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Capitol Notebook: New law protects bikers, mobile pedestrians in crosswalks
Also, an Iowa Air Guard unit in Fort Dodge will close, and Gov. Reynolds joined 50-plus other governors opposing a federal proposal to shift Guard members to the U.S. Space Force
Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau
May. 3, 2024 4:44 pm, Updated: May. 6, 2024 9:30 am
DES MOINES — A new law signed into the books Friday by Gov. Kim Reynolds will make Iowa’s roads and crosswalks safer, advocates say.
The legislation extends the state’s crosswalk protection law.
Drives in Iowa now are required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The new law expands that by requiring vehicles also to yield to bicyclists and to pedestrians using mobility devices in crosswalks.
“Whether you are out on the trails as a cyclist, a person with disabilities in a wheelchair, a senior citizen on an electric scooter, a kid on a skateboard, or a parent with a baby in a stroller, this legislation is a clear victory for all Iowans,” Iowa Bicycle Coalition executive director Luke Hoffman said in a statement. “We thank Gov. Reynolds for signing this bill into law and making Iowa a safer place for everyone who uses our shared roadways and crosswalks.”
A news release from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition also included statements of support from the legislators who managed the bills in the Iowa Legislature: Sen. Mark Lofgren and Rep. Tom Gerhold, both Republicans.
Lofgren said the new law will add protections for people at events like the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa and outdoor entertainment, and Gerhold said it will “save lives and prevent accidents,” and will protect people who walk through crosswalks using strollers, wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
The bill, House File 2568, passed the Iowa Senate unanimously and the Iowa House on an 84-8 vote. It goes into effect July 1.
Expanded police, firefighter benefits signed into law
Iowa police and firefighters’ benefits will be expanded to include disabilities caused by long-term physical stress and mental health conditions under a bill signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The new law updates disability compensation rules and changes the state’s pension program for professional police and firefighters, which covers police departments in 49 of Iowa’s larger cities and fire departments in 38 of those.
A past Iowa Supreme Court ruling found that state law currently allows police and firefighters to receive disability benefits only if their disability can be traced to a specific incident. Disabilities that appear after decades on the job, caused by work duties like carrying heavy equipment, are not covered. The new law specifies that any disability caused by employment is covered.
The new law also adds disability coverage for mental health conditions caused by traumatic incidents on the job, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Unlike the physical disabilities, the condition would need to be traceable to a specific traumatic incident or incidents to be covered.
The bill, House File 2680, passed both chambers of the Iowa Legislature unanimously.
Iowa National Guard unit to close, leave Fort Dodge
The 133rd Test Squadron of the Iowa National Guard will be divested as part of a restructuring announced by the director of the Air National Guard, the Iowa National Guard announced.
The Iowa Guard anticipates the move will result in the eventual closure of the 133rd Test Squadron and Air Guard facility in Fort Dodge, according to a news release.
The squadron’s mission “primarily involves evaluating communication technologies for the U.S. Air Force,” a public affairs officer wrote in 2022, and employs about 30 people full-time.
Iowa is among a handful of states impacted by the Air Force and Air National Guard restructuring, the Iowa National Guard said. The Guard said there is no official timeline, and deactivation of the 133rd Test Squadron may take years to complete.
The Guard is working with the Fort Dodge community and to prioritize opportunities for current members to remain with the Iowa National Guard, its news release said.
The Iowa National Guard will maintain its presence in Fort Dodge with 107 soldiers from other units, the news release said.
The move is unrelated to U.S. Department of Defense proposal to transfer some Air National Guard members to the U.S. Space Force.
Governors oppose moving Guard to Space Force
Iowa’s Kim Reynolds was among 52 governors representing states, commonwealths and territories who signed a letter from the National Governors Association expressing opposition to a U.S. Department of Defense proposal to transfer some Air National Guard members to the U.S. Space Force.
The proposal includes an override of existing federal law that requires governors’ consent to make changes to the National Guard.
“This legislation disregards gubernatorial authorities regarding the National Guard and undermines over 100 years of precedent as well as national security and military readiness,” the governors said in their letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
“Legislation that sidesteps, eliminates or otherwise reduces Governors’ authority within their states and territories undermines long-standing partnerships, precedence, military readiness and operational efficacy,” the letter adds.
The proposal is unrelated to the Air National Guard’s announcement that an Iowa Air Guard unit in Fort Dodge will be divested.
Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau