Iowa
The Iowa General Assembly convenes Monday, Jan. 14, 2013.
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, who represents your utility interests, and more on the Iowa General Assembly website.
Many legislators now offer their own electronic newsletters for constituents. To subscribe--for state Senators, click here and for state Representatives, click here.
Because Iowa follows a biennium system, bills introduced during 2013 are eligible for debate in 2014.
2013 Iowa Legislative Guide
2013 Senate Bill Introductions
SF 24 (Bolkcom): Requiring a sign at the point of a water discharge by those holding a discharge permit.
Status: Introduced 1/23/13; referred to Agriculture. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 30: A bill to extend the time period that certain renewable energy credits are available.
Status: Introduced 1/24/13; referred to Natural Resources and Environment. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 91 (successor to SSB 1051): A bill to increase civil penalties for pipeline safety violations.
Status: Introduced as SSB 1051; approved by Commerce committee 1/30/13. Passed Senate (48-0) 2/6/13. Referred to House Commerce. Passed House (97-0) 2/19/13. Signed by Governor 2/28/13.
SF 138: A bill to create a citizens' advisory committee for administrative rules review; create administrative rules meetings in state; and adding a job impact requirement to some rule making procedures.
Status: Introduced 2/5/13; referred to State Government. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 166: A bill to provide for a negotiated rulemaking process for state administrative rules; with a rulemaking review group created by an agency.
Status: Introduced 2/11/13; referred to State Government. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 168: Requiring that state agency rulemakings be no more strict than federal laws on the same matter.
Status: Introduced 2/11/13; referred to State Government. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 169: A bill requiring the state Environmental Protection Commission to study the fiscal impacts of proposed rulemakings on cities.
Status: Introduced 2/11/13; referred to Natural Resources and Environment. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 170 (formerly SF 15): A bill requiring that in competitive bidding processes, if the lowest responsive bid is from a non-Iowa entity and is less than $500,000, then an in-state business which submitted a bid within 5% or $10,000 shall have an opportunity to match the lowest bid.
Status: Introduced 1/16/13 as SF 15; referred to Economic Growth/Build Iowa. Committee reports Do Pass 2/11/13. Referred to Senate floor. Passed Senate (34-16) 3/19/13. Referred to House Commerce. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
SF 176: Requiring a sign at discharge points by entities with National Pollutant Discharge permits.
Status: Introduced 2/12/13; referred to Natural Resources and Environment. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 270 (formerly SF 22): A bill requiring the IUB set forth procedures for investigation and mitigation of stray voltage.
Status: Introduced as SF 22 1/23/13. Referred to Commerce. Passed Commerce committee; refilled as SF 270 2/26/13. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
SF 315: A bill to require cooperative G&Ts and IOUs to purchase a certain amount of distributed renewable generation.
Status: Introduced 3/5/13; referred to Commerce. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
SF 372 (formerly SSB 1234): A bill establishing a net metering standard; requiring municipal utilities submit and use a standardized contract for interconnection/net metering.
Status: Introduced as SSB 1234 3/6/13; voted out of Agriculture committee 3/6/13. Renumbered as SF 372; pending on Senate floor. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
SF 414 (formerly SSB 1211): A bill to extend renewable energy tax credit eligibility dates.
Status: Introduced 2/26/13 as SSB 1211. Passed committee 3/6/13. Renumbered and referred to Appropriations Committee.
SF 420 (formerly SF 70): A bill requiring a certain amount of made in American products in public building projects.
Status: Introduced 1/29/13 as SF 70; reported out of Economic Growth committee 3/6/13. Pending on Senate floor. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
SF 431: Formerly SSB 1175, this bill extends income tax credits for the installation of solar panels.
Status: Introduced as SSB 1175; Passed Ways and Means committee 4/1/13; renumbered as SF 431. Referred to Senate floor. Passed Senate as amended (50-0) 4/9/13; referred to House Ways and Means. Subcommittee assigned 4/24/13.
SF 444: Formerly SSB 1241, this bill would exempt hydroelectric conversion equipment from sales and use taxes.
Status: Introduced as SSB 1241; referred to Ways and Means. Passed subcommittee (3-0) 4/9/13. Passed full Ways and Means committee 4/11/13. Pending on Senate floor. Withdrawn in favor of HF 630.
SCR 5: A resolution asking the federal government to develop a renewable fuels policy.
Status: Introduced 3/21/13; referred to Rules and Administration. Committee recommends Do Pass 4/8/13. Passed Senate (50-0) 4/16/13. Referred to House.
SSB 1136: A bill extending the eligibility dates of certain wind credits.
Status: Introduced 2/11/13; referred to Ways and Means.
2013 House Bill Introductions
HF 35 (Hunter): Authorizing the negotiating of fair share fees in collective bargaining agreements for nonmembers of employee unions.
Status: Introduced 1/16/13; referred to Labor. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 36 (Hunter): Requiring the payment of local prevailing wage rates to persons working on public improvements for public bodies.
Status: Introduced 1/16/13; referred to Labor. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 48 (T. Olson): A bill to extend the current energy credits for solar and other installed renewable technology.
Status: Introduced 1/16/13; referred to Ways and Means.
HF 59: A bill requiring state agency purchases of energy efficiency appliances; money appropriated for utility bills but not spent shall revert to the state building fund.
Status: Introduced 1/23/13. Referred to State Government. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 66: A bill prohibiting state and political subdivisions from supporting or participating in UN Agenda 21 on sustainable principles and practices.
Status: Introduced 1/24/13; referred to State Government. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 87: Modifying 28E agreements to provide for mediation and arbitration.
Status: Introduced 1/29/13; referred to Local Government. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 93: A bill requiring political subdivisions in public bidding processes to select an Iowa vendor if the bid is within 5% or $10,000 of the lowest bid (whichever is less) for purchases less than $500,000.
Status: Introduced 1/29/13; referred to Commerce. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 196 (Formerly HSB 50): A bill to increase civil penalties for pipeline safety violations.
Status: Introduced as HSB 50, 1/24/13; referred to Commerce. Passed committee 2/5/13; reintroduced 2/12/13. Referred to House floor. Withdrawn in favor of SF 91.
HF 219: A bill making changes to eminent domain authority and procedures. Changes procedures to using eminent domain to create a lake for drinking water; limiting attorney fees.
Status: Introduced 2/14/13; referred to Judiciary. Committee recommends Do Pass 3/5/13; referred to House floor. Passed House (93-6) 3/11/13. Referred to Senate Judiciary. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
HF 226: To allow for a renewable energy aggregation project of up to 2 MW; utilities shall purchase at least 500kW of the output.
Status: Introduced 2/15/13; referred to Commerce. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 241: Establishing an energy efficiency training curriculum applicable to designated school district employees.
Status: Introduced 2/18/13; referred to Education. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 283: A bill establishing an energy audit program for elementary and secondary schools.
Status: Introduced 2/20/13; referred to Education. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 313: Establishing solar capacity goal of 115 MW for the state by 2018.
Status: Introduced 2/26/13; referred to Commerce. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 314: Establishing a school solar generation revolving loan and grant fund.
Status: Introduced 2/26/13; referred to Commerce. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 364: A bill to require the IUB to study the potential for hydroelectricity on existing Mississippi River dams.
Status: Introduced 2/27/13; referred to Commerce. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HF 465: A bill allowing customers an opportunity to refuse the installation of smart meters.
Status: Introduced 3/6/13; referred to Local Government. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
HF 497: A bill establishing a school wind generation revolving loan and grant program.
Status: Introduced 3/7/13; referred to Commerce. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
HF 519: Allowing the Office of the Citizens’ Aide and the Iowa Public Information Board to review minutes and recordings of closed meetings at will.
Status: Introduced as SF 260, referred to State Government. Passed committee 3/12/13; renumbered as HF 519. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
HF 630 (formerly HSB 180): An act providing a sales tax exemption for hydroelectricity conversion property.
Status: Introduced as HSB 180. Passed subcommittee (3-0) 3/13/13. Passed Ways and Means (25-0) 4/9/13. Renumbered and referred to House floor. Passed House (95-4) 4/16/13; Passed Senate (50-0) 4/16/13. Signed by Governor 5/1/13.
HSB 145: A bill to allow agricultural net metering; limit to 500 kW.
Status: Introduced 2/14/13; referred to Commerce. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HSB 207: Allowing city councils to adopt alternative fees for certain city services.
Status: Introduced 3/5/13; referred to Local Government. Failed First Funnel Deadline.
HSB 216 (Proposed by Government Oversight): A bill allowing the office of citizens’ aide and the IA Public Information Board access to minutes and audio recordings of closed sessions.
Status: Introduced 3/6/13: referred to Government Oversight.
HSB 217 (Proposed by Commerce Chair Cownie): A bill allowing a 3rd party owner to deliver energy while being exempted from public utility regulations.
Status: Introduced 3/6/13; referred to Commerce. Failed Second Funnel Deadline.
HR 3: A resolution honoring employees of Iowa utilities (including municipals) who volunteered their services to the East Coast in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Status: Resolution introduced and adopted 1/14/13.
HR 13: A resolution to extend federal production tax credits for wind development.
Status: Introduced 2/14/13; laid over.