Heating moratorium ends
The winter home heating moratorium on service disconnections ends April 1. If you are having difficulty paying your energy utility bills, contact your local utility to discuss payment options to avoid...
View ArticleLegislature agrees to reasonable school start date
Last December, Governor Branstad’s administration told superintendents they would no longer get waivers to start school early, meaning schools would have to start fall classes during the week of...
View ArticleBipartisan Senate supports safe schools for students
Every Iowa student deserves a safe learning environment. A recent poll showed that Iowans strongly support anti-bullying measures, with 73 percent of Iowans in favor. To improve the learning...
View ArticleLocating a cell user in emergencies
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill this week that will help save lives by shortening the time it takes to locate someone in grave danger. House File 447, which passed the House 93-2 on...
View ArticleHelping veterans access the benefits they’ve earned
Our veterans deserve to know all the benefits and programs they qualify for. That’s why the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee voted this week to help veterans access information on ways to apply for...
View ArticleCelebrate National Donate Life Month
Join the Iowa Donor Network in recognizing National Donate Life Month this April, a chance to motivate more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. You can become a donor by registering at...
View ArticleApril is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Prevent Child Abuse Iowa is kicking off a month-long campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of child abuse and how to prevent it. Watch for the blue pinwheel as the symbol of the great childhood...
View ArticleNominate a hero for the Governor’s Lifesaving Awards
Through April 15, the Iowa Department of Public Safety is accepting nominations for the Governor’s Lifesaving Awards. These special recognition awards are presented to ordinary citizens who take...
View ArticleCommerce – week of April 13, 2015
HF 229 – Regulation of free trial offers, buying club memberships FLOOR ACTION: HF 229 modifies the regulation of free trial offers and buying club memberships under Iowa’s consumer fraud law and...
View ArticleHuman Resources – week of April 13, 2015
SF 335 – Information Release From Medical Examiners to Organ Donor Organization HF 579 – Regulation of Health Care Facilities FLOOR ACTION SF 335, as amended on the floor, requires that medical...
View ArticleJudiciary – week of April 13, 2015
SF 306 – Communication and Visitation between an Adult Ward and Others HF 447 – Wireless Communications Providers Providing Call Locations in Emergencies HF 558 – Disorderly Conduct at Funerals or...
View ArticleLabor & Business Relations – week of April 13, 2015
HF 548 – Disconnection Devices for Distributed Generation FLOOR ACTION: HF 548 requires the Iowa Utilities Board to adopt administrative rules relating to the safety of distributed electric...
View ArticleLocal Government – week of April 13, 2015
SF 167 –County official severance pay ban HF 507 - Sewer delinquent accounts under Utility Management Organizations FLOOR ACTION: SF 167 prohibits county elected official severance pay. The House...
View ArticleState Government – week of April 13, 2015
HF 585 – Safe at Home FLOOR ACTION: HF 585 establishes a Safe at Home program for victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking or stalking. The program is administered by the Iowa...
View ArticleTransportation – week of April 13, 2015
HF 287 – Counterfeit, nonfunctional or unsafe airbags FLOOR ACTION: HF 287 provides that anyone who manufactures, imports, installs or sells a device to replace an air bag, and who knows that the...
View ArticleVeterans Affairs – week of April 13, 2015
HF 414 – Disclosure requirements for private providers of veterans benefits, services FLOOR ACTION: HF 414 requires a person who provides veterans benefits services to give a written disclosure...
View ArticleWays & Means – week of April 13, 2015
SF 439 – Iowa ABLE Savings Trust SF 484 – Medical Cannabis Act SF 488 – Air quality fund and air quality fees SF 489 – EPC surcharge extension, UST fund and grant program funding HF 621 – Streamlined...
View ArticleSchool funding fits into state budget plans
Senate Democrats continue to get public support for our compromise proposal to increase basic school funding next school year by 2.625 percent. That’s exactly halfway between the original Senate and...
View ArticleSafe, secure medical cannabis for suffering Iowans
Iowa took a first step last year to help those with epilepsy legally use cannabis oil, which has been shown to dramatically reduce seizures and other complications. A legislative committee studied our...
View ArticleHelping Iowans with disabilities live independently
Iowans with disabilities often wish to live as independently as possible. The ABLE Act will help them do just that. The ABLE — Achieving a Better Life Experience — Act was approved by the U.S. Congress...
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