Legislation Signed by Governor Culver

January, 2007 | February, 2007 | March 2007 | April 2007 | May 2007

May, 2007

Signed May 29, 2007

House File 817: Governor signed House File 817, an Act making provisions for the management of veterans services in Iowa including counseling for returning veterans, and creates new prohibitions on flag desecration.

Senate File 554: Governor signed Senate File 554, an Act relating to franchises for the provision of cable service or video service including providing for fees and providing an effective date.

Signed May 29, 2007, with line-item veto

House File 752: Governor signed House File 752, an Act making transportation and other infrastructure-related appropriations to the Department of Transportation.
Read veto letter.

House File 874: Governor signed House File 874, an Act relating to and making appropriations to certain state departments, agencies, funds, and certain other entities and providing an effective date.
Read veto letter.

House File 909: Governor signed House File 909, an Act relating to and making appropriations for health and human services, providing administrative direction and $1.2 billion in funding to the agencies involved in Iowa’s health care system and who provide social services to Iowans in need.
Read veto letter.

House File 911: Governor signed House File 911, an Act relating to and making appropriations to state departments and agencies from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, Vertical Infrastructure Fund, the Endowment for Iowa’s Health Restricted Capitals Fund, and the Technology Reinvestment Fund.
Read veto letter.

Senate File 551: Governor signed Senate File 551, an Act relating to and making appropriations involving state government, by providing for agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection. Senate File 551 is approved on this date, with the exception noted below, which I hereby disapprove.
Read veto letter.

Senate File 562: Governor signed Senate File 562, an Act relating to and making appropriations to the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department Of Economic Development, certain Board of Regents Institutions, the Department of Workforce Development, the Iowa Finance Authority, and the Public Employment Relations Board and related matters.
Read veto letter.

Senate File 575: Governor signed Senate File 575, an Act relating to and making appropriations to the justice system.
Read veto letter.

Senate File 588: Governor signed Senate File 588, an Act relating to the funding of, the operation of, and appropriation of moneys to the college student aid commission, the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents, providing for related matters concerning the Iowa learning technology commission, providing for a related matter concerning participation in an instructional support program by school districts, and providing effective dates.
Read veto letter.

Senate File 601: Governor signed Senate File 601, an Act relating to state and local finances by providing for funding of property tax credits and reimbursements, by making, increasing and reducing appropriations, providing for salaries and compensation of state employees, providing for tax credits, providing for fees and penalties, and providing for properly related matters, and including effective date provisions.
Read veto letter.

Vetoed May 29, 2007

House File 783: Governor vetoed House File 783, an Act relating to certain city utilities or city enterprises by making changes to procedures for notice and collection of delinquent charges and by making changes to billing notifications for water service and other services provided to certain residential rental property. Read veto letter.

Senate File 543: Governor vetoed Senate File 543, an Act relating to the state Interagency Missouri River Authority (Authority), amends provisions of Iowa Code section 28L.1, so as to alter the means by which the authority would be governed. Read veto letter.

Signed May 25, 2007

Senate File 263:

This bill concerns gambling games on gambling structures and removes the requirement that gambling structures be built with water under the gaming floor. Originally designed to limit gambling to excursion boats, this law is in effect only requiring that land-based casinos build a man-made water body under their buildings. This bill will save the expenses of building and maintaining such a water body, but does not approve any further gambling expansion.

Senate File 304:

Under current law, the situation regarding hunting and fishing regulations on the Meskwaki settlement is unclear. Under current practice the tribe has regulated hunting and fishing by enrolled tribal members on the settlement while the DNR has regulated the hunting and fishing activities of non-members on the settlement. This bill will allow the Sac and Fox tribe to formulate hunting and fishing regulations for everyone hunting and fishing on the settlement and come to an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources over implementation of such regulations.

Senate File 369:

This bill makes voter-marked paper ballots the standard for elections, rather than just electronic voting machines.
The bill requires counties whose voting systems shall replace the system with an optical scan voting system only and those counties that utilize both a voting machine and an optical scan voting system shall when replacing a voting machine, replace it will an electronic ballot marking device. This device will be compatible with an optical scan voting system.
The bill also requires a paper record.

Senate File 427:

This is a bill expanding housing and employment civil rights protections to members of the LGBT community.

Senate File 430:

This is a bill relating to a civil (not criminal) judgment, decree, or order of a court of a federally recognized Indian tribe. The bill creates new chapter 626D, the “Recognition and Enforcement of Tribal Court Civil Judgments Act.” The Act sets forth procedures for the filing, recognition, and enforcement of tribal court judgments by state courts. Once a tribal court judgment is filed in the state court, it shall be recognized and enforced by state courts unless objected to in a timely manner. If objections are filed in a timely manner, the objecting party must demonstrate certain jurisdictional and due process requirements were not met in the tribal court. Or, the state court may decline to recognize and enforce a tribal court judgment on equitable grounds. New chapter 626D applies to civil judgments, orders, or decrees issued by a tribal court emanating from a cause of action that accrued on or after the effective date of the Act. The bill also amends provisions of section 624.24 (when judgment lien attaches), and chapters 626A (enforcement of foreign judgments) and 626B (uniform foreign money-judgments recognition act) to provide, generally, that the filing of a foreign or tribal judgment shall not create a lien upon any real estate until all challenges, if any, to the foreign or tribal judgment are concluded.

Senate File 512:

An Act relating to the regulation of pharmacy benefits managers and making penalties applicable, and providing an effective date.

Senate File 558:

This bill increases the amount of the “wildlife habitat fee” from 8 dollars to 11 dollars. This fee is paid by anyone who obtains a hunting or fur harvester license before they can hunt or trap. Funds generated from these fees are deposited in the state fish and game protection fund and used for habitat development. However, the bill stipulates that funds generated specifically from this increase are to be used only for the “game bird habitat development program”. This program includes two separate accounts for specific purposes and the increased fees will be divided between the two with two dollars of each fee going to the game bird wetlands conservation account and one dollar going to the game bird buffer strip assistance account. The wetlands conservation account is meant to help the state qualify for federal matching funds related to wetlands conservation. The buffer strip account is meant to supplement existing funds and help leverage private and federal dollars to increase private landowners’ participation in conservation programs and increase the game bird hunting available on private lands. This increased fee assessment will improve game bird hunting in Iowa and have a positive impact on economic development.

Senate File 564:

SF 564 creates a new section in the Code of Iowa for the regulation of wild animals to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) in cooperation with local governments.

House File 641:

This bill allows for persons to enter into an installment agreement with the county attorney to pay fines, penalties, court costs, or surcharge. After the agreement has been entered the department of transportation can reinstate the persons’ license. The person must submit a financial statement to the county attorney in order for the person to receive the installment agreement. The installation agreement shall be executed in the county where the fine was imposed. If there is no installation agreement program in that county, the person can execute an installation agreement in the county in which they reside. If the county in which they reside does not have a program then an agreement can be executed in any county that offers an installment agreement program. Civil penalties can be assessed as an amount owing under the installment agreement. If the installation agreement is in default, the county attorney shall notify the department of transportation and they shall suspend the driver’s license. People may enter into more than one installment agreement if additional fines and court costs are added. A person is allowed to enter into 5 installment agreements in a lifetime. The bill allows for individuals to receive temporary restricted licenses for appointments with the person’s parole or probation officer. The bill also permits the city to offset any amounts owed by the clerk to the city prior to distributing any amounts owed the clerk. The effective date is January 1, 2008.

House File 897:

This bill establishes statewide licensure and certification of electricians and installers, providing for inspections, establishing fees and providing penalties. The new statewide licensure system supplements current licensure of electricians on a city-by-city basis, permitting electricians to practice on a statewide, as well as local, basis. The bill provides for the creation of an 11 member electrical examining board within the state fire marshal division of the department of public safety. The bill creates an electrician and installer licensing and inspection fund in the state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the board. The bill provides that all licensing, registration, examination, renewal, and inspection fees deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated and made available to the board that the balance shall not revert to the general fund, and that expenditures from the fund shall be approved solely by the board in consultation with the state fire marshal. The bill also provides for an appeal process, and provides suspension, revocation, reprimand, and penalty provisions. Provisions of the bill relating primarily to definitions, the establishment of the electrician examining board, and notification of the fire extinguishing system contractors advisory board to include alarm system contractors and installers, take effect upon enactment. Provisions relating primarily to establishing the various categories of licensure to take effect January 1, 2008. Provisions relating primarily to inspections take effect January 1, 2009.

House File 908:

This bill relates to the licensing and regulation of plumbers and mechanical professionals, and providing an appropriation and penalties and providing an effective date. The bill supersedes and preempts all licensing requirements of government subdivisions that relate to plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, or hydronic services. The bill establishes a licensing board to test, license, and discipline persons licensed under the bill. The board is created as part of the Iowa department of public health, which is required to provide staff support for board operations. The 11 member board will be appointed by the Governor and will consist of the DPH Director, commissioner of public safety, one plumbing inspector, one mechanical inspector, a contractor that primarily works in rural areas, individual working as a plumbing contractor and licensed as a master plumber, two individuals licensed as journeyperson mechanical professionals, and two individuals licensed as master mechanical professionals. Licenses come in three categories and vary according to experience: apprentice, journeyperson, and master. Master licensees must present proof of liability insurance as a condition of licensure. The bill limits advertising for plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, or hydronic services to persons licensed. The bill provides that any violation of the new Code chapter is a simple misdemeanor for a first offense, and a serious misdemeanor for any subsequent offense. This act takes effect July 1, 2008.

House File 912:

A bill for an act to provide upgrades to Iowa’s tax system related to sales tax, use tax, and property tax for computer related businesses. It requires these businesses to make an Iowa investment of at least $200 million.

House File 932:

HF 932 creates the TIME-21 Fund which consists of any moneys appropriated by the General Assembly and any revenues credited by law to the Fund, and provides a formula to allocate the money in the Fund. This legislation increases the amount of Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) funds to counties by changing the formulas for allocating motor fuel tax revenues from the Road Use Tax Fund to the RISE Fund and the Secondary Road Fund. It also changes the formulas for allocation of RISE moneys to the Primary Road Fund, as well as for county and city road projects.

Signed May 24, 2007

House File 648:

Allows a city or county to designate an enterprise zone on the property of the place of business that has imposed a permanent layoff of at least 1,000 workers or 4 percent or more of the county’s workforce.
This zone may include up to an additional 3 mile area adjacent to the property. <.
The closing business or business creating the layoff shall not be eligible to receive incentives or assistance under the Enterprise Zone chapter of Iowa Code, section 15E.194.

Senate File 580:

The one-time tax amnesty program allows people to pay late taxes with limited penalties and no criminal charges. The last time the state had a tax amnesty program was in 1986. That program brought in more than $35 million. The proposed program covers many taxes, including income and sales and allows people to pay back taxes without a penalty.

Senate Joint Resolution 4:

This bill enacts a temporary law allowing the consumption of wine in the state capitol for the World Food Prize. A form of this legislation is passed every session.

Senate Joint Resolution 5:

This bill enacts a temporary law allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the state capitol complex grounds in conjunction with the Hy-Vee BG World Cup Triathlon. The triathlon is expected to draw 30,000 people and ends at the State Capitol.

Senate Joint Resolution 6:

Senate Joint Resolution 6 allows for permanent acknowledgement of elementary and secondary schools and individual citizens of this state for their contributions of foliage and items to be permanently located on the west capitol terrace and other capitol grounds.

Senate File 346:

This bill provides a uniform application for health insurance to be used by small employers in Iowa, standardizing for the first time the information that needs to be provided before a policy can be written. It makes it possible for businesses to submit multiple applications to insurers without filling out additional forms. This is a benefit to small business in Iowa.

Senate File 360:

This is a technical bill that cleans up the Code section with regard to duties of the Division of Banking and oversight of records and rulemaking authority. It broadens slightly the power of the Division to deny an application for an individual registration based on a background check, criminal record or other information.

Senate File 499:

This bill makes changes to the Department of Natural Resources regulation of underground storage tanks. It adds a requirement for periodic compliance inspections and the creation of an inspections program that will include fees to pay for costs associated with the program. Those who fail inspections will be required to work with a groundwater professional to develop a corrective action design report on how they will improve conditions to meet regulations. It requires owners and operators of underground storage tanks to take part in a training program and be certified. It also mandates that each owner keep a certificate of this training on file with the county recorder. Groundwater professionals must also be certified and the requirements for this certification are laid our in the bill. The bill also allows for the department to assess fines for those who fail to obtain certification in either category. This bill will help to further define the qualifications necessary for those working with underground storage tanks and improve the quality of systems to inspect, improve and maintain these tanks. This will improve the safety of groundwater and drinking water.

Senate File 503:

Senate File 503 increases the age for certain children receiving child care if the child’s safety and well being are at risk. The bill also revises child welfare and juvenile justice provisions.

Senate File 510:

This bill provides new regulations governing amusement devices in the State of Iowa. It proscribes the types of machines that may be used in Class “C” liquor license holding establishments and requires registration. It sets penalties for cash prizes. The purpose of the bill is to clarify the intent of current law and provide for alternative penalties to revocation and forfeiture for minor violations.

Senate File 557:

This bill revises and redrafts the Iowa Credit Union Act to allow for additional regulation of credit unions that more closely tracks that of banks, and provides for a new organization of the Credit Union Division and new regulations to govern the industry. It implements taxes, fees and surcharges on credit unions.

Senate File 563: Judicial Budget

SF 563 appropriates $127,425,037 to the Judicial Branch.

Senate File 559:

This bill makes corrective changes to law regarding cemeteries and funeral services. In the section related to those who sell funeral merchandise and services it adds “preneed sellers” to those under the regulations. “Preneed sellers” offer services to those looking to plan their own funeral arrangements and pay for them in advance. The bill also requires such sellers to make regular reports to the insurance commissioner, which is required of other sellers. It requires they obtain a “preneed sellers license” and allows the insurance commissioner to conduct investigations and audits on them as necessary. A criminal background check is required for the license, which will be renewed every four years. It shortens the amount of time that a seller has to pay back funds if the arrangement is cancelled, but allows the seller to petition the insurance commissioner for a longer period of time where needed. The goal of this bill is to provide greater insight into the change funeral industry. More people are making their own arrangements through “preneed sellers” and in the past only funeral homes themselves had been subject to such oversight and regulations. Often these arrangements are made through trust funds and these measures will provide greater consumer protection for those.

Senate File 592:

This is the update bill for changes made to the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement.
This bill was approved by the Streamlined Sales Tax Advisory Council.
The Department of Revenue drafted this bill and all the changes are minor and there is no fiscal impact to this bill.
This bill updates existing tax and related laws.

Senate File 593:

This is a non-controversial bill relating to the assessment of civil and criminal court fees and penalties. The bill provides that eh clerk of the district court shall collect a fee for a probation revocation proceeding equal to the fee for filing and docketing a complaint, information, or citation in the underlying case from which the revocation arises. The bill also increases the fee for filing and indexing a transcript in a probate proceeding from $5 to $50. If the court revokes the probation of a defendant who receives a deferred judgment and imposes a fine, the court shall reduce the amount of the fine by an amount equal to the amount of the civil penalty previously assessed against the defendant.

House File 396:

This bill expands the scope of services that Iowa Community Empowerment’s local boards are authorized to help provide. When Empowerment was created, its scope included assisting low-income parents with tuition for preschool for 5-year-olds not enrolled in kindergarten. Each year it is granted funds to be distributed for that purpose; this year it was to be $5.5 million. Since the new preschool program will help provide most of this and has a separate funding stream, Empowerment boards were looking for other ways they could use that funding to help low-income parents. This bill expands the use of those funds to include “other support services” in addition to preschool and opens it up to include 3- and 4-year-olds as well. This will allow Empowerment to help parents with early childhood programs, child care, health care and other services needed to raise their children. Since we are moving preschool under the Department of Education and funding it through them, it makes sense to change the focus of Empowerment to these other important areas.

House File 556:

This bill establishes an Iowa Propane Education and Research Council and creates a few other measures relative to propane use. The council is intended to develop programs that will enhance consumer safety and education in propane use as well as programs for low-income energy assistance. The council is to prepare a budget plan for these programs to submit to the fire marshal for review and recommendations. The council is to be funded through a fee of one-tenth of one cent on each gallon of odorized propane sold. The members of this council will be appointed by the Governor through recommendations from the propane industry. These members must be appointed within 30 days of this bill’s enactment. Members will serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms and vacancies must be filled through appointments by December 15th of each year. Representatives must include interstate and intrastate retail propane marketers and large and small retail propane marketers, including agricultural cooperatives and must represent diverse geographic regions of the state. Ex-officio members include a professional fire fighter designated by the Iowa association of professional fire chiefs, a volunteer fire fighter designated by the Iowa firemen's association, an experienced plumber involved in plumbing training programs designated by the Iowa state building and construction trades council, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning professional designated by the Iowa state building and construction trades council, a community college instructor with experience in conducting fire safety programs designated by the Iowa association of community college presidents, a representative of a property and casualty insurance company with experience in insuring sellers of propane gas designated by the Iowa insurance institute. This council can be terminated on its on recommendation or through the petition of propane representing more than 35% of the volume of propane sold in the state.

Senate File 578 (Vietnam Vet Bonus):

This bill clarifies and extends the Vietnam service bonus to a specific class of service people whose time of service ran from July 1973 to July 1975.

Senate File 586 (Gold Star Plates):

Codification was needed for the Gold Star plates because under the current administrative process for DOT there is a minimum of 500 applicants to warrant the existence of a plate and an individual would not be able to go to the DOT to get the plate without legislation.
Fewer than 100 people qualify for each of the 5-6 new plates introduced in the legislation.
DOT supports this legislation and by passing this bill into law individuals would qualify for the special gold star motor vehicle registration plate.

House File 749 (Military Plates):

This bill will expand the vehicle special license plates for veterans and emergency medical services.
This legislation remains consistent with our state’s continued support of our veterans

House File 904:

HF 904 is the repeal of the Loan Agency Tax.
There are two parts to this bill. The first just deals with a withholding tax issue for the W-4 form. It allows for pension exclusion to be included on the form.
There is no fiscal impact to this change and the Department of Revenue provided the language once they became aware of the situation.
The Loan Agency Tax law in section 430A was repealed because it was ruled unconstitutional by a district court judge. The department and the AG’s Office agreed that the law was unconstitutional and could not be enforced.
There have no monies collected from this tax since 2003 and the court case was finally settled with a refund to the plaintiff.

House File 923:

This is the Department of Revenue Policy/Technical Bill.
There were a number of changes and amendments to our original version.
Division II of the bill deals with cigarette law changes that the department has been attempting to have passed for a number of years. These changes should help with the enforcement of the cigarette and tobacco laws.

House File 924:

This is a non-controversial bill relating to qualifications for licensure as a real estate broker or salesperson upon conviction of specified offenses. The bill provides that an applicant for a real estate broker's or salesperson's license who has been convicted of an indictable offense shall not be considered for licensure until specified time periods have elapsed following completion of a sentence. The bill provides that after the time periods have elapsed, the commission shall consider an application and may deny it based on the conviction. If denied, an applicant may request a hearing. With regard to existing licensees, the bill modifies the code to require that a licensee notify the commission of a conviction of any of the above specified offenses within 10 days of the conviction. The bill provides that notification of a conviction for an offense which is classified as a felony will result in the immediate suspension of a license pending the outcome of a revocation hearing.

House File 907:

An Act relating to and making appropriations from the Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust and the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund and providing an effective date. House File 907 is approved on this date, with the exceptions noted below, which I hereby disapprove.
The Governor invoked his line-item veto authority yesterday on House File 907 on the following sections:
- “I am unable to approve item designated as Section 1, Subsection 2a (4) in its entirety. This designated language continues general language on substance abuse treatment expenditures. These directives are already in place and, therefore, this language is not needed.”
- “I am unable to approve item designated as Section 1, Subsection 2b, paragraphs (1) through (6) in their entirety. This designated language continues general language on substance abuse treatment expenditures. These directives are in place and, therefore, this annual report language is not needed.”

Signed May 23, 2007

House File 918: Iowa Power Fund Policy Bill

House File 927: Iowa Power Fund Appropriations Bill

Signed May 22, 2007

House File 890: HF 890 provides $4 million to Iowa’s existing Targeted Small Business Program. Each qualified applicant will be able to receive grants, up to $50,000, for startup expenses.

Signed May 21, 2007

House File 718: establishes cigarette fire safety standards, prohibits the sale of cigarettes in the state which have not been tested and certified for fire safety, creates a Cigarette Fire Safety Fund, and provides for penalties.

House File 864: requires applicants for a fire fighter appointment pay for and successfully complete a candidate physical ability test.

Senate File 340: provides additional protections regarding the consideration of inherited or gifted property in dissolution of marriage property division proceedings.

Senate File 403: the Supplemental Appropriations bill.

Senate File 472: requires the posting of close-clearance warning devices along railroad tracks and provides a penalty.

Signed May 15, 2007

Senate File 457: An act relating to the rights of peace officers and public safety and emergency personnel.

Signed May 11, 2007

House File 671: prohibits hunting a wild animal through the internet or a remote control device.

House File 773: encourages energy efficiency by establishing a program which would designate municipalities as “energy cities.”

House File 808: makes changes to Iowa Code chapter 28E, which deals with intergovernmental agreements and shared public services.

House File 920: to expand the Board of Regents’ bonding authority, giving increased authority to make infrastructure improvements and initiate new facility construction.

House File 925: changes certain regulatory activities of the Department of Public Health.

Senate File 530: amends Iowa Code chapter 543B.60A which deals with the prohibited practices of real estate brokers, and prohibits an Iowa licensed real estate broker from participating in a marketing plan with someone who is a licensed realtor in another state of the U.S. or in an other country.

Senate File 90: allows for emergency management commissions to undertake and fund emergency responder communications projects and services.

Senate File 278: makes changes to the Utility Replacement Tax, correcting a loophole that would have resulted in Linn County and other local governments losing $650,000 annually due to how the generation tax was allocated.

Senate File 344: makes corrective changes to the civil penalties that can be assessed by the Department of Natural Resources for solid waste disposal violations.

Senate File 579: creates an innovative collection and disposal program for prescription drugs.

Senate File 518: makes technical corrections related to the sale of life insurance and other insurance packages by the same agent in the State of Iowa.

Senate File 546: clarifies the use of hospital liens in Iowa.

Signed May 09, 2007

House File 830: This bill makes some corrective changes to the process and requirements for the letting of public improvement projects.

House File 896: This Bill creates a Disaster Aid Individual Assistance Grant Fund.

Senate File 421: This bill makes some corrective changes to workers compensation law insurance policy and debt collection. It clarifies the coverage that employers must get by stating that they must have a workers compensation insurance policy that does not specifically exclude domestic and farm workers. It also changes the law to provide that health insurance providers cannot seek funds, including through debt collection, while a case is pending before the workers’ compensation commissioner, they must wait until there is a ruling.

House File 368: This bill which cleans up Code sections dealing with inspection of boilers and steam pressure vessels.

House File 397: This bill establishes the same standards for inspection reports and issuance of certificates regardless of whether the inspection was performed by a special inspector or an inspector who is a state employee. It also creates the same authority for the commissioner to limit use of equipment pending repairs or replacement regardless of whether the inspection was performed by a special inspector or an inspector who is a state employee.

House File 499: This bill is the Insurance Division’s miscellaneous (omnibus) department bill. It makes technical and clean up corrections to the Code addressing release of posted security in formerly self-funded workers compensation plans, consistency in premium tax computation and dates of hearings, subpoena and company examination authority, reporting and filing requirements, the external review process for medical claims, and continuing education requirements for agents.

House File 546: This bill changes the procedures regarding membership of election boards. It is designed to provide county auditors with more options when it comes to finding election-day workers because finding workers on election day has become more difficult, especially in smaller towns.

House File 608: This bill changes the public notice requirements for meetings of the board of township trustees.

House File 651: This bill makes changes to corporate law based on Model Business Corporation Act.

House File 742: This bill changes and streamlines DNR procedures in regulating and registering snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.

House File 767: This bill extends eligibility for certain benefits including the Injured Veterans Grant program to injured veterans who are not residents of Iowa, but were attached to an Iowa National Guard or Reserve unit at the time of their post-9/11/01 deployment and were injured in the line of duty.

House File 793: HF 793 proposes miscellaneous changes to the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Transportation.

House File 906: This bill requires children to show proof that they have had a dental screening between the ages of 3 and 6 and prior to enrolling in elementary school, and again in high school. It does not bar initial enrollment into elementary school or high school. The local school districts will be responsible for enforcing the requiremements of the bill.

House File 910: This bill directs the Department of Health to convene a task force on postnatal tissue and fluid banking.

Senate File 212: This bill protects certain identity information contained in documents recorded with the county recorder and increases salary limits for certain deputy officers.

Senate File 254: This bill makes technical corrections to the Family Investment Program (FIP) administered by the Department of Human Services that bring the program into compliance with the federal Deficit Reduction Act requirements. It also changes the income disregard from 50 percent to 58 percent, allowing indigent family members to keep more of what they earn as they work their way out of poverty.

Senate File 265: This bill redefines an asbestos project as an asbestos removal or encapsulation activity that affects a building or structure, and includes removing materials containing asbestos from the site of a demolition or collapse.

Senate File 333: This bill corrects outdated references in the Code and fixes errors made when legislation was originally drafted.

Senate File 336: The legislation lowers the population limits to cities with populations over 8,000 but not exceeding 70,000. Cities over 70,000 may establish the number of commissioners by ordinance at not less than three.

Senate File 435: This bill provides additional flexibility regarding the use of youth deer hunting licenses.

Senate File 447: This bill reinstates incentives for school district reorganizations, and provides new incentives for school district sharing of operational functions and area education agency sharing of operational functions.

Senate File 469: This bill allows a manufacturer of motor homes that is licensed in this state to display and sell its motor homes at a camping rally sponsored and conducted by the manufacturer for members of a club composed of owners of motor homes manufactured by the manufacturer.

Senate File 538: This bill deals with a parent’s cause of action for the recovery of expenses and actual loss of services, companionship, and society resulting from the injury to or death of a child.

Senate File 539: This bill creates standard financing language, which can be inserted into future legislation authorizing the issuance of obligations by the state, state authorities, and state agencies.

Senate File 540: This bill deals with trusts and estates including fiduciaries and beneficiaries. Applicability dates are also included.

April, 2007

Signed April 27, 2007

House File 829: appropriates $3 million a year from the Values Fund to the Department of Economic Development for targeted industries services in fiscal years 2008 through 2015.

Senate File 155: creates a Local Government Innovation Commission Fund and the Tim Shields Center for Governing Excellence.

Senate File 347: grants new powers to Credit Unions to sell and cash new classes of monetary products as well as charge application fees for loans that are less than one year in length.

Senate File 414: establishes allowances for Veterans Organizations to conduct card game tournaments. These games would be licensed, can award prizes, and are subject to local sales tax.

Senate File 485: creates the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council to consider and determine the best strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state, enables the state to collect data on greenhouse gas emissions through licensing of electric power generating facilities and reporting by other producers of greenhouse gases.

Senate File 489: establishes an Alzheimer’s disease task force.

Signed April 26, 2007

House File 309: directs the Department of Human Services to establish a work group to develop a uniform cost report for services reimbursed under Medicaid and county mental health, mental retardation and developmental services.

House File 744: broadens a debtor’s exempt personal injury payments in state court debt collection and federal bankruptcy actions.

House File 849: allows the Department of Administrative Services to contract for services with not-for-profit organizations and removes the Department of Administrative Services Director as the automatic Director of the Technology Governance Board, allowing the Board to elect its own chairperson.

House File 851: raises the dollar limit for ICN purchases large enough to require prior legislative approval and adds the possibility for emergency approval by the executive council in those cases where the purchase is needed as the result of a natural disaster or a threat to homeland security

Senate File 175: relates to the disposition of seized property in a criminal proceeding.

Senate File 277: will provide an additional $145 million for teacher salaries over two years, $20 million in professional development, creates ten pilot programs across the state to test new models for teacher compensation. Read veto letter.

Senate File 339: increases the limits for a county to issue a general obligation bond for essential county purposes before the bond must be put to an election.

Senate File 384: deals with the statute of limitations provisions relating to minors and persons with mental illness and tort claims against a municipality.

Senate File 406: clarifies the right to kill a tagged dog.

Senate File 416: makes changes to the procedures and timelines used by cities to fill a vacancy by special election and runoff elections while making changes regarding availability of a petitioned satellite absentee voting station for city runoff elections.

Signed April 23, 2007

House File 615: clarifies the membership of the Board of Educational Examiners.

House File 759: restates one of the functions of the Clarinda Correctional Facility more clearly and appropriately.

House File 780: authorizes the district court to temporarily modify a child support order when an application to modify a child support or child custody order is pending.

Senate File 302: changes the timing of payments appropriated to Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) regional tourism marketing out of state gambling tax receipts.

Senate File 337: relates to information required to be indexed in the records of the county recorder.

Senate File 463: concerns the licensing and operations of a manufacturer of ambulances, rescue vehicles, or fire vehicles.

Senate File 528: prohibits the Department of Corrections from entering into an agreement with a private sector for-profit-entity for the purpose of housing inmates committed to the custody of the Director of the Department of Corrections.

Signed April 20, 2007

Senate File 311: is a corrective bill to clarify that when a mortgagee fails to file a satisfaction of judgment releasing the mortgage underlying an action for discharge of the mortgage, the aggrieved party is entitled to recover damages, a penalty, and attorney fees in an action for satisfaction of the mortgage.

Senate File 381: relates to appointments of court of appeals judges, district judges, associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, magistrates, and patient advocates, and compensation to judges and other court personnel serving as fiduciaries.

Senate File 407: places the Veterans Homeownership Assistance Program in the Department of Veterans Affairs section of the Iowa Code. The program provides grants up to $5,000 to assist qualified veterans or current armed forces personnel in purchasing of a home in Iowa.

Senate File 502: is related to Savings and Loan Associations. It updates the Savings and Loan Statute (Chapter 534) to reflect last sessions’ reorganization to bring it under the Division of Banking and to correct other outdated elements in the Code.

Senate File 529: expands the definition of the criminal offense of possessing contraband in correctional institutions to include possessing such contraband in a secure facility for the detention or custody of juveniles, a detention facility, or a jail.

House File 590: relates to the application and enforcement of the state building code.

House File 787: appropriates federal funds made available from federal block grants ($154.5 million) and other federal grants (estimated at $4.3 billion), allocates portions of federal block grants, and provides procedures if federal block grant funds are more or less than anticipated or if other federal funds are more than anticipated.

House File 826: establishes the Iowa Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. It will lead Iowa’s participation in the upcoming national celebration.

House File 353: establishes a 15-member Statewide Interoperable Communications Board.

House File 432: deals with expanding the definition of abuse of a human corpse to include mutilation, disfiguring, dismembering, hiding, or burying a human corpse with the intent to conceal a crime and creates a Class D felony.

House File 451: relates to the Legislative interest in developing a single point of entry for long term living needs that accesses an integrated seamless system of services and support systems.

House File 528: clarifies the Code to be more in line with proper terminology, it aligns complaint investigations to federal standards, and it repeals a sunset clause on a successful program the Department has with hospitals to establish rules.

House File 559: relates to the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact and provides an effective date.

House File 566: expands the liability protections granted to free clinics to field dental clinics.

House File 587: is an act relating to advisory boards created pursuant to emergency services agreements and providing an effective date.

House File 611: requires the Department of Education to develop and offer all school districts age-appropriate, research-based human growth and development curriculum.

Signed April 17, 2007

House File 158: requires that children have proof that they have had a blood lead test prior to age 6 and prior to enrolling in elementary school.

House File 413: changes some reporting and filing requirements for statements submitted to the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (ECDB).

House File 585: relates to the selection and appointment of board members to the Area Agency on Aging.

House File 765: relates to animal feeding operations regulated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), including primarily confinement feeding operations and open feedlot operations.

House File 774: clarifies the law regarding the interpretation of the mechanic’s lien statute.

House File 846: provides the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) with the authority to administer two federal programs under the direction of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Senate File 137: sets up new mandatory standards and registration requirements for “associate real estate appraisers”, individuals who operate under the direct supervision of certified real estate appraisers.

Senate File 205: reauthorizes the Board of Trustees of the Iowa Cultural Trust to use the interest for this purpose, but only when the principal balance in the Iowa Cultural Trust Fund equals or exceeds $3 million.

Senate File 270: allows the Department of Public Defense Military division to enter into design-build contracts for facilities built on state grounds when the project is 100% federally funded and for use exclusively by National Guard and other U.S. Armed Forces.

Senate File 354: relates to certain overpayments of moneys to a county.

Senate File 444: designates a new council of governments area.

Senate File 448: requires Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) to hold confidential any unemployment information received unemployment insurance agencies in other states. The bill also expands who can be held criminally liable for releasing confidential information.

Senate File 479: makes changes to the time frames and the duties of the Legislative Services Agency concerning the process of congressional and legislative redistricting.

Signed April 16, 2007

Senate File 41: SF 41 relates to the disposition of unclaimed property concerning minerals.

Senate File 42: SF 42 is a Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board bill that changes the deadline requirements for campaign disclosure reports, exempts not-for-profit organizations from the ban on “expressly advocating” for elections within its own membership, and directs the Board to investigate “sham newspapers”.

Senate File 140: SF 140 deals with the time period for which peace officers’ investigative reports and specific portions of electronic mail and telephone billing records are to be kept confidential.

Senate File 161: Senate File 161 relates to the confidentiality of security procedures or emergency preparedness information discussed at a meeting of a governmental body and providing an effective date.

Senate File 200: SF 200 provides for habitual trespass when livestock trespass from the land where they are kept onto the same neighbor’s land or the same public road on three or more occasions within a 12-month period.

Senate File 351: SF 351 requires a political committee expressly advocating the passage of a ballot issue to file five disclosure reports in an election year.

Senate File 477: SF 477 increases the nonresident any-sex special deer tags from 25 per year to 75 per year.

Senate File 480: SF 480 provides for situations in which a juvenile court termination order or other order prevents blood siblings from having contact with one another. The bill allows the court to consider whether such visitation is appropriate, and then make an order.

House File 298: HF 298 eliminates, only when dealing through a power of attorney, the requirement that the married spouse of a person who conveys or encumbers a homestead must, in the conveyance instrument or through a power of attorney, set out the legal description of the homestead.

House File 314: HF 314 relates to a peace officer's statements to a person operating a noncommercial motor vehicle and holding a commercial driver's license who has been requested to submit to a chemical test in an operating-while-intoxicated case.

House File 610: House File 610 updates Iowa Code Chapter 141A, AIDS. The majority of the revisions are technical changes to update language to reflect current terminology and accurately reflect current protocols.

House File 777: HF 777 is a Judicial Branch bill that relates to practices and procedures dealing with adoption petitions, clerk of the district court duties, and recordkeeping.

Vetoed April 11, 2007

Senate File 139: Senate File 139 prohibs a person convicted of a simple misdemeanor from filing an application for postconviction relief.
Read SF 139 veto letter.

Signed April 10, 2007

House File 591: HF 591 identifies the procedures to be used by certain city councils having a mayor-council form of city government to increase the number of city council members to five after having been reduced to three members.

House File 740: HF 740 makes it a serious misdemeanor to administer a drug to any wildlife under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

House File 790: HF 790 allows professional associations to create group health care insurance coverage groups. It also establishes some guidelines for an associated wellness program.

House File 803: HF 803 allows a county to appeal a finding and decision of the Civil Service Commission to the District Court.

House File 848: HF 848 amends code provisions relating to election, voting, and voter registration.

Senate File 110: SF 110 standardizes training and certification standards for reserve peace officers in Iowa. It requires the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) to establish the standards pursuant to it’s rulemaking authority.

Senate File 129: SF 129 makes changes to the code regarding the medication regulations for race horses in Iowa.

Senate File 169: SF 169 provides for county eligibility for state payment of certain mental health, mental retardation, and developmental disabilities services (MH/MR/DD) allowed growth funding.

Senate File 284: SF 284 changes the law on unannounced random drug or alcohol testing in the workplace to exclude employees who are not subject to testing based on a collective bargaining agreement.

Senate File 358: SF 358 establishes pre-licensing and continuing education requirements for used motor vehicle dealers.

Senate File 400: SF 400 raises the limit on mortgage release certificates from $500,000 to an amount set by the Title Guaranty Division Board.

Senate File 405: SF 405 relates to national pollutant discharge elimination system permits for disposal systems.

Senate File 431: SF 431 exempts IFA from having IT projects reviewed by the Technology Governance Board and from DAS competitive bidding requirements.

Signed April 05, 2007

House File 617: HF 617 creates the Generation Iowa Commission to further Iowa’s dedication of investing in activities and practices to attract young adults to the state.

House File 650: HF 650 requires that all beer kegs be given an identification number and information about the purchaser be kept on record for each keg purchased.

Senate File 509: SF 509 sets up standards for consent and revocation of organ donation in Iowa. Provisions are made for third-party decision making in some cases, including revocation. This bill provides stability and predictability to the process of organ donation in the State of Iowa.

Signed April 04, 2007

House File 317: Allows for the Department of Education to do an on-site fiscal review at a school district if recommended by the School Budget Review Committee.

House File 647: Will allow for the continuation of the Great Places Program and will complement existing programs such as Main Street Iowa.

Senate File 116: Removes duplication of duties from the Code and further clarifies what agency will adopt rules for firefighter protective clothing and equipment.

Senate File 202: Clarifies sections of the code regarding the handling of abandoned property, requires the Treasurer maintain a public record of the last name and address of someone entitled to unclaimed property, provides that the treasurer or an employee cannot be held liable in unclaimed property matters provided they acted in good faith, and raises from $50 to $100 the value of unclaimed property that requires the Treasurer of State to publish a notice.

Senate File 204: This clarifies portions of the Public Safety Chapter and allows for re-dissemination of arrest data for a person that is wanted or an arrest warrant has been issued.

Senate File 361: An act concerning investment of certain public funds in companies doing business in Sudan by the Treasurer of State, Public Retirement Systems in Iowa, and the State Board of Regents.

Senate File 450: Eliminates a time limitation to an action brought by a county to collect delinquent real property taxes levied on or after April 1, 1992.

Senate File 535: An act relating to general provisions of the uniform commercial code relating to the construction and application of its subject matter, and providing a contingent effective date.

Signed April 03, 2007

House File 653: This bill allows a person to register to vote after the normal statutory deadline for registration for an election and to vote in that election.

House File 618: House File 618 amends the Iowa Code to allow high school juniors and seniors who are not yet qualified to be registered voters to be appointed as precinct election board member.

March, 2007

Signed March 30, 2007

House File 468: This bill requires the department of education to conduct a study regarding the student information systems that are currently in use in the state. The bill requires that the department's study examine the types of data collected and the future needs of data for the kindergarten through grade 12 and postsecondary levels and for use by the state. This would include electronic transcripts that could be shared with other schools. The bill also requires that systems in other states be examined. The bill requires the study to focus on systems that will provide efficiency, accuracy, and security of, and access to, the data by various users. A report of findings and conclusions shall be submitted by the department to the general assembly by January 15, 2008.

House File 579: This bill is a bill relating to judicial branch practices and procedures, including expanding the definition of a seal, involving the duties of the clerk of the Supreme Court, and obtaining electronic signatures of citations. The bill allows for the clerk of court to notify attorneys by ordinary or electronic mail any ruling, decision or opinion rendered. Also, a uniform citation can be signed electronically.

Senate File 548: This bill creates a hemophilia advisory committee within the Department of Public Health. This legislation only goes into effect if an appropriation is later made to support the committee.

Signed March 28, 2007

House File 367: This bill will require employers to be responsible for overdraft fees against an employee’s account if the employer failed to send the employee’s wages for direct deposit by the regular payday. If the employer fails to send the employee’s wages, overdraft charges can be the basis for a wage claim under the Iowa Wage Collection Law, section 91A.10.

House File 716: This bill updates Article 7 of the Iowa Uniform Commercial Code governing warehouse receipts, bills of lading, and other documents of title. The revisions update the provisions in Article 7 to provide a framework for the further development of electronic documents of title. The amendments to Article 7 are based on 2003 revisions made by the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws. This is one of the Iowa State Bar Association’s affirmative legislative proposals.

Senate File 70: This bill will implement the automated victim notification system pursuant to section 915.10A. The bill increases the reasonable charges incurred for medical care, mental health care, and provides for remuneration parents or caretakers of the victim for assistance with medical and counseling services. The bill also has provisions for monetary assistance for dependents of the victim, clothing taken from the victim for evidentiary purposes, reasonable expenses for attending criminal justice proceedings or medical or counseling services, reasonable expenses to replace locks, and reasonable expenses for transportation to medical, counseling, funeral, or criminal justice proceedings.

Senate File 78: This is a DNR clean up bill.

Signed March 27, 2007

House File 5: House File 5 caps the interest that car title lenders can charge consumers. The bill protects Iowans by putting a limit of a 21% annual percentage rate (APR) on loans secured by a certificate of title to a motor vehicle.

Signed March 23, 2007

House File 199:House File 199 deals with the payment of costs of reasonable attorney fees related to certain paternity proceedings, proposed by the Iowa State Bar Association (House 96-0, Senate 49-0). The bill provides that a court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in a proceeding to determine custody or visitation and in proceedings to modify a paternity, custody or visitation order. State law currently does not address the awarding of reasonable attorney fees in proceedings to determine custody or visitation after a judgment of paternity is entered, or in proceedings to modify a paternity, custody or visitation order. The bill provides clarity to the courts as to when reasonable attorney fees can be awarded and will discourage parents from filing unnecessary legal actions over custody and visitation.

House File 588: House File 588 is a bill eliminating the need for a candidate for township office to file a nomination petition.

Senate File 58: Senate File 58 is a bill which sets the number of signatures needed on a nomination petition for mayor when a city establishes the position of mayor and there are no pre-existing nominating procedures. The number of signatures needed is set at the number of votes in the last city council election divided by the number of city council seats and multiplied by .02 or ten signatures, whichever is higher.

Senate File 67: Senate File 67 is a bill which provides for technical changes in the code the organization that accredits colleges of pharmacy. The bill also allows prescription drugs to be refilled 12 times rather than 11 in the interest of consumer convenience. In addition, the bill establishes a limited drug and device distributor license. This does not authorize the distribution of prescription drugs by these new licensees unless the Board of Pharmacy Examiners specifically approves their distribution; the bill also limits the quantities of such drugs that may be supplied or maintained by entities with this type of license. This allows the Board to react to industry or practice changes in the interest of public health.

Senate File 75: Senate File 75 establishes certification requirements for pharmacy technicians. This enhances consumer safety by requiring those involved in dispensing prescriptions to be appropriately educated and to adhere to patient safety standards. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2010.

Senate File 130: Currently a city or county may, with voter approval, erect a monument to recognize the service of US soldiers, sailors, and marines. The city council or board of supervisors must then appoint a commission of five or seven members to maintain the monument. Senate File 130 (49-0 in the Senate and 95-0 in the House) allows up to eleven members, rather than specifically five or seven, to be appointed to such a commission and defines a quorum as a majority of the commission’s members.

Senate File 272: Senate File 272 is a code editor’s bill. It cleans up various sections of the Iowa code by renumbering sections, correcting spelling and punctuation errors, and updating references to other sections of the code. It has no substantive policy impact.

Senate File 319: This bill is a bill that deals with cooperative associations by providing for documentation, including certificates and statements. The bill allows for cooperative associations to issue certificate of membership or stock. The bill also requires that articles of incorporation, amendments to articles, or renewal articles to only be filed with the Secretary of State. Filing documents with the county recorder has been removed from the code. There is also a new section regarding cooperative associations changing principal office and filing the necessary statement with the Secretary of State.

Signed March 14, 2007

House File 369: HF 369 is a non-controversial bill dealing with elevator regulation, proposed by Iowa Workforce Development. It clarifies sections of the code dealing with elevator regulation supersede general building code regulations and changes the definition of material lift elevators to elevators used only for movement of materials. This bill clarifies code language to ensure it is followed over conflicting provisions in the state and local building codes.

House File 258: HF 258, the Revised Iowa Nonprofit Corporation Act (Revised Act), became effective in 2005 for nonprofits, and is based on model statutes developed by the American Bar Association (ABA). HF 258 offers a proposed code change which is considered a technical amendment that should have been included in the Revised Act in 2005. This change includes oversight language as it relates to the duty of care, and it codifies this duty of care as such duty has developed in case law. The inclusion of oversight language makes the Revised Act current with the standards for the duty of care as they currently exist. There was minimal opposition to this bill from the Legislature. In addition, per input from the ABA, the bill offers a technical change that will ensure proper decision making and oversight occur at the executive level of non-profits.

Senate File 39: SF 39 is a non-controversial bill dealing with campaign contributions, disclosure reports and signs and the transfer of prohibited campaign donations, proposed by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure. It clarifies that the standard mileage rate for campaign transportation will be computed by IRS standards and denies the window for unorganized committees to avoid making disclosure reports about their financial activity. This bill requires that mandatory statements and reports be sent to the Ethics Board and posted on their website and requires an additional report from ballot issue committees regarding their activity several weeks after the election. It clarifies that political signs can be posted on most private property and requires that the prohibited funds received from unknown sources be remitted to the Ethics Board and State Treasurer rather than to the Director of the Department of Administrative Services.

Signed March 09, 2007

House File 245: House File 245 requires an immunization for invasive pneumococcal disease prior to enrollment in a licensed child care center. Pneumococcal disease is most common among children less than 5 years of age, and the vaccine helps protect against pneumonia, ear infections, and bacterial meningitis. Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of serious illness in children and adults throughout the world. The vaccine has been available and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians since 2000.

House File 319: The bill updates the references to the Internal Revenue Code to make the federal income tax revisions enacted by Congress in 2006 applicable for Iowa income tax purposes. The bill amends Code sections 422.3 and 422.32, general definition sections in the income tax chapter of the Code, to update the references to the Internal Revenue Code. The bill amends Code sections 15.335, 15A.9, 422.10 and 422.33 to update the Code references to the state research activities credit for individuals, corporations, corporations in economic development areas, and corporations in quality jobs enterprise zones to include the 2006 federal changes in the research activities credit and the alternative incremental research credit. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies retroactively to January 1, 2006, for tax years beginning on or after that date.

House File 400: HF 400 provides a technical change by adding Real Estate Brokers to the list of professions authorized to create LLCs. This is a technical change allowing all real estate brokerage companies to participate in a limited liability similar to what other types of companies who have participated in the past. This bill also clarifies code language relating to LLCs. It was approved by the General Assembly with no opposition, passing the House 96-0 and the Senate 50-0.

Senate File 74: This is a technical change to the Iowa Code that would remove the word examiner from each board’s title. This change reflects the evolution of the boards’ functions. It was approved by the General Assembly with no opposition, passing the House 99-0 and the Senate 47-0.

Signed March 05, 2007

Senate File 61: establishes a state policy that school employees, volunteers, and students in Iowa schools shall not engage in harassing or bullying behavior. The bill defines harassment and bullying, requires public and non-public schools to adopt such a policy and encourages them to develop programs regarding anti-harassment and anti-bullying. The bill also requires the collection and reporting of data.

February, 2007

Signed February 28, 2007

Senate File 162: Governor Chet Culver today signed Senate File 162, the “Iowa Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.” This bill ensures that Iowa patients have access to stem cell therapies and cures, and that Iowa researchers may conduct stem cell research and develop therapies and cures in the state, and to prohibit human reproductive cloning. Governor Culver praised lawmakers for passing this important piece of legislation. “We are well positioned, as one of only 15 National Cancer Institute sites in the country, to forge ahead in the search for lifesaving cures for diseases like cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. We have the chance to bring hope to thousands of Iowans suffering from these life-threatening illnesses.”

Senate File 305: Governor Chet Culver today signed Senate File 305, a bill that permits up to $1 million to be used for disaster aid assistance to individuals. This legislation is in response to the February 23, 2007 ice and snow storm. The grants will be administered by the Department of Human Services to those Iowans who incur expenses associated with the state-declared disaster. The Governor said, “I’m thrilled the House and Senate pushed through this emergency appropriations bill in about 24 hours. This $1 million will be critical in providing relief to hundreds if not thousands of Iowans who have expenses as a direct result of the winter storms.”

Senate File 40: Governor Chet Culver today signed Senate File 40, a bill that clarifies the rules around government employees doing separate private sector business with the State as well as filing requirements when State employees receive gifts. It also allows the information from reports filed with the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board to be used to solicit campaign contributions.

Senate File 32: Governor Chet Culver today signed Senate File 32, a non-controversial bill from the Utilities Board that extends the requirement that local providers obtain a certificate of public convenience. Phone service providers support this legislation.

House File 260: Governor Chet Culver today signed House File 260, a bill that amends the Iowa Controlled Substances Act to include amendments to federal controlled substances law and regulations. The Board of Pharmacy has reviewed the amendments enacted under federal law and concurs with the scheduling actions of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and, therefore, recommends these amendments to maintain uniformity between federal and state laws. The bill also expands the list of anabolic steroids, also in response to amendments in federal law, and amends the definition of “anabolic steroid” in Iowa Code Section 126.2 to conform with the amendments to the Iowa Controlled Substances Act.

Signed February 22, 2007

Senate File 109: This bill sets the fiscal year 2009 school foundation allowable growth rate at 4%. This increases the school district cost per pupil by $213 to $5,546.

Signed February 14, 2007

Senate File 95: The Military Service Member Homeownership Assistance Program bill provides financial assistance to eligible soldiers looking to purchase a home and for injured veterans seriously injured in a combat zone since September 11, 2001.

Signed February 06, 2007

House File 95: HF 95clarifies the types of communities that will be eligible to be designated as pilot-project cities under the Targeted Jobs Withholding Tax Credit Program created by the Iowa Legislature in 2006.

January, 2007

SignedJanuary 25, 2007

House File 1: House File 1 raises the minumum wage in the State of Iowa to $6.20 on April 01, 2007 and to $7.25 on January 01, 2008.