Capitol Notebook: Sale of state Wallace Building in Des Moines approved by Iowa House GOP

DES MOINES — The sale of the state-owned Wallace Building and its companion parking structure near the Iowa Capitol was given the green light Monday on a mostly party-line vote in the Iowa Senate.

The state is looking to sell the Wallace Building, which has accumulated a long and expensive list of repair needs. A recent state report showed the need for at least $31 million in repairs, including a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, window repairs, waterproofing, electrical upgrades and repairs, restroom renovations and more.

Built in 1978, the Wallace Building has become familiar for its reflective facade, in which can be seen a reflection of the Capitol across the street.

Demolition of the building and parking ramp would cost an estimated $7 million, and the sale is expected to fetch roughly $9 million, according to the Iowa Legislative Services Agency, the state’s nonpartisan fiscal and legal services agency.

According to the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, the demolition expenses will be covered by one-time federal funds, and any net revenue would be deposited in the state’s general fund.

Any sale of state-owned buildings and property requires approval of the Iowa Legislature and governor. Senate File 295 grants that authority to the Administrative Services department.

The Iowa Senate passed the bill Monday on a 33-14 vote, with mostly Republicans supporting the bill and Democrats opposing it. During floor debate, Democrats expressed concern for selling property so close to the Iowa Capitol when it may be needed for state government in the future.

“You wonder what we might need in the future,” Sen. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, said during floor debate. “That is right across the street from the Capitol. Once we sell that property, we have no control over the property just across from our Capitol complex. That doesn’t seem like a wise decision to me.”

Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, acknowledged the point but also added, “Iowa doesn’t belong in the real estate business.”

With its passage out of the Iowa Senate, the proposal is now eligible for consideration in the Iowa House.

County supervisor elections in college counties

In the three Iowa counties that house a public university, county supervisors would be elected by districts, not at-large, under legislation approved on a largely party-line vote in the Iowa Senate.

Senate Republicans say the bill is needed to give more voice to rural Iowans in counties where college students are eligible to vote.

“We are trying to mitigate the effects of the high (college) student populations which are seasonal instead of permanent residents,” Sen. Dawn Driscoll, R-Williamsburg, said during debate.

Currently, Iowa counties can choose one of three ways to elect supervisors: countywide by district, countywide without district residence requirements for members, or from equal-population districts in which voters of each district elect a single member.

Johnson, Black Hawk and Story counties — the three that would be impacted by Senate File 75 — all elect county supervisors countywide without district residence requirements.

Previous versions of the bill have failed to garner sufficient support to pass into law. Driscoll said she believes this year will be different.

The bill passed on a 35-12 vote, largely with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing. It is now eligible for consideration by the Iowa House, where a companion bill has advanced through committee approval.

Limiting statute of limitations flexibility

Only the Legislature could alter state statutes of limitation laws under legislation approved on a mostly party-line vote in the Iowa Senate.

Sen. Michael Bousselot, R-Ankeny, said Senate File 512 is needed after the Iowa Supreme Court recently issued a new rule granting some flexibility to statutes of limitations when a deadline is impacted by incidents beyond the parties’ control.

The bill would state only the Iowa Legislature can alter the statute of limitations for allegations for 15 types of civil actions.

The bill passed the Senate on a 33-14 vote, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing, and is now eligible for consideration in the Iowa House.

Restrictions for THC drinks in vehicles

Iowa House lawmakers passed legislation, 86-1, that would prohibit open drinks containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) from vehicles.

Under House File 181, drinks containing THC would be treated similarly to alcoholic drinks under the state’s laws on open drinks in vehicles under a proposal from the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

“We actually run into this quite frequently, so I think this is a good change in the law,” said Rep. Zach Dieken, R-Granville, who is an Iowa state trooper.

Last summer, Iowa clamped down on hemp-infused products, including barring the sale of them to anyone under the age of 21 and restricting the potency of products containing THC to 4 milligrams per serving or 10 milligrams per container.

“This is an important bill from a standpoint of ensuring that individuals that are driving on the road and also, like with alcohol, are not driving impaired,” said Rep. Jerome Amos Jr., D-Waterloo.

The proposed legislation would prohibit open THC beverages in the passenger area when a vehicle is in operation. It would allow open or unsealed THC beverages to be transported in the trunk of the vehicle, or behind the last upright seat if the vehicle does not have a trunk.

Adoptive parental leave advances

The Iowa House also advanced paid parental leave for state employees who adopt children 6 years old or younger, 87-0.

Under House File 248, state employers would be required to provide the same amount of paid parental leave for parents of newly-adopted children as parents of biological children.

State employers also would have to provide the same employment policies, benefits and protection to adoptive parents as they give to biological parents.

“This is a good bill that will help encourage and help new adoptive parents welcome a new child to their home,” said Rep. Megan Srinivas, D-Des Moines.

Penalty hike for showing obscene material to minors

The Iowa House unanimously passed House File 306, which would increase the penalty for disseminating “obscene materials” to minors.

Currently, anyone other than a parent or guardian of a minor who knowingly disseminates or exhibits obscene material to a minor can be charged with a serious misdemeanor. The bill would make a second offense an aggravated misdemeanor with mandatory minimum confinement of one year.

A third offense would be a Class D felony, which is punishable by confinement for up to five years and a fine between $1,025 and $10,245.

Rep. Megan Srinivas, D-Des Moines, introduced an amendment that would create an exemption for individuals under 18 who knowingly distribute obscene materials to other minors, making them guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

“I really appreciate Representative Stone for working with me so we can make sure the intent of this bill really gets at bad actors,” Srinivas said in reference to the bill’s floor manager, Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City. “That’s what this amendment does, is just helps to streamline and ensure that bad actors that are harming our children are, in fact, held liable.”

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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