BW INSIGHTS

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 1 Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.14.2022

Iowa lawmakers returned to Des Moines this week to convene the second legislative session of the 89th General Assembly. As Republicans enter the sixth year of a ‘GOP trifecta’ they will continue to drive the state’s policy agenda for the 2022 session. On Monday, leaders from both parties in the Senate and House welcomed members back to the Capitol... Read More

Government Relations Update - 01-10-2022

By BrownWinick | 01.10.2022

Iowa legislators reconvened today in Des Moines to kick off the 2022 legislative session. Traditionally, the first week of session is largely ceremonial highlighted by the Governor’s Condition of the State address. Governor Reynolds’ address is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 11th. It can be viewed on Iowa PBS’ website (LINK) or streamed... Read More

OSHA Withdraws Portion of COVID-19 Healthcare ETS

By BrownWinick | 12.29.2021

On December 27, 2021, OSHA announced that because it could not finalize a permanent standard to replace its Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (the “Healthcare ETS”) within the 6-month window it had to do so, “it is withdrawing the non-recordkeeping portions of the healthcare ETS.” OSHA says the COVID-19 log and reporting provisions remain... Read More

Government Relations Update - 12-14-21

By BrownWinick | 12.14.2021

December 13, 2021 REC SUMMARY The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC), comprised of a three-member panel (Kraig Paulsen, Department of Management; Holly Lyons, Legislative Fiscal Agency; and David Underwood, Public Member) met yesterday (12/13/21) to estimate future state revenues. The REC approved the Legislative Service Agency’s (LSA) FY22... Read More

2021 Festival of Trees

By BrownWinick | 12.03.2021

For the past several years BrownWinick has been a proud supporter of the Blank Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees event, and this year was no different. For the November 26 – November 28 event, BrownWinick participated by decorating a tree with toys and other items as well as decorating a wreath to be auctioned off at the Festival, with all... Read More

Wills for Veterans

By BrownWinick | 11.15.2021

In honor of Veterans Day 2021, BrownWinick held the inaugural “Wills for Veterans” event to benefit veterans in the Des Moines metro area. The Estate Planning team provided basic wills and power of attorney documents for approximately 50 local veterans and their spouses during the event. “Giving back to our community is integral to who we are as a... Read More

Government Relations Update - 10.29.21

By BrownWinick | 10.29.2021

Yesterday, the Iowa Legislature met in a special session and approved the second redistricting map prepared by the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency (“LSA”). Every 10 years, states are required to redraw congressional and legislative district maps using updated U.S. Census population data. The Iowa Senate passed the new map by a vote of... Read More

Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandates Have Arrived. OSHA’s Nationwide Private Sector Mandate is Close Behind.

By BrownWinick | 10.26.2021

Federal Contractors Targeted First On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14042, an Executive Order on “Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors.” EO 14042 ordered federal departments and agencies to ensure that contracts and contract-like instruments include a clause requiring prime contractors to... Read More

Government Relations Update - 10.15.21

By BrownWinick | 10.15.2021

October 15, 2021 REC SUMMARY The Revenue Estimating Conference (“REC”), comprised of a three-member panel (Kraig Paulsen, Holly Lyons, and David Underwood) met this morning (10/15/21) as part of their standard schedule of meetings to estimate future state revenues. A summary of the information discussed during the meeting is below, along with the... Read More

Iowa Court of Appeals Decision Serves as Cautionary Tale for Construction Contractors

By BrownWinick | 10.08.2021

The Iowa Court of Appeals issued a decision this week that sent a strong message to construction contractors – ignore your contracts at your own risk. Specifically, the Court stated, “Contracts mean what they say. Here, a party that failed to follow what a contract said in terms of the procedure to change the scope of the contract seeks to avoid... Read More