Summaries of major legislation in 2017 Iowa legislative session

Here are capsule summaries of the major work of the 2017 legislative session as it nears its close Saturday:

LABOR

Significant, conservative legislation was passed throughout the past four months, but the collective bargaining bill may go down as the session's signature issue. Thousands of people came to the Capitol over a three-day span to speak at hearings and participate in rallies - most to protest the bill that stripped most public employees of most of their collective bargaining rights. Republicans say the new law provided a needed update to a 40-year-old law they say grew to favor workers over employers. Republicans also passed a law limiting some damages in workers' compensation lawsuits, another measure GOP lawmakers said will make the system more balanced but that Democrats said is unfair to workers.

EDUCATION

Funding for public education was light as lawmakers wrestled with budget cuts. However, K-12 education received a slight funding increase of 1.1 percent. While that ranks among the lowest increases since the current school funding formula was implemented in the early 1970s, most other state departments this year accepted status quo budgets or less. The state's three public universities fared even worse. Midyear reductions took $8 million each from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, and $2 million from the University of Northern Iowa. The universities' budgets for the coming fiscal year were reduced even further: $6 million at the UI, $2.5 million at ISU and $800,000 at UNI.

TAX REFORM

Revamping Iowa's complicated income-tax code was a top priority for the new GOP legislative majority in 2017 and will be again in 2018 after mounting budget woes and uncertainty over possible federal tax policy changes forced postponement of plans to make reforms, reductions and revisions. Senate Republicans are poised next year to offer changes to shrink state tax brackets from nine to three, gradually phase out federal deductibility to cut rates and provide at least $500 million in relief to Iowa taxpayers by 2022. The changes would lower Iowa's top rate from 8.98 to 5.65 percent. Otherwise, Republicans held the line on tax increases, including rejecting a plan to boost the state sales tax slightly to fund water quality, conservation and natural resources needs. Also, some lawmakers say a jump in assessments may put property tax reform on the 2018 table.

GUNS

Saying they were advancing Iowans' freedoms, lawmakers approved the most comprehensive piece of gun rights legislation in state history, including allowing Iowans to use deadly force if they believe their life is threatened. In addition to an expansion of the 'stand-your-ground” law, HF 517, which was passed with bipartisan support in the House and Senate, allows parents to supervise the use of handguns by children younger than 14 and Iowans to carry handguns in most public buildings and spaces, including the Capitol. Opponents warned of a surge of shooting by people claiming self-defense as well as accidental shootings involving children.

ABORTION

After years of attempting to restrict access to abortion, the GOP majorities in the House and Senate approved a ban on abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. Attempts to enact personhood or life at conception language failed, but SF 471 also requires a three-day waiting period between the time a woman meets with her doctor and obtains an abortion. The 20-week ban allows an exception to protect the life of the mother, but there are no exemptions for rape, incest or fetal anomaly. Supporters say the bill was crafted to withstand a court challenge, but others say it is too narrowly drawn.

MINIMUM WAGE

It was a mixed bag for local governments during a session in which Republicans extolled the virtues of local control but took away the ability of counties and cities to set minimum wages higher than the $7.25 statewide pay floor or impose other restrictions in business or employment areas. HF 295 nullified higher wages for Polk, Johnson, Linn, Wapello and Lee counties. Democratic efforts to enact a minimum-wage increase failed.

HOT BUTTON ISSUES

Voter ID: A new law will require voters to present government-approved identification at the ballot box. The requirement was proposed by Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate. Fireworks: Legislators approved the legalization of consumer-grade fireworks for sale and display around the Fourth of July and Christmas and New Year's holidays. Traffic cameras: No changes were made to state law regarding traffic enforcement cameras. The Senate passed a bill that would have more strictly regulated their use, but that bill was not debated in the House, where Republicans disagreed over more regulations or an outright ban. Bottle bill: Once again the state's 5-cent tax on bottles of soda and beer survived. Grocery stores that must accept returned bottles and cans for recycling have sought an end to the program. Medical malpractice: A new law caps medical malpractice awards at $250,000 except in extreme cases.