Week in Iowa, March 27, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Lawmaking session passes key deadline: Iowa lawmakers pushed a number of bills through committees ahead of a key legislative deadline, advancing bills on education, phone use while driving, and limiting the scope of the state auditor.

Bills had to pass out of one chamber and a committee in the opposite chamber to be considered after Friday, though legislative leaders can revive bills later in the session if they want to bring them back. Lawmakers also need to craft a budget for the coming year and plan to pass property tax reductions before ending the session.

Pipeline bill tanked: A House bill that would limit the eminent domain process for carbon dioxide pipelines will not move forward after a key senator said he would not hold a hearing to consider the bill. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support last month, but it did not have the same level of support from Republican leadership in the Senate.

Auditor criticizes bill: Iowa House lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday that would block the state auditor from requesting certain documents from state agencies and require disputes between the auditor's office and state agencies to be resolved by an arbitration board. Auditor Rob Sand, the sole Democratic statewide elected official, said the bill was politically motivated to prevent him from doing his job.

Trucker tort reform passes: The Iowa House passed a bill Tuesday capping lawsuits against truckers and other commercial vehicle operators at $5 million and providing some liability protection for employers. The bill is different from one passed in the Senate, meaning Senate lawmakers will need to pass it again.

The House bill limits the definition of commercial vehicle and provides employer liability protection only for direct negligence in hiring, while the Senate version gives protections for supervising, training and trusting the employee.

Distracted driving ban nears law: Iowa is set to crack down on use of cellphones and electronic devices while driving. A bill making it a crime to use electronic devices for any reason, except in hands-free mode, advanced out of a House committee, making it eligible for a vote on the House floor. It is currently illegal to text while driving, but using a phone to make calls or use GPS is not illegal.

Medicaid, food stamp restrictions: A bill that would tighten requirements for Iowans to receive federal assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps advanced through a House committee. The bill is expected to remove thousands of Iowans from benefits programs, and will cost the state $7.5 million in extra administrative costs.

They said …

“If people want to target me, they should insult me and lie about me and say terrible things about me. If they’re targeting me, this bill harms taxpayers. I don’t think it’s very effective targeting.” — Iowa Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand on a bill that would limit the scope of his office's work

“I am extremely disappointed that the Senate has chosen not to stand up for landowners. I think it’s a mistake.” — Iowa Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, on Senate not advancing pipeline bill

Odds and ends

2024 watch: Former Vice President Mike Pence was back in Iowa on Wednesday shortly after a federal judge ordered him to testify before a grand jury investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Pence said he was speaking with his lawyers about the order, but he has “nothing to hide.”

Fairfield teen to testify: One of two teens accused of killing their teacher at Fairfield High School will testify against the other in his upcoming trial, according to the Jefferson County attorney. The teens are charged in the 2021 slaying of 66-year-old Nohema Graber. Police say the two teens beat Graber to death before hiding her body in a park.

Water cooler

Iowa Wesleyan closing: Iowa Wesleyan University, a private liberal arts college in Mount Pleasant, is closing after 181 years in operation because of financial problems. The university said it made a request for COVID-19 relief funding to Gov. Kim Reynolds, which was denied. Reynolds said the request came late and would not have addressed the university's systemic financial pitfalls.

Congress vs. TikTok: Members of Iowa's congressional delegation said the social media app TikTok threatens national security, with some calling for it to be banned. The app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, was examined in a recent congressional hearing. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said he would support an outright ban of the app, but that legislation would likely take a more nuanced approach.