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A Report from the Sausage Factory

A Report from the Sausage Factory. 2014 Iowa Legislative Update. Scott Sundstrom sasundstrom@nyemaster.com (515) 283-8174. Who Runs the Place?. Democrats Control the Iowa Senate. In his eighth term in the Iowa Senate Senate Majority Leader since 2007.

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A Report from the Sausage Factory

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  1. A Report from the Sausage Factory 2014 Iowa Legislative Update Scott Sundstrom sasundstrom@nyemaster.com(515) 283-8174

  2. Who Runs the Place?

  3. Democrats Control the Iowa Senate

  4. In his eighthterm in the Iowa Senate • Senate Majority Leader since 2007 Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs)Senate Majority Leader

  5. In her second term in the Iowa Senate • Eight terms in the Iowa House • Elected Senate President after 2012 elections Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque)Senate President

  6. Republicans Control the Iowa House

  7. In his sixth term in the Iowa House • House Republican leader since the November 2008 election • Speaker of the House since 2011 Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha)Speaker of the House

  8. In her sixth term in the Iowa House • Became House Majority Leader in 2011 Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake)House Majority Leader

  9. The 2014 Session By the Numbers

  10. Days of Session Per Diem Odd years = 110 days Even years = 100 days Split control Single-party control

  11. Bills and Resolutions Filed Single-party control Split control

  12. Bills That Passed Both Chambers Single-party control Split control

  13. What’s in the Sausage? Results of the 2014 Iowa Legislative Session

  14. For the Overachievers • Iowa General Assembly website www.legis.iowa.gov • Full text of all bills • Fiscal information • Legislator names and contact information • Menus for the Capitol cafeteria

  15. Labor & Employment Issues • Labor and employment issues are partisan • Labor and employment issues are VERY partisan • So what? • Senate Labor Committee met seven times this session • House Labor Committee met eight times this session • Commerce Committees met twice as often

  16. Some Bipartisanship . . . • HF 2199 – Iowa voluntary shared work program • Conformity with federal law • Now includes part-time employees • SF 303 – Home Base Iowa • Package of policies to attract veterans to Iowa • Private employers may provide hiring/promotion preferences to (1) veterans; and (2) spouses of disabled veterans or military personnel killed on active duty • Expedited professional licensing for veterans

  17. And Some Partisanship • SF 2295 – “Wage theft” (did not pass House) • Burden of proof on employer to show wage deduction lawful • Employers liable for attorney fees and liquidated damages even for unintentional underpayment of wages • Presumption of retaliation if adverse action against employee within 90 days of the employee participating in a wage payment dispute • SF 2350 – Payment by debit card (did not pass House) • Employees must consent in writing to be paid by debit card • Notification of fees • Ability to withdraw all wages without any fees

  18. Corporation Law • SF 2200 – Voting trusts and financial information • Eliminates 10-year limitation on voting trusts after July 1, 2014 • Corporations may make required financial information available to shareholders via the internet without charge • Corporations with less than 100 shareholders and cooperatives excused reporting to shareholders if prepares annual financial statements that are available upon request of a shareholder • HF 2130 – Minority shares in banks • Repeals provisions allowing discounts for minority status and lack of marketability for shares in banks for dissenting shareholders with appraisal rights

  19. Taxes • Department of Revenue bills: • HF 2438 – technical bill (very technical) • HF 2444 – efficiency bill (minor efficiencies) • Economic Development Authority • HF 2448 – changes to various programs with tax credits • Changes to the brownfields/grayfields program • Creates a new workforce housing incentives tax program • Eliminates the enterprise zone program • Cultural Affairs Department • HF 2453 – historic tax credit program revamped

  20. Potentially of Interest • SF 2315 – Land use restrictions • Generally, land use restrictions require filing of a verified claim with the county recorder within 21 years after filing a use restriction • Removes the filing requirement for: • Easements granting an affirmative right to use land possessed by another • Cost sharing agreements for real estate taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance, repair, or other costs related to two or more parcels of land • SF 2259 – Security breach notification • Applies 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 consumers • HF 2387 – Notice of garnishment and levy to judgment debtor

  21. Our Democracy in Action Or should that be “Our Democracy Inaction”?

  22. 2014 Elections – Iowa Senate

  23. 2014 Elections – Iowa House

  24. Questions? Scott Sundstrom sasundstrom@nyemaster.com(515) 283-8174

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