The 2013 Legislative Did and Didn't List

Each year, when the legislative session finally ends, as the 2013 edition did this morning, some journalists compile a did/didn't list: measures lawmakers actually passed and issues that were considered, perhaps seriously, perhaps momentarily, but then tossed aside.

The didn't list is always longer. And I think, for the most part, aside from some disappointments, that's a good thing.

When I was at the Statehouse, The Gazette's Rod Boshart was the did/didn't list guru. No matter how good you thought your list was, his was always better.

And here's his 2013 edition:

DID

Reform/reduce property/income taxes

Reform education to boost teacher pay, leadership and career ladders

Expand health-care coverage for low-income Iowans

Increase the earned income tax credit from 7 percent to 14 percent

Bolster liability protections for farm owners

Increase funding to address skilled worker shortage

Raise judges' pay by 4.5 percent

Boost REAP environmental funding to $16 million

Devote more funds to close worker “skills gap”

Boost state aid to K-12 schools by 4 percent

Fund universities so tuition is frozen next year

Extend tax break for ethanol-blended fuels

Expand teen driver training and limit passengers in vehicle

Allow electronic driver's license renewals

Change state regulations for “mothballed” livestock buildings

Expand renewal of Iowa driver's license to eight years from current five

Allow home-school parent to teach child driver's education

Require background checks for school employees

Require background checks for vendors catering to children

Prohibit sale/operation/possession of radar-jamming device

Create criminal offense for removing police communication devices

Require DNA samples for aggravated misdemeanor convictions

Extend school sharing incentives

Exempt reconstruction of the Lake Delhi dam from certain DNR requirements

Create free-standing Iowa Department of Homeland Security

Relocate James Harlan statue to Mount Pleasant

Further refine regional mental health service delivery approach

Raise economic development tax credit cap to $170 million

Require newborn critical congenital heart disease screening

Expand definition of “sex act” in Iowa criminal code

Require vision screening for school children

Allow police outdoor shooting range in proximity to homes and businesses

Establish new assessment process for child abuse reports

Exempt home school students from annual assessments

Extend early education block grant program by five years

Prevent/control invasive species in public waterways

Bar seed distribution of certain invasive plants

Equalize E911 surcharge for wire-line and wireless services

Take steps to improve government efficiency

Authorize tribal governments to have reserve police force

Exempt savannahs and bengal cats from dangerous wild animal list

Establish lifetime fur harvester license for residents aged 65 or older

Address city of Des Moines franchise fee issue

DIDN'T

Raise the state gas tax

Expand anti-bullying measures in public/private schools

Reinstate limited death penalty

Ban use of hand-held cell phones while driving

Increase state minimum hourly wage

Ban smoking in gaming areas of state-licensed casinos

Legalize Internet poker via state-licensed casinos

Ban use of traffic enforcement cameras on state and local highways

Require public safety officials to keep firearm permit holders' names confidential

Amend Iowa constitution to define marriage as only one man and one woman

Authorize schools to adopt mandatory uniform policy/dress codes

Amend Iowa constitution to establish spending/taxing limitations

Protect against taking land via eminent domain for recreation

Create a missing children safety fund

Keep gun permit issuance information confidential

Modify definition of obscene materials to exclude live acts

Mothers whose babies test positive for drugs could face criminal charges

Prohibit use of unmanned drone aircraft by state or local law enforcement

Authorize limited gambling on fantasy sports games

Ban minors under age 18 from tanning salons

Legalize medical marijuana

Raise speed limit to 60 mph on two-lane primary and hard-surface roads

Bar underage sale/ consumption/possession of energy drinks

Allow all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to operate on hard-surface roads

Raise elected officials' salaries

Fund expanded passenger rail in Iowa

Expand transparency/accountability for state Board of Regents

Require proof of identification/residence to vote in Iowa elections

Upgrade dietary guidelines for public cafeterias

Expand campaign finance laws related to independent expenditures

Require school districts to develop/implement school safety/emergency plan

Provide suicide-prevention training for teachers

Modify definition of obscene materials to exclude live acts

Make service station gas pumps more accessible to handicapped

Require radon testing/mitigation in schools and new homes

Require installation of window fall prevention devices in large dwellings

Provide $8 million to upgrade Iowa Speedway in Newton

Require headlights on when windshield wipers operating

Make permanent the early education block grant program

Curb food waste/bolster recovery of excess food items

Allow limited issuance of Iowa driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants

Issue special electric vehicle registration plates

Allow parole for juvenile murderers after 45 years in prison

Shield cities from liability for sledding-accident injuries on public property

Expand bonding options for county buildings

Implement “Iowa first” provisions in state government purchasing procedures

Restrict donations/charitable contributions in criminal proceedings

Eliminate smart planning principles and other development guidelines

Eliminate straight-ticket voting option on Iowa election ballots

Modify/change criminal laws on intentional transmission of infectious diseases

Raise penalties for illegal use of handicapped parking permit

Create criminal offense for mothers whose babies test positive for drugs

Expand training for child-abuse reporters

Continue Iowa mortgage hotline

Expand support for English language learners

Establish Iowa health benefit marketplace

Bar body piercing for minors; require state permits for body piercing businesses

Allow the sale of raw milk

Restrict county-issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples

Bar abortion-causing medication via telemedicine video conferencing

Exclude “poppers” and snappers” from fireworks ban

Create income tax exemption credit for unborn children; increase overall credits

Impose moratorium on issuance of state gambling licenses

Abolish no-fault divorce for Iowa couples with children

Amend Iowa constitution to impose term limits on elected officials

Classify marijuana a schedule 1 controlled substance

Strike mourning dove hunting season

Require safety helmets for motorized bike operators under age 18 years

Recognize gold/silver as legal tender

Require state lawmakers to pay at least 20 percent of health insurance premium

Create office of chancellor to guide state universities under Board of Regents

Require hormonal intervention therapy for convicted sex offenders

Legalize sale and use of consumer fireworks in Iowa

Prohibit permits to drill oil/gas well using hydraulic fracturing

Require drug testing for recipients of state assistance

Allow eligible employee leave to attend parent-teacher conferences

Prohibit nuclear plans from reprocessing spent fuel into weapons-grade material

Impose sanctions against parents if their children engage in harassment/ bullying

Require labeling to identified genetically engineered food

Include pets under domestic violence protective order

Authorize possession of offensive weapons like machine guns or sawed-off shotguns

Abolish Iowa Department of Education and state Board of Education

Bar regulation of firearms/ammunition during state of public emergency

Provide wage protections for workers

Establish cause of civil action for woman who underwent an abortion

Set five-year repeal for all state rule

Permit parking on left side of roadways in winter weather

Require pawn shops to return stolen merchandise

Create taxpayer-funded education savings vouchers for public and private schools

Bar bonus pay for state employees effective July 1 -- excluding regent employees

Abolish county compensation boards

Modify conditions for use of justifiable/reasonable force

Require population impact statements on all legislation

Ban use of false/secret compartment in motor vehicle

Exempt state income tax on active military/reserve/National Guard pay

Expand domestic abuse laws to cover intimidate relationships

Ban minors under age 18 from tanning salons

Make mental health professionals mandatory reporters of potential serious harm

Establish facility to house sex offenders needing medical/personal care

Create mandatory life prison term for killing first responder

Conduct cost-benefit analysis for new highway rest areas

Allow person with permit to carry gun on school grounds

Allow school employees to get permit to carry gun in school

Strike tiered corporate income tax and set 6 percent uniform rate

Exempt some bars from smoke-free air requirements

Amend Iowa constitution to provide home rule for school districts

Amend Iowa Constitution to make House term lengths staggered, four years

Allow bigger motors on boats operating on Lake Macbride

Amend Iowa constitution to hold biennial, not annual legislative sessions

Create passing distances for motor vehicles overtaking bicycles

Bar opening vehicle door into moving traffic if not safe

Amend Iowa constitution to remove age restriction on state militia

Set criteria for bass fishing tournaments in public waters

Amend Iowa constitution to protect right of citizens to bear arms

Create state lottery game with proceeds benefitting people with multiple sclerosis

Prohibit late-term abortions with certain exceptions

Allow state to opt out of unfunded federal health care mandates

Authorize interim study of eliminating the Iowa income tax

Nullify federal Patient Protection/Affordable Care Act

Verify Social Security numbers for applicants for public funded programs

Amend Iowa constitution to establish spending/taxing limitations

Use revenue from traffic cameras to create uninsured vehicle coverage trust fund

Waive tuition and fees at state universities for Iowa National Guard members

Expand private-sector employee drug testing law

Impose constitutional limits on Legislature's spending/taxing authority

Require electronic monitoring of all juvenile and adult registered sex offenders

Eliminate “good time” sentence reductions for inmates convicted of serious sex offense

Place moratorium on regulations affecting sale of unprocessed food

Protect Iowans from application of foreign laws

Bar employers/schools from seeking access to personal Internet accounts

Bar labor unions from knowingly collecting dues from illegal immigrants

Commit share of state surplus to road/bridge construction

Prohibit U.N. “Agenda 21” environmental action plan for sustainable development in Iowa

Amend Iowa constitution with “right to life” protection

Require helmets for all motorcycle/motorized bike operators/passengers

Create individual/corporate tax credit for contribution to home school grant group

Require Board of Regents to publish annual report on overtime pay

Establish world language education pilot project

Study creation of fourth regent university in Iowa or “regents outpost”

Adopt abortion restrictions to define a “person” at conception; bar some contraception

Bar Iowans from buying foreign-made U.S. flags

Create Iowa State Board for Blind and Deaf Education to oversee state's two special schools

Eliminate state authority to waive school start date before Sept. 1

Bar city parking citations for Purple Heart recipients

Prohibit employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants

Require disclosure of gifts/bequests/honoraria to state executive-branch personnel

Require government/businesses provide “reasonable accommodations” for pregnant workers

Create state tax credit on qualified student debt for technology workers

Upgrade dietary guidelines for public cafeterias

Limit use of restraints for pregnant prison inmates

Restrict donations/charitable contributions in criminal proceedings

Eliminate straight-ticket voting option on Iowa election ballots

Increase corn check-off maximum rate to five cents per bushel

Expand/fund state oversight of water usage

Curb food waste/bolster recovery of excess food items

Make service station gas pumps more accessible to handicapped

Expand campaign finance laws related to independent expenditures

Authorize state lottery games to benefit Special Olympics program

Require school districts to develop/implement school safety/emergency plan

Expand domestic abuse laws to cover intimidate relationships

Require headlights on when windshield wipers operating

Study elderly aggressive behavior in long-term care facilities

Modify/change criminal laws on intentional transmission of infectious diseases

Permit parking on left side of roadways in winter weather

Require disclosure of gifts/bequests/honoraria to state executive-branch personnel

Allow limited issuance of Iowa driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants

Require medical malpractice lawsuits to be reviewed by special panels

Issue special electric vehicle registration plates

Amend Iowa constitution to establish spending/taxing limitations

Increase monetary limits on motor-vehicle transactions to protect consumers

Made sex offender changes for “Romeo and Juliet” relationships

Require pawn shops to return stolen merchandise

Raise penalties for illegal use of handicapped parking permit

Expand transparency/accountability for state Board of Regents

Prohibit placement of sexually violent predators in nursing homes

Require proof of identification/residence to vote in Iowa elections

Eliminate smart planning principles and other development guidelines

Shield cities from liability for sledding-accident injuries on public property

Implement “Iowa first” provisions in state government purchasing procedures

Allow flat-rate option for Iowa income taxpayers

Raise sales tax 3/8 of 1 percent for natural resources

Create specialty license plate with space for not-for-profit group decal

Require American products to be used in public improvements

Change collective bargaining rules

Expand school bus inspections

Create state tax credit on qualified student debt for technology workers

Allow electronic absentee voting by military and overseas voters