Friday, May 11, 2007
Governor Culver Signs Legislation for Regents Infrastructure Improvements
Also Signs Updated Utility Tax Law to help Linn County, 10 other bills
DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver today signed HF 920 to expand the Board of Regents’ bonding authority, giving increased authority to make infrastructure improvements and initiate new facility construction. This legislation grants our Regents institutions greater flexibility in future infrastructure budgets, and places restrictions on future Regents capital projects requests.
“Our Regents institutions affect hundreds of thousands of people, and it is our state’s responsibility to support these institutions in any way possible,” said the Governor. “That is why I am honored to sign HF 920, and give these world-class schools expanded bonding authority so our students and faculty will have up-to-date facilities and modern classrooms in which to learn and teach.”
This legislation continues the Culver/Judge Administration’s commitment to Iowa’s Regents’ institutions. In addition to HF 920, the Governor and Lt. Governor secured during the recently-completed legislative session full funding for the Regents, money for a 21st Century Research Center at the University of Iowa dedicated to finding lifesaving cures, and created a new needs-based scholarship that will help students attend a state university or community college. This year’s investment in the Board of Regents is the largest in state history.
The Governor also signed SF 278 today, which makes changes to the Utility Replacement Tax, giving Linn County additional funding as a result of the sale of the Duane Arnold Nuclear Facility near Palo. This legislation corrects 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.
In addition, the Governor took action on the following legislation:
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 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 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.