IowaBio Bill Tracker - January 31, 2020
The week was busy with bills being filed and committees continuing to work on priority bills. Today marks the end of the third week of session and leaves three weeks before the first legislative funnel. The funnel is a legislatively imposed deadline that requires most bills, with some exceptions, to pass one full committee to remain viable. As the funnel approaches, committee and subcommittee work will grow. Debate activity will mostly begin once the funnel concludes. Next week will be a shorter week as the Legislature will not be in on Monday due to the Iowa caucuses.
Several bills of interest to IowaBio saw activity this week. SSB3077 and HSB607, the Governor’s Future Ready Iowa proposal, was introduced this week. The legislation has several components that build and expand on programs created in prior legislative sessions, including a computer science component. This component requires the Department of Education to develop a statewide computer science program by July 1, 2021 and to convene a computer science workgroup. Under the bills, each K-12 school district and private school must develop and implement a computer science plan by the same date. The bills also create a Future Ready Iowa expanded registered apprenticeship program aimed at providing financial assistance to encourage sponsors of small apprenticeship programs to maintain programs in high-demand occupations. They create a child care challenge program, which provides matching moneys to qualified businesses, non-profits and consortiums for establishing local child care facilities. The bills establish a workforce diploma pilot program, and expands the definition of an eligible student under the Last-Dollar Scholarship program. IowaBio supports the bills, which line up with our STEM and workforce legislative priority.
HSB562 would make changes to the tax differential for biofuels by extending the sunset and encouraging the blending of E-15. A subcommittee was held on the bill Wednesday and the bill moved forward despite some opposition. At the subcommittee Casey’s General Stores opposed the legislation and some smaller fueling stations also expressed concerns about infrastructure upgrades. IowaBio supports the bill.
This week antivaccination groups held one of three planned Days on the Hill this session, and Rep. Shipley (R-Fairfield) filed two pieces of vaccine related legislation. A subcommittee is scheduled next week on HF 2141 which would require additional information to be distributed by the Iowa Department of Public Health on vaccines to be provided to patients, including a federal limit on liability for vaccine manufacturers. HF 2139 would require school employees including nurses to provide information on the existing religious exemption for vaccinations allowed by Iowa code when they provide information on immunization requirements. IowaBio is currently monitoring the bills. IowaBio is joining a letter by the Iowa Immunizes Coalition IowaBio participates in, urging legislators to reduce barriers to giving safe and effective vaccines; encourage adherence to evidence-based vaccine recommendations; and support providing accurate, science-based immunization information.
A House subcommittee scheduled on HF2084, a bill that creates an interstate compact that would offer prizes for the development of disease cures, was cancelled this week. The subcommittee was rescheduled for next Wednesday. Many IowaBio members have expressed serious concerns about the bill; as the bill moves through the process, we will keep you updated.
A subcommittee has been scheduled next week on non-medical switching bill HF 2089 that IowaBio supports to provide greater continuity for patients stable on their prescribed drugs.
Insulin legislation to create a $100 out-of-pocket cap that was amended and passed a House committee last week was renumbered as HF2138. The Senate filed a companion bill SF2113. The Senate bill will go through the Senate Commerce committee, whereas the House bill came out of House Human Resources.
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