feesAbility to withdraw all wages without any fees#Corporation LawSF 2200 Voting trusts and financial informationEliminates 10-year limitation on voting trusts after July 1, 2014Corporations may make required financial information available to shareholders via the internet without chargeCorporations with less than 100 shareholders and cooperatives excused reporting to shareholders if prepares annual financial statements that are available upon request of a shareholderHF 2130 Minority shares in banksRepeals provisions allowing discounts for minority status and lack of marketability for shares in banks for dissenting shareholders with appraisal rights

#TaxesDepartment of Revenue bills:HF 2438 technical bill (very technical)HF 2444 efficiency bill (minor efficiencies)Economic Development AuthorityHF 2448 changes to various programs with tax creditsChanges to the brownfields/grayfields programCreates a new workforce housing incentives tax programEliminates the enterprise zone programCultural Affairs DepartmentHF 2453 historic tax credit program revamped

#Potentially of InterestSF 2315 Land use restrictionsGenerally, land use restrictions require filing of a verified claim with the county recorder within 21 years after filing a use restrictionRemoves the filing requirement for:Easements granting an affirmative right to use land possessed by anotherCost sharing agreements for real estate taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance, repair, or other costs related to two or more parcels of landSF 2259 Security breach notificationApplies to records kept on paper (if printed from computer)If more than 500 consumers affected by a security breach, must notify Attorney General within five business days after notifying consumersHF 2387 Notice of garnishment and levy to judgment debtor#Our Democracy in Action Or should that be Our Democracy Inaction?##2014 Elections Iowa Senate#2014 Elections Iowa House#Questions?

Scott Sundstromsasundstrom@nyemaster.com(515) 283-8174#