Getting information about Iowa legislation is easy. Missouri River Energy Services continuously monitors bills introduced in the Iowa General Assembly that could affect electric utilities in the State of Iowa. In addition, you can find information about legislative committees, publications and more on the Iowa General Assembly website.  

The Iowa General Assembly convened on January 11, 2010 and adjourned sine die on March 30, 2010. 
 

Who are my legislators?

To find out who represents your utility interests, go to the Iowa General Assembly website. You also may find information about MRES area legislators in the 2010 MRES^® Iowa Legislative Guide.

Below is a list of the Senate and House bills that could impact MRES and its members. Bills introduced in 2010 are first, followed by bills from 2009. If bills from 2009 become active, they will be highlighted. Each bill number is followed by a short summary and its status. For further information, click on the link associated with each bill. As Iowa uses a biennium process, bills introduced in 2009 may be eligible for debate during the 2010 session.

2010 Senate Bill Introductions

SF 263: Successor to SF 46. Requiring all holders of a NPDES permit to post a sign and the discharge point.
Status: Formerly SF 46, committee recommends Do Pass 2/26/09; renumbered as SF 263. Sent to Senate floor. Passed Senate (26-24) 3/18/09. Referred to House Environmental Protection. Subcommittee: Reichert, Drake, and H. Miller. Set for subcommittee hearing 3/1/10. Failed to meet Second Funnel deadline.
 
SF 2030 (Hogg): A bill requiring disclosure to public utility customers of the percentage of electricity furnished to the customer that was derived from alternative or renewable resources.
Status: Introduced 1/12/10; referred to Senate Environment & Energy Independence Committee. Subcommittee assigned: Hogg, Behn and Rielly. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline. 
 
SF 2057 (Hogg): A bill to require that all Iowa utilities install their fair share (as determined by the IUB) of 7 MW of solar statewide by 2014.
Status: Introduced 1/19/10; referred to Environment & Energy Independence. Subcommittee assigned: Hancock, Bolkcom, and Ward. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline. 
 
SF 2078 (Sodders): A bill to require the Department of Natural Resources to provide a period of at least 30 days for public comment on the construction or operation of a major stationary source of air contaminants; and requiring a public hearing in the county of construction.
Status: Introduced 1/25/10. Referred to Environment & Energy Independence. Subcommittee assigned 1/27/10: Stewart, Behn, and Black. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline. 
 
SF 2080 (Bolkcom): A bill to require that all single-family or two-family residences built after July 1, 2010 must comply with energy conservation requirements in the state building code.
Status: Introduced 1/25/10. Referred to Environment & Energy Independence. Subcommittee assigned 1/27/10: Black, Hancock, and Hartsuch. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

SF 2083 (Johnson): If an entity that lobbies receives federal or state money, the entity shall file an affidavit with the General Assembly or the state ethics board within 30 days of receipt of the money. The affidavit must state the amount and date of received of the federal or state money and affirm that the money will not be used for lobbying or to encourage passage of a law or rule. This does not apply to an entity that is a state, federal or local government unit.
Status: Introduced 1/25/10. Referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 1/27/10: Courtney, Behn and Black. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

SF 2088:  Formerly SSB 3030, a bill to streamline government including elimination of the ICCAC and placing greenhouse gas emission recommendations with the Department of Natural Resources.
Status: Formerly SSB 3030, amended to remove language allowing local government to publish some notices on-line in lieu of newspaper publication. Senate State Government committee recommends Do Pass as amended. Subcommittee 1/26/10: Appel, Danielson, Dvorsky, Feenstra and Kettering. Committee recommends Do Pass 1/27/10. Amended on Senate floor, passed Senate (35-15) 2/1/10. Referred to House State Government. Subcommittee assigned 2/3/10: Mascher, Gaskill, Kaufmann, Struyk and Taylor. Committee recommends Do Pass as amended; referred to Appropriations 2/4/10. Committee recommends Do Pass 2/5/10. Amendments filed 2/8/10. Passed House as amended (98-0) 2/15/10. Senate concurs with House amendments; passed Senate (41-2) 2/25/10. House concurs (98-1) 3/1/10. Signed by Governor 3/10/10.

SF 2100 (McKinley):  A bill to prohibit representatives of federal, state or local government from lobbying.
Status: Introduced 1/26/10; referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 1/27/10: Dearden, Behn, and Hatch. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

SF 2173: HF 2319 substituted for SF 2173. A bill regarding the regulation of aboveground storage tanks containing flammable liquids.
Status: Introduced 2/1/10; referred to Environment and Energy Independence. Committee report Do Pass 2/2/10. Amendments filed 2/16/10. Withdrawn in favor of HF 2319.

SF 2209 (Kreiman): A bill allowing a city to terminate a franchise with an IOU if the rates increase more than 15% above the state average; requires the Dept. of Commerce to conduct a study to evaluate the process for establishing a municipal utility.
Status: Introduced 2/8/10. Subcommittee assigned: McCoy, Behn and Warnstadt. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

SF 2228 (Kibbie):  A bill to establish a feed in tariff for renewable energy production facilities.
Status: Introduced 2/8/10; referred to Environment & Energy Independence. Subcommittee assigned 2/9/10: Rielly, Reynolds and Stewart. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

SF 2238 (Danielson): A bill to prohibit anyone lobbying for state or local government from using the government’s facilities, equipment or supplies. Some exceptions do apply.
Status: Introduced 2/8/10; referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 2/9/10; Danielson, Dearden and Feenstra. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.
 
SF 2243: Formerly SSB 3115. A bill requiring the Department of Natural Resources to coordinate with the federal EPA on data collection of greenhouse gas emissions.
Status: Passed committee 2/9/10 and renumbered. Passed Senate (50-0) 2/22/10. Passed House (98-0) 3/2/10. Signed by Governor 3/10/10.

SF 2248:  Formerly SSB 3177. A bill clarifying that a person may appeal an NDPES permit either through the environmental protection commission or through contested case proceedings.
Status: Passed Environment and Energy Independence committee 2/10/10; renumbered as SF 2248. Passed Senate (46-0) 2/18/10. Passed House (94-0) 2/23/10. Signed by Governor 3/8/10.

SF 2313:  Formerly SF 2182. A bill to change the formation and financing of electric power agencies.
Status: Introduced 2/3/10; referred to Environment and Energy Independence. Committee report recommending Do Pass 2/15/10. Renumbered as SF 2313. Passed Senate (50-0) 2/22/10. Passed House (91-0) 2/23/10. Signed by Governor 3/2/10.

SF 2314:  Formerly SSB 3204. A bill to require that the IUB review reliability, fuel price volatility and the need to diversify fuels when permitting generation plants.
Status: Introduced as SSB 3204 2/8/10. Committee on Environment & Energy Independence report recommends Do Pass 2/15/10. Renumbered as SF 2314. See HF 2399. Withdrawn in favor of HF 2399.

SF 2327: Formerly SF 2232. A bill specifying the meeting information and contents that must be in the published meeting minutes.
Status: Introduced as SF 2232 2/8/10. Local Government committee report recommends Do Pass 2/15/10. Renumbered as SF 2327. Referred to Local Government 3/4/10. Failed to meet Second Funnel deadline.

SF 2373: Formerly SSB 3226. A bill changing the allocation of the replacement tax on generation for cogeneration facilities built after January 1, 2009 or started paying the replacement tax after January 1, 2009.
Status: Introduced as SSB 3226 on 2/15/10; referred to Ways and Means. Committee recommends Do Pass 3/4/10. Renumbered as SF 2373. Passed Senate (50-0) 3/9/10. Referred to House Ways & Means 3/10/10. Subcommittee: D. Olson, Frevert, and Helland 3/11/10. Committee reports Do Pass 3/17/10. Passed House (95-0) 3/25/10. Signed by Governor 4/23/10.

SSB 3114: Proposed by the Office of Energy Independence, a bill to allow a city or county to adopt an ordinance to establish an energy finance program for energy improvements that to fund the program through assessments.
Status: Introduced 1/21/10; referred to Environment & Energy Independence. Subcommittee assigned: Bolkcom, Hogg and Reynolds. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

SJR 2005 (Hartsuch):  A resolution to amend the state Constitution to allow laws and Constitutional amendments by the initiative petition process.
Status: Introduced 2/10/10; referred to Rules & Administration. No further action before end of session.
 

2010 House Bill Introductions

HF 777: Introduced in 2009, this bill to revise open meeting and public record laws has been revived.
Status: Set for hearing 1/27/10; subcommittee: Jochum, Danielson, and Wieck. Committee recommends Do Pass 2/2/10; amendments filed. Fiscal note 2/15/10. Passed Senate (35-13) 3/10/10. House amendment filed. No further action before end of session.

HF 2006 (Isenhart): A bill to automatically repeal all state and local tax expenditures every fourth year, beginning June 2011.
Status: Introduced 1/11/10; referred to Ways and Means. Fiscal note 2/18/10. No further action before end of session.

HF 2010 (Lukan): A bill prohibiting state agencies from employing lobbyists specifically to pass agency bills.
Status: Introduced 1/12/10; referred to State Government. Subcommittee appointed 1/13/10: Lensing, Frevert and Pettengill. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2043 (Isenhart): A bill to authorize the study of the feasibility of public financing of elections.
Status: Introduced 1/14/10; referred to State Government committee. Subcommittee appointed 1/15/10: Cohoon, Frevert and Pettengill. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2090 (Tymeson):  A bill to establish eligibility of 28E board members to vote on the use of condemnation of private land.
Status: Introduced 1/20/10; referred to Local Government. Subcommittee assigned 1/27/10: Huser, Isenhart and Sorenson. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2109: A bill changing lobbyist and client filing requirement.
Status: Successor to HSB 506. Passed committee 1/21/10; renumbered and placed on House calendar. Passed House (100-0) 1/26/10; referred to Senate. Attached to companion bill SF 2074. HF 2109 substituted for SF 2074 2/2/10; Passed Senate (50-0). Sent to Governor 2/9/10. Signed by Governor 2/10/10.

HF 2132 (Windschitl): If an entity that lobbies receives federal or state money, the entity shall file an affidavit with the General Assembly or the state ethics board within 30 days of receipt of the money. The affidavit must state the amount and date of received of the federal or state money and affirm that the money will not be used for lobbying or to encourage passage of a law or rule. This does not apply to an entity that is a state, federal or local government unit.
Status: Introduced 1/25/10; referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 1/26/10: Cohoon, Schulte, and Willems. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2147 (Frevert):  A bill requiring that anyone constructing a wind project within 5 miles of an airport notify the airport and ascertain that the proposed wind project does not constitute an airport hazard.
Status: Introduced 1/27/10. Referred to Transportation. Subcommittee assigned 1/28/10: May, Quirk, and Wenthe. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2212 (Rants): A bill to reorganize and streamline state government. In addition to a variety of budget review and combining of offices/duties, it would repeal the establishment of the Office of Energy Independence, the Iowa power fund and related projects, and transfers all of the duties and oversight to the Department of Natural Resources.
Status: Introduced 2/1/10. Referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 2/2/10: Lensing, Isenhart and Rants. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2216 (Rants): A bill to repeal the establishment of the Office of Energy Independence, the Iowa power fund and related projects, and to transfer those duties to the Department of Natural Resources.
Status: Introduced 2/1/10. Referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 2/2/10: Lensing, Isenhart and Rants. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2218 (Upmeyer): A bill clarifying that authority delegated upon an agency to adopt rules shall be narrowly construed.
Status: Introduced 2/1/10; referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 2/2/10: Lensing, Frevert and Kaufmann. Motion to invoke rule 60; motion failed 2/12/10. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2266 (Gaskill): A bill authorizing a city having granted a franchise to a rate-regulated utility to terminate the franchise if the utility rates increased more than 15% than the average rate-regulated utility rate increases in this state.
Status: Introduced 2/3/10. Referred to Commerce. Subcommittee assigned 2/4/10: Petersen, Jacoby and Soderberg. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2319: Formerly HSB 542. A bill to modify the safety regulations of above-ground storage of flammable and combustible liquids and to increase the state fees.
Status: Introduced 1/12/10 as HSB 542. Public Safety committee recommends Do Pass 2/3/10. Renumbered as HF 2319. Attached to companion bill in the Senate (SF 2173).Substituted for SF 2173 and Passed Senate (40-9) 2/17/10. Signed by Governor 2/23/10.

HF 2331 (Kuhn): A bill to establish a feed in tariff for renewable energy production facilities.
Status: Introduced 2/8/10; referred to Commerce. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2389 (Willems):  A bill regarding wind energy development leases. It voids confidentiality clauses; defines “construction” as any site preparation, including wind or engineering studies; terminates the easement/lease if there is no construction within 3 years of the effective date of the lease/easement agreement; and requires financial assurance for decommissioning.
Status: Introduced 2/11/10; referred to Commerce. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HF 2399: Formerly HF 2100. A bill requiring the IUB to take into account fuel diversity, fuel price volatility, and reliability when considering generation planning; also requires IUB to establish a cost recovery mechanism to encourage nuclear power.
Status: Introduced 1/20/10. Commerce Committee recommends Do Pass 2/11/10. Renumbered as HF 2399; pending before House. Amendment filed 2/25/10. Amended and Passed House (91-7) 3/2/10. Read in Senate and attached to similar bill SF 2314. Substituted for SF 2314; Senate deferred debate and amendment filed 3/8/10. Passed Senate (37-13) 3/9/10. Signed by Governor 4/28/10.

HF 2411: Formerly HF 2151. A bill to change provisions regarding the formation and financing of electric power agencies.
Status: Introduced as HF 2151 1/27/10. Commerce Committee recommends Do Pass 2/11/10. Renumbered as HF 2411; pending before House. Withdrawn in favor of SF 2313 (2/23/10).

HF 2416: Formerly HSB 679. Clarifying that an appeal of an NPDES permit may be made either to the state environmental protection commission or through a contested case hearing.
Status: Introduced as HSB 679 2/1/10. Agriculture Committee recommends Do Pass 2/11/10. Renumbered as HF 2416; pending before House. Withdrawn in favor of SF 2248 (2/23/10).

HF 2418: Formerly HSB 664. A bill to provide that the Department of Natural Resources shall convene meetings as necessary to develop recommendations to establish state implementation plans on particulate matter and to revise state regulations as needed to comply with federal ambient air standards.
Status: Committee on Environmental Protection recommends Do Pass 2/11/10. Renumbered as HF 2418. Referred to Senate Environment & energy Independence 2/23/10. Subcommittee 2/25/10: Wilhelm, Behn & Hancock. Committee recommends Do Pass 3/3/10. Passed Senate (37-11) 3/15/10. Signed by Governor 4/7/10.

HF 2420: Formerly HSB 702. A bill concerning public employee collective bargaining, including allowing reasonable reimbursement for union services provided.
Status: Introduced as HSB 702 2/4/10; referred to Labor. Labor committee recommends Do Pass 2/10/10. Renumbered as HF 2420. Amendments filed 2/16/10. Failed to meet Second Funnel deadline.

HF 2421: Formerly HSB 699. A bill requiring that a contractor on certain public improvement projects would pay the same wage plus fringe benefits. The wage rate would be determined by the Labor Commissioner. Public bodies must monitor contractors to assure compliance with the wage.
Status: Introduced 2/4/10 as HSB 699. Referred to Labor. Labor committee recommends Do Pass 2/11/10. Renumbered as HF 2421. Fiscal note 2/25/10. Failed to meet Second Funnel deadline.

HF 2425 (De Boef):  A bill to repeal the exemption of public utilities having fewer than 10,000 customers from IUB rate regulation.
Status: Introduced 2/15/10; referred to Commerce. Subcommittee assigned 2/18/10: Petersen, Reichert and Wagner. Failed to meet Second Funnel deadline.

HF 2457: Formerly HSB 587. A bill to require the Dept. of Natural Resources to report to the state each year on greenhouse gas emissions and forecast emission trends for the state. It also requires the Dept. to coordinate with the federal EPA on emission data collection and reporting.
Status: Introduced 1/19/10; referred to Natural Resources. Committee recommends Do Pass 2/12/10. Renumbered as HF 2457. Pending on House floor. Withdrawn in favor of SF 2243.

HF 2485: Formerly HSB 726. A bill concerning public employee collective bargaining. Includes provisions on the duties of the Public Employment Relations Board, allow electronic hearings, and changing the certification of elections for bargaining representation.
Status: Renumbered as HF 2485 2/18/10; pending on House floor. Amendments filed 2/23/10. Passed House (97-0) 2/25/10. Referred to Labor & Business Relations; subcommittee: Jochum, Courtney and Ward (3/1/10). Committee recommends Do Pass 3/4/10. Passed Senate (50-0) 3/9/10. Signed by Governor 4/23/10.

HF 2509: Requiring certain public work projects to make a good faith effort to utilize minority-owned and female-owned businesses.
Status: Introduced 2/23/10; referred to Ways & Means. Subcommittee: Steckman, Isenhart and Pettengill. No further action before end of session. 

HJR 2016 (De Boef): A bill allowing the citizens to place a passed legislative measure on the General Election ballot for voter approval.
Status: Introduced 2/15/10; referred to State Government. Subcommittee assigned 2/16/10: Lensing, Kaufmann, and Taylor. Failed to meet Second Funnel deadline.

HSB 545 (Gaskill): A bill authorizing the posting of certain local government notices, actions and information on the local government’s website.
Status: Pending before Local Government committee. Subcommittee assigned 1/14/10: Isenhart, Gaskill and Tjepkes. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.
 
HSB 565 (Mascher): See SF 2088. A bill (companion to SSB 3030) to streamline state government administration and organization.
Status: Introduced 1/11/10. Subcommittee assigned 1/15/10: Mascher, Gaskill, Kaufmann, Struyk and Taylor. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HSB 602:  Proposed by the Office of Energy Independence, a bill to allow a city or county to adopt an ordinance to establish an energy finance program for energy improvements that to fund the program through assessments.
Status:  Introduced 1/21/10; referred to Commerce. Subcommittee assigned 1/21/10: Reichert, Jacoby, D. Olson, Soderberg and Wagner. Set for hearing 1/26/10. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HSB 659: A bill to require the ICCAC to prioritize the policy options on greenhouse gas emissions that should be passed by the General Assembly.
Status: Introduced 1/28/10; referred to Environmental Protection. Subcommittee assigned: D. Olson, Lensing, and Watts. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HSB 718: Elimination the preference for Iowa labor in the construction of public improvements.
Status: Introduced 2/9/10; referred to Judiciary. Subcommittee: R. Olson, Willems, and Horbach. Failed to meet First Funnel deadline.

HSB 727: A bill to appropriate funds to award grants to Iowa colleges to implement recommendations from the Governor’s green jobs task force.
Status: Introduced 2/18/10; referred to Environmental Protection. Subcommittee assigned: Hanson, D. Olson and S. Olson. Failed to meet Second Funnel deadline.

HSB 739: Authorizing cities and counties to establish energy finance programs and to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through special assessments on property.
Status: Introduced 3/19/10; referred to Ways & Means. Subcommittee assigned 3/22/10: Isenhart, D. Olson, and Helland. Committee hearing 3/23/10. No further action before end of session.

2009 Senate Bill Introductions 

SF 29: A bill to provide for the development of a standardized interconnection agreement for small wind conversion facilities.
Status: Introduced 1/22/09; referred to Environment and Energy Independence.

SF 80: To limit wind energy tax credits under 476B.1 to projects between 2 MW and 30 MW; deletes sections barring wind owners who've received tax credits from applying for and receiving special valuation.
Status: Introduced 1/29/09; referred to Environment and Energy Independence.

SF 84: Requiring cities to pass an ordinance governing the installation of resident-owned wind generation of 500 kW or less.
Status: Introduced 2/2/09; referred to Environment and Energy Independence.

SF 86: Directing the ICCAC (Iowa Climate Change Advisory Group) to assess and report on the state's vulnerability to climate change, including impact on water resources, the increase in severe weather events, impact on species, adverse health impacts and the impact on energy resources. The ICCAC shall make legislative policy recommendations based on its assessment.
Status: Introduced 2/2/09; referred to the Environment and Energy Independence.

SF 131: Formerly SSB 1232. Allowing some municipal notices to be published on the city website in lieu of newspaper.
Status: Introduced 2/10/09; referred to Local Government.

SF 161: A bill revising existing open records and public meetings laws creating the Iowa Public Information Board, creating a complaint process and establishing penalties.
Status: Introduced 2/16/09; referred to State Government. See HF 777.

SF 169: Requiring that utilities offer a green power purchase program to consumers at a premium. The specified percentages offered to customers include 25%, 50%, and 100%.
Status: Introduced 2/17/09; referred to Commerce.

SF 238: Allowing the IUB to set a rate for net metering; requiring certain payments by utilities to distributed generation renewable facilities.
Status: Introduced 2/24/09; referred to Environment and Energy Independence.

SF 263: Successor to SF 46. Requiring all holders of a NPDES permit to post a sign and the discharge point.
Status: Formerly SF 46, committee recommends Do Pass 2/26/09; renumbered as SF 263. Sent to Senate floor. Passed Senate (26-24) 3/18/09. Referred to House Environmental Protection.

SF 279: Formerly SSB 1250. The ITC-backed bill to abbreviate the IUB transmission franchise process.
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 4/17/09.

SF 282: Formerly SSB 1231. This bill revises public records law by providing for optional public records, restricting the definition of "confidential" government records, and determines when a series of contacts constitutes a "meeting" for notice requirements.
Status: Introduced as SSB 1231 2/19/09; referred to State Government. Committee passed 3/2/09. Sent to Senate floor. Amendment S-3054 filed 3/4/09. Placed on Senate calendar under unfinished business 4/10/09. Attached to similar bill HF 777 4/20/09.

SF 409: Formerly SF 170, requiring that gas and electric utilities place on the customer's bill the total amount of charges in the last calendar year.
Status: Introduced as SF 170 2/17/09. Referred to Commerce. Commerce Committee reports Do Pass 3/11/09. Referred to Senate Commerce Committee 4/10/09.

SF 437: Originally a bill regarding meetings of cemetery boards and levy districts, it was amended to require all advisory committees, advisory commissions, task forces and other bodies created by a 28E entity to be subject to the open meeting notice requirements of Iowa Code 21.2.
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 5/22/09.

SF 452: Formerly SF 172 and SF 368. A bill directing the Office of Energy Independence to establish a community grant program for energy efficiency projects (using federal stimulus dollars).
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 5/22/09.

SF 456: Formerly SF 79 and SF 216. Allowing colleges and non-public schools to own wind.
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 4/23/09.

SF 471: Formerly SF 373 and SSB 1262. Transferring certain energy-related matters from the Department of Natural Resources to the Office of Energy Independence.
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 5/12/09.

SSB 1191: Establishing an energy efficiency savings mandate of 4.5% between 2010 and 2014.
Status: Introduced 2/10/09; referred to Environment & Energy Independence.

SSB 1223: Requiring all governmental subdivisions to have a once yearly audit.
Status: Introduced 2/18/09; referred to State Government.

SSB 1256: Authorizing cities with a population of more than 100,000 to establish a municipal energy enterprise to provide heat energy.
Status: Introduced 2/24/09; referred to Rebuild Iowa Committee.

SSB 1263: Requiring all electric utilities to purchase or produce a certain percentage of sales from renewable facilities in an amount of one-tenth of 1% by 2011, twenty-five hundredths of 1% by 2014; 65 hundredths of 1% by 2015, eight-tenths of 1% by 2016; and 1% each year thereafter.
Status: Introduced 2/25/09; referred to Environment & Energy Independence.

SSB 1264: Establishing a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority.
Status: Introduced 2/25/09; referred to Environment & Energy Independence.

SSB 1272: Extending the time period during which a wind energy facility may be eligible for certain state tax credits.
Status: Introduced 3/2/09; referred to Environment & Energy Independence.

SSB 1281: See HF 524. Establishing a new process for an “energy independence transmission franchise."
Status: Introduced 3/3/09; referred to Commerce.

SSB 1312: Clarifying who is a self generator for purposes of who is exempt from utility replacement taxes.
Status: Introduced 3/23/09; referred to Ways and Means. Subcommittee: Jochum, Bolkcom, and Ward. Hearing held 3/26/09; referred to Utility Tax Task Force. Failed committee 5-4; will be interim issue for Utility Replacement Taxes Task Force 3/31/09.
 
SSB 1320: Establishing an energy independence renewable energy transmission franchise process.
Status: Introduced 3/31/09; referred to Ways & Means.
 

2009 House Bill Introductions 

HF 47: Adding 2 additional members to the IUB; one specifically representing public utilities with less than 10,000 or an REC, and one representing small telephone companies.
Status: Introduced 1/21/09; referred to Commerce. 

HF 78: A bill to require utilities to remove abandoned transmission wires, poles or other equipment.
Status: Introduced 1/26/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 144: Requiring governing bodies dispensing funds for economic development to consider recruitment & retention of minorities.
Status: Introduced 1/29/09; referred to Economic Growth.

HF 168: Open meetings bill that requires that everyone in attendance at a meeting of a governmental body be given copies of all materials and handouts, that public notice of the meeting shall be posted at least 72 hours before, and that 50% of its meetings be held in the evening hours.
Status: Introduced 2/2/09; referred to State Government.

HF 192: Directing the Office of Energy Independence to conduct a study assessing the feasibility of establishing one or more low-head hydropower energy production facilities at specified locations in the state.
Status: Introduced 2/3/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 243: Formerly HSB 12, requires gender balance on local boards, commissions, committees, and councils.
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 5/26/09.

HF 294: Repeals the water use permit fees and the water use permit fund; eliminates a sales tax exemption for water use permit fees paid.
Status: Introduced 2/12/09; referred to Environmental Protection.

HF 304: Establishing rural wind cooperatives (allowing Community Based Energy Development/CBED).
Status: Introduced 2/13/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 335: Confidentiality of social security numbers and other personal data in public records; providing for penalties.
Status: Introduced 2/17/09; referred to State Government.

HF 340: Creating a state renewable energy transmission authority with bonding ability.
Status: Introduced 2/17/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 349:  Authorizing a decoupling pilot program for investor owned utilities.
Status: Introduced 2/17/09; referred to Commerce. Failed to meet 1st Funnel deadline.

HF 367: Increasing the number of members on the Iowa Utilities Board.
Status: Introduced 2/18/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 408: A bill limiting use of eminent domain in historic areas, also prohibiting cities from using public funds to lobby on eminent domain issues.
Status: Introduced 2/23/09; referred to Judiciary. Failed to meet 1st Funnel deadline.

HF 412: Establishing a feed in tariff for renewables developed in a green energy zone.
Status: Introduced 2/23/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 462: Requiring utilities to disclose energy efficiency related costs or expenses on utility bills.
Status: Introduced 2/27/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 524: Providing for an energy independence transmission franchise procedure.
Status: Introduced 3/4/09; referred to Commerce.

HF 527: The state Environmental Protection Commission shall only have those rights specifically conveyed upon it by statute.
Status: Introduced 3/4/09; referred to Environmental Protection.

HF 528: Providing a tax credit for renewable energy generation research and innovation.
Status: Introduced 3/4/09; referred to Ways and Means. Subcommittee 4/8/09: Wendt, Forristal and Steckman.

HF 529: Prohibiting state agencies from employing persons to lobby the general assembly.
Status: Introduced 3/4/09; referred to State Government.

HF 538: Expands wind production tax credit eligibility under Chapter 476B.
Status: Introduced 3/4/09; referred to Commerce.

HF572: Requires all appointed boards of political subdivisions to consider the appointments of young adults.
Status: Introduced 3/4/09; referred to State Government.

HF 608: Requiring that the Department of Natural Resources shall not establish an emission limit for Particulate Matter that is not based on a test method approved by the U.S. EPA.
Status: Introduced 3/9/09; referred to Environmental Protection.

HF 712: Formerly HSB 80, a bill to allow a private cause of action for certain consumer fraud violations.
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 5/26/09.

HF 747: Allowing colleges to be qualified owners of wind projects.
Status: Formerly HSB 57, introduced 3/17/09; referred to Commerce. Re-referred to Ways and Means. Fiscal Note filed 3/27/09.

HF 769: Formerly HSB 218, directing the regents institutions to study and then report to the legislature the extent to which the state is vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Status: Introduced as HSB 218 on 2/23/09; referred to Environmental Protection. Passed committee and renumbered as HF 769. Placed on floor calendar. Referred to Ways and Means 3/26/09. Subcommittee: Olson, Frevert and Hagenow 4/9/09.

HF 777: An act revising state open records and public meetings laws.
Status: Introduced 3/17/09. Referred to State Government. Committee report Do Pass as amended; referred to Appropriations 3/30/09. Amendments filed 4/2/09. Amendment H-1476 filed on floor 4/8/09. Placed on calendar under unfinished business 4/9/09. Amendments filed 4/14/09. Passed House as amended (99-0) 4/16/09. Attached to similar bill SF 282 4/20/09.

HF 780: Formerly HSB 237, transferring certain functions from the Department of Natural Resources to the Office of Energy Independence.
Status: Introduced 3/2/09 as HSB 237. Re-introduced 3/17/09.

HF 789: Formerly HF 572, requiring that state and local government appointed boards also appoint a certain amount of “young adults”.
Status: Introduced 3/17/09. Referred to State Government Committee 4/14/09.

HF 810: To implement small innovation wind zones which would employ standard ordinances, and standard interconnection agreements for small wind.
Status: Passed. Signed by Governor 5/22/09.

HF 816: Allowing the Department of Revenue the power to subpoena customer utility information in debt resolution situations.
Status: Introduced 4/9/09; referred to Ways and Means. Placed on calendar under unfinished business. Fiscal note filed 4/14/09. Amendment filed 4/20/09. Amendment filed 4/20/09, prohibiting the misuse or disclosure of identifying information (e.g. social security numbers) by the Department of Revenue.

HSB 5: Requiring all legislative or executive branch lobbying reports to be filed with the campaign disclosure board instead of with the clerks of the General Assembly.
Status: Introduced 1/13/09; referred to Ethics.

HSB 56: A bill to allow private and state colleges or public hospitals to qualify for the state wind energy production tax credit.
Status: Introduced 1/21/09; preferred to Environmental Protection.

HSB 150: A bill requiring gas and electric public utilities to implement an energy efficiency goal of 4.5% savings between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2014.
Status: Introduced 2/5/09; referred to Commerce.

HSB 165: Allowing an extension in time for eligibility for certain wind energy tax credits.
Status: Introduced 2/10/09; referred to Environmental Protection. Subcommittee: Lensing, Kressig, & Soderberg.

HSB 177: Requiring an annual audit of Iowa political subdivisions.
Status: Introduced 2/16/09; referred to State Government.

HSB 197: Requiring an annual audit of Iowa political subdivisions.
Status: Introduced 2/18/09; referred to State Government. Set for hearing 3/4/09.

HSB 234: See also HF 777. A bill restricting what may constitute a confidential record for public records purposes. Status: Introduced 2/26/09; referred to State Government. Set for hearing 3/5/09. See also SF 282.

HSB 239: A bill to create a renewable energy transmission authority that could own and operate renewable transmission under Iowa state authority.
Status: Introduced 3/3/09; referred to Commerce.

HSB 242: Establishing a distributed renewable generation standard.
Status: Introduced 3/3/09; referred to Commerce.

HSB 281: A bill to establish a renewable energy (30%) transmission line.
Status: Formerly HSB 239. Introduced 3/26/09; referred to Ways and Means. Subcommittee: Isenhart, Petersen and Grassley. Set for hearing 4/1/09.