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Highlights From This Past Week’s Legislative Session:
- First Funnel Week
- This week we have been busy at work holding subcommittee and committee meetings trying to get many bills through before the end of funnel week. Many of you may be wondering, what is funnel week? So here is what it is:
- In order to keep the legislative session going, we have deadlines when each chambers’ bills must be passed out of committee and put on the regular calendar. This week, is the first of the deadlines, where all House Files (HF) or House Study Bills (HSB) must be passed through committee. The next deadline or funnel will be when all Senate Files (SF) are passed out of committee in the House and all House Files (HF) be passed out of Senate Committees. We do all of this while debating and passing our bills on the House Regular Calendar so it can have time to be properly considered in the senate, and vice versa. These next few weeks will be very busy in Des Monies as we continue to consider bills that started in the House, all while we begin the process of considering bills that started in the Senate.
- Iowa State University Day at the Capitol
- On Tuesday, Iowa State University’s professors, students, and administrators came to capitol and talked with legislators about the importance of higher education and the research they conduct and how it impacts our family farms and producers! Below is a picture of me pulling a calf from a dummy cow that vet students use to practice throughout their training!
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- Nutrient Application and Regulatory Updates
- On Tuesday, the House Agriculture Committee passed HSB 143, now HF 799, which updates various programs and regulations, including crop production, animal health, agricultural processing, and agricultural marketing, all of which are part of the powers and duties of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Here are some key aspects of the bill:
- Changes the term ‘soil conditioner’ to ‘beneficial substance,’ which includes various plant and soil amendments.
- Updates definitions related to fertilizers and beneficial substances to align with current agricultural practices.
- Establishes new licensing requirements for manufacturers and distributors of fertilizers and beneficial substances.
- Implements stricter labeling requirements to ensure transparency and compliance in the agricultural market.
- Removes outdated references to the ‘State Chemist’ and replaces them with the ‘Bureau Chief of the Iowa Laboratory Bureau.’
- Changes Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship emergency rule making authority during a foreign animal disease outbreak and gives the Board of Veterinary Medicine the ability to assess up to a $10,000 administrative penalty for violation of veterinary license provisions and rules.
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- State Government Expands Cancer Coverage for First Responders
- This week the State Government passed a monumental piece of legislation to further protect the first responders across Iowa who protect and rescue Iowans every day. HSB 266 was reported out of State Government Committee unanimously. The bill would amend Iowa Code to ensure that all types of cancer are covered for Iowa’s firefighters. Currently there are only 14 types of cancer that are covered under the presumption that it was contracted while on active duty because of the job. There are over 200 types of diagnosable cancers.
- As cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, House Republicans have and will continue to work hard to support legislation that helps current and retired firefighters from the unintended consequences of risking their lives for everyone else.
- HSB 266 will move the House floor for consideration of the full legislative body.
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| It was wonderful learning about all the work and research that is happening at the Iowa Pork Industry from professors and research assistants at Iowa State University. We talked about biosecurity measures, and how we can continue to increase the market of pork throughout the state and country! |
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| Talked with representatives from the Egg Industry Center at ISU. We talked about the supply of eggs and their increased cost at the grocery store. These events are always great to learn from industry professionals so that we stay well informed at the state house! |
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In District 92…
- The Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association
- On Friday, Senator Driscoll, Representative Lawler, and I spent part of the day touring a home being built by students from West High & City High. These students have done an outstanding job, all while learning more about the building trade and getting involved in the local economy! Great work!
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Contact Me
- I am so thankful to be your District 92 Representative and I am always looking to hear from you all! Please reach out to me at heather.hora@legis.iowa.gov
Have a great week! |
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