Iowa Politics Today: Formally criminalizing ‘revenge porn’

A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Tuesday, March 29, 2017.

FLAG DAY:

The 96th anniversary of the Iowa Legislature adopting a Knoxville woman's banner as the official state flag was noted Wednesday in the Iowa House.

Rep. Greg Heartsill, R-Melcher-Dallas, whose district includes Knoxville, told colleagues the General Assembly adopted Dixie Cornell Gebhardt's design on March 29, 1921. Gov. William Harding dubbed her 'Iowa's Betsy Ross.'

Wednesday also marked the 100th anniversary of Gebhardt's design, which originally was for a flag carried by members of the Iowa Army National Guard fighting in a U.S.-Mexico border war. The original flag Gephardt designed survived the war. It's on display at the State Historical Building in Des Moines.

AG NUISANCE:

Gov. Terry Branstad has signed legislation providing protection for farm operations from what has been called nuisance lawsuits. SF 447, which was approved by the Senate 31-18 and the House 60-39, addresses certain court actions involving an allegation of a public or private nuisance or interference with a person's use and enjoyment of life or property caused by an animal feeding operation.

WHY DID THE ATV CROSS THE ROAD?

Gov. Terry Branstad soon will have to decide whether to approve legislation that could make it easier for all-terrain vehicles to cross a public highway that intersects with a trail.

The Iowa Senate agreed Wednesday to approve a House-passed measure that sets parameters for ATVs or off-road utility vehicles to traverse public thoroughfares without first getting a permit.

Under current Iowa law, city and county officials may get a permit from the state Department of Transportation to establish ATV crossings at specific points along a primary highway, but House File 464 would end that process.

If signed by the governor, Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said ATV and off-road utility vehicle drivers will be able to cross any primary highway in the state if they do so at a 90-degree angle, make a complete stop before crossing, yield to all oncoming traffic and cross at an intersection designed for an ATV trail.

COUNTY COMPENSATION BOARDS:

A Senate subcommittee Wednesday approved a House-passed bill that would abolish compensation boards and place responsibility for setting county elected officials' salaries with boards of supervisors.

House File 528 would replace compensation boards that are appointed by county officials to recommend wage adjustments for supervisors, auditors, recorders, treasurers, sheriffs and county attorneys.

Under current law, the supervisors then approve, reduce or reject the compensation board's recommendation.

Sens. Julian Garrett, R-Indianola, and Dennis Guth, R-Klemme, agreed to move the bill to the full Senate Local Government Committee, while Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, opposed the change.

Each Iowa County has a seven-member county compensation board, which has two members appointed by the Board of Supervisors and one each named by the county attorney, auditor, recorder, sheriff and treasurer.

'REVENGE PORN' BILL ADVANCES:

A Senate Judiciary subcommittee agreed Wednesday to advance a House-passed bill that seeks to address so-called 'revenge porn' situations where some people have harassed a former partner by posting racy digital images of their 'ex' after a nasty breakup.

House File 526 would make it a crime to post a sexually graphic photo or video online or to send either to someone else via text or email without the consent of the person pictured.

Backers of the bill said a law is needed to classify so-called 'revenge porn' retaliation as criminal harassment.

The House file, which garnered unanimous subcommittee support, must clear the Senate Judiciary Committee at its Thursday meeting to remain eligible for consideration this year.

HOME RULE FOR SCHOOLS:

 School boards in Iowa would have limited home rule authority to operate their local districts under House-passed legislation that was approved 12-2 Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee.

Backers said House File 533 would give schools more flexibility within the confines of the state's oversight, but critics warned it would open the state to legal challenges unless the Legislature agreed to seek voter approval to grant constitutional home rule similar to what cities and counties in Iowa currently have.

Local governments have the authority to raise revenue to fund their initiatives, while K-12 schools rely on a 'massive involvement of state funds,' said Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, who along with Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, voted against the bill.

Passage of the measure kept it alive for consideration by the full Senate yet this session.