Many issues left on Iowa Republicans’ to-do list as legislative clock ticks

DES MOINES — Iowa voters gave Republicans full control of the state's lawmaking process, and the GOP quickly took full advantage of it.

But for as much as Statehouse Republicans have accomplished advancing their agenda during the legislative session that began in January, several big-ticket items remain as lawmakers wind down their work for this year — perhaps before the end of the week.

Republicans emerged from the 2016 elections with control of the Iowa Senate — complementing their existing control of the Iowa House and the governor's office. They used the trifecta of power to pass significant laws in their conservative mold: a dramatic reduction in collective bargaining rights of public employees, a requirement for voters to show identification at the polls, a wide expansion of gun rights and a rollback of higher minimum wages that some counties including Johnson and Linn had enacted.

Other significant bills, such as placing restrictions on abortions and defunding health care providers that also perform abortions — meaning Planned Parenthood — are on their way toward becoming law.

Yet at least a half-dozen key issues remain on the GOP agenda as the session nears its end.

After Tuesday, the per diem expenses for legislators expire. So if lawmakers stay longer than that, they'll need to pick up their own costs.

Work on the coming year's budget — which proposes to spend less money than this year — is well underway and could wrap up soon.

Passing a state budget is the one thing legislators are required to do. But the GOP has proposed several other initiatives this session that are still unresolved — and if action on them is going to happen still this year, it will have to happen quickly.

WATER QUALITY

Lawmakers have not made much headway these last few years in generating new money for water quality programs. Now with the budget in a tighter-then-expected pinch, lawmakers once again find themselves challenged.

Rep. Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, chairman of the House budget committee and a farmer, said despite the bleak picture, he hopes to find a way to add funding for water quality programs. He said lawmakers are working on options.

One proposal would enact a sales tax of three-eighths of a cent to fund water quality and other conservation programs, with corresponding tax relief to help offset the sales tax increase. Other proposals would move funds from some existing revenue streams to water quality programs.

'I think everyone is mindful of the budget situation, and we just have to try to balance those things,' he said. 'Not to say water quality is not a priority, because it is. But also we have to put an overall budget together that balances.'

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Lawmakers who want to expand the state's current, albeit limited, program are making a last-ditch effort.

The current law permits Iowans to use cannabidiol to treat only epileptic seizures. But a new bill would legalize more forms of medical cannabis, add roughly a dozen ailments eligible for treatment, permit the growth and sale of medical cannabis in the state and reclassify marijuana to make the drug eligible for more research.

Senators in support of the bill said they expect to pass it, but the proposal got a much chillier reception in the House.

'Sometime three days after hell freezes over, that bill will pass in the House,' said Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, a key committee chair.

House leader including Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said they remain open to some form of expansion, just not as much as what's in the proposal.

Leaders have said that if they are unable to reach agreement on expansion, they will at least extend the current program, which is set to expire at the end of June.

Many who do or could make use of the current program, however, say it is largely ineffective because it provides no way for Iowans to obtain medical cannabis legally.

FIREWORKS

Some legislators want to make more consumer-grade fireworks legal for home display in Iowa, which is one of just seven states that do not allow some or all types of consumer fireworks, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association.

The Senate passed legislation legalizing consumer fireworks around the July 4 and New Year's holidays, but the House is yet to vote on it.

Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, said he has been told Democrats won't support the bill so he is working to get support from at least 51 House Republicans and said he is 'on the razor's edge.'

CRAFT DISTILLERIES

The House passed in near-unanimous fashion a bill that provides several updates to Iowa's alcohol regulations, including a measure that would allow small distilleries to sell their product on site, similar to what is permitted for craft breweries and wineries.

The proposal was the result of years of work and a compromise among beer, wine and spirits producers and beer wholesalers.

But after sailing through the House, the bill has stalled in the Senate. It's over an issue on the three-tier system — the separation of alcohol producers, distributors and retailers — that needs to be ironed out, according to Sen. Randy Feenstra, chairman of the committee through which the bill must pass.

But Feenstra, R-Hull, said he expects the bill to be approved and sent to the governor's desk.

'That bill will definitely move this session. We plan to move it early (this) week,' he said.

FANTASY SPORTS

An effort to legalize wagering on fantasy sports, including online daily fantasy sports games, appears stuck.

Windschitl said he supports the proposal, but enough opposition remains that he does not think it will pass the House this session.

Windschitl said the primary concerns raised are with an expansion of gambling and a desire for any such expansion to be controlled by casinos.

TRAFFIC CAMERAS

The Senate has passed a proposal to allow automated traffic cameras but strictly regulate them. However, the bill has not yet been moved to the full House, where some lawmakers want to implement a complete ban on the devices.

The Senate-approved proposal would require state approval for traffic cameras, which could be placed only in high-crash locations, and any revenue from fines would be required to be put toward road and public safety projects.

TAX REFORM

Republicans have long sought to overhaul the state's tax code, but they are hamstrung this year by the tight budget. Any legislative action that would reduce revenue coming into the state could have even further consequences for the state budget.

Late last week, Feenstra unveiled Senate Republicans' tax reform proposal but said he is recommending they not implement it until next year at the earliest.

The proposal would reduce the number of state income tax brackets from nine to three, phase out federal deductibility to cut rates and provide at least $500 million in relief to taxpayers by 2022.

Rod Boshart of The Gazette contributed to this report.