Wrapping Up First Funnel Week

While the first funnel week of the session comes to a close, the house has worked this week to get all the proposed legislation finalized and through, especially Senate File 2201, making an agreement on supplemental state aid for K-12 schools in the house.

Commerce

HSB 691: This bill, brought to the committee by Representative Charley Thomson, allows for landowners to receive compensation for damages done and continued yield losses due to pipelines of all types (natural gas, hazardous liquids, etc.). This bill also allows landowners to file land restoration complaints directly to the IUC for the aforementioned pipeline types.

HSB 692: This bill clarifies that eminent domain cannot be used for the siting of battery energy storage, solar arrays or other solar implements and wind energy infrastructure. Furthermore, it establishes statewide siting standards for renewable energy facilities, but allows localities to further maintain moratoriums or additional standards for these renewable energy projects.

HF 2033: This bill requires that pharmacies refer visually impaired individuals and the blind to pharmacies which can provide labels on their prescriptions which are accessible to the aforementioned groups. Whether it be brail or larger and more legible fonts, this bill will help the blind and visually impaired with their prescription needs.

Veterans Affairs

HF 2478: This bill dedicates a section of Highway 30 that runs through Marshalltown to Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard, renaming it to “Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard Highway.” I was happy to be the chair of this bill and want to once again stress the sacrifice Staff Sergeant Howard made for this country and for Iowa.

With his Marshalltown heritage, the loss of Staff Sergeant Howard has been felt across the community, especially because of the age at which he lost his life. His sacrifice will not be forgotten and this helps memorialize his bravery and service forever. Rest in peace Staff Sergeant Howard.

HF 2480: This bill creates a program to produce and display posters in the workplace which lists benefits available to veterans. As the chair of the subcommittee for this bill and the legislator that produced it, I am happy to announce the passage of this bill out of committee. This bill provides veterans the information they need to take advantage of all services due to them, the more accessible this information is to veterans, the better and hopefully this program increases the amount of veterans who are in contact with their county Veteran Service Officer.

As always, thank you for the honor to serve you in the Iowa House. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or issues. I’d love to have visitors, so don’t hesitate to come to the Capitol and say hi.