BW INSIGHTS

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 18 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.17.2021
The Senate has advanced a sweeping tax bill crafted as a compromise between the chamber and Governor Kim Reynolds. SF 619 cleared both the Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees last Tuesday, making it eligible for floor debate. Among other things, the measure would remove the revenue benchmarks the state must meet, or “triggers” for 2018... Read More

State of Iowa Ending Participation in COVID-Related Unemployment Programs Next Month

By BrownWinick | 05.12.2021
Citing a strong labor market, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced yesterday that on June 12, 2021, the state will be ending its participation in federal COVID-related unemployment benefit programs. These enhanced unemployment benefits were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act of 2020, and provide... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 17 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.10.2021
The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed a tax proposal last Thursday (HF 893)—the day after the Senate and Governor Kim Reynolds introduced their own compromise bill (SSB 1276). Mental health funding is one of the main differences between the two proposals. Reynolds and the Senate are calling to phase out the mental health property... Read More

Pandemic Poses Potential Re-Entry Problems for Lawful Permanent Residents Abroad

By BrownWinick | 05.03.2021
We are now several weeks beyond the one-year anniversary of the declaration by the World Health Organization recognizing COVID-19 as a global pandemic. While historic vaccine rollout accelerates across the United States, worldwide vaccine distribution efforts display inequities elsewhere. Moreover, travel restrictions, lockdowns, quarantine orders... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 16 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.30.2021
The 2021 Iowa legislative session has officially gone into overtime as lawmakers continue crafting next year’s budget. Bills covering 10 major areas of spending, including Education and Health and Human Services, are eligible for floor debate in at least one chamber. The Senate unanimously passed its Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 15 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.26.2021
House and Senate Republicans have agreed to spending $100 million next fiscal year as part of a statewide broadband expansion effort. The House GOP folded the funding into the Administration and Regulation budget bill (HF 867) which passed last Wednesday on a party-line vote, 55-37. Governor Kim Reynolds has made rapid broadband expansion one of... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 14 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.19.2021
Last Thursday Senate Republicans introduced one of the final major budget bills for the coming fiscal year. The Health and Human Services (HHS) appropriations bill, SSB 1267, sets funding levels for the Iowa Department of HHS, Department of Public Health, Iowa Finance Authority, Department of Veteran Affairs, Iowa Veterans Home, Department of... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 13 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.12.2021
Governor Kim Reynolds’ broadband expansion proposal is gaining ground in both chambers. Last Tuesday the Senate unanimously passed HF 848, which would establish a grant framework to rapidly extend broadband access to underserved rural areas. Two days later, House Republicans moved to fund the program, earmarking $100 million in their... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 12 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.05.2021
Last Friday marked the end of the second legislative funnel, clearing the way for lawmakers to focus primarily on budget issues for the remainder of the session. Most bills that didn’t pass either the House or Senate plus committee in the opposite chamber are now “dead” through the end of the session. The main exceptions are bills dealing with... Read More

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