Government Affairs - Grow Cedar Valley

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - May 9, 2023

posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 in Government Affairs

The Iowa Legislature adjourned the First Session of the 90th General Assembly on May 4th, one week past the scheduled 110 days. Governor Reynolds and leadership in both the House and Senate worked together in the final weeks to reach a compromise on key policy issues including the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, property tax reform, and youth employment regulations.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - April 18, 2023

posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in Government Affairs

Movement at the Capitol slowed considerably last week with the Senate holding no floor debate and both chambers holding very few subcommittee and committee meetings. One bill of significance that we have followed throughout the session changing child labor laws passed the Senate at 4:52 am Tuesday morning.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - April 4, 2023

posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in Government Affairs

The number one legislative policy priority for Grow Cedar Valley is talent attraction, recruitment and retention. We have been closely watching proposed legislation that deals with issues and ideas that could potentially help in attracting and retaining workforce. The main areas we have been tracking are childcare, housing, placemaking, and workforce readiness.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - March 21, 2023

posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Government Affairs

The number one legislative policy priority for Grow Cedar Valley is talent attraction, recruitment and retention. We have been closely watching proposed legislation that deals with issues and ideas that could potentially help in attracting and retaining workforce. The main areas we have been tracking are childcare, housing, placemaking, and workforce readiness.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - March 6, 2023

posted on Monday, March 6, 2023 in Government Affairs

First Funnel is now behind us. The beginning step in the Legislature's self-imposed system of winnowing the upwards of 1500 bills introduced in the first eight weeks of the session has now passed. It seems that more bills made it through this first narrowing than usual, but now they face passage in one Chamber and passage through a full committee in the other prior to the second funnel on March 31.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - February 20, 2023

posted on Monday, February 20, 2023 in Government Affairs

The last two weeks have seen a great deal of legislative activity. The Legislature is racing to move bills through the process before the first funnel or first winnowing step occurs on March 3. Back-to-back subcommittee meeting are being held throughout each day, along with meetings of the full committees in both the House and the Senate. The weeks leading up to the first funnel are always among the most hectic of the session.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - February 13, 2023

posted on Monday, February 13, 2023 in Government Affairs

The results of the second annual Iowa Chamber Alliance Talent Poll revealed some important and interesting trends. At our February 10 Friday Forum, Dustin Miller, ICA's Executive Director, shared the findings of the Talent Poll.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - February 6, 2023

posted on Monday, February 6, 2023 in Government Affairs

We're into the fifth week of the 2023 legislative session and education has been center stage so far. On other fronts, the pace quickened during the fourth week of session with committee activity increasing, sending several bills to floor debate in both the House and Senate.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - January 23, 2023

posted on Monday, January 23, 2023 in Government Affairs

Week 2 was a short work week as the legislature took Monday off to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Much of the week involved discovering the Governor's priorities as revealed in her budget, property tax reform and school choice.

From the Capitol with Steve Firman - January 16, 2023

posted on Monday, January 16, 2023 in Government Affairs

The first session of the 90th General Assembly convened at 10:00 am on January 9th. For the seventh year in a row, Republicans maintained control of the House, Senate, and Governor's office.