This Week at the Statehouse – Week 4

New bills for consideration continue to be filed daily. This link will provide a complete list of bills the Board of Regents are tracking (in the box marked as lobbyist, type in Mary Braun).

Bills the Regents are monitoring that had action this week:

HF 93, unanimously passed the House. The bill prohibits an employer from entering into an agreement with a licensed mental health professional that limits the location at which the licensee may practice, prohibits the licensee from contacting for professional services a person previously treated by the licensee, or imposes a time restriction on the practice of the licensee. The bill is now in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee for consideration. (There is no Senate companion bill)

HF 143, passed the House by a vote of 97-1. The bill relates to ransomware and cybersecurity attacks. The bill goes to the Senate for consideration. Senate companion bill is SF 203 (formerly SSB 1072), passed by the Senate Technology Committee by a vote of 12-0. Both bills are on the Senate calendar for consideration.

HF 181, (formerly HSB 41), passed the House Education Committee by a vote of 23-0. The bill prohibits the Board of Regents from investing public moneys in companies that are owned or controlled by Chinese military or government services. The bill goes to the full House for consideration. (There is no Senate companion bill)

HF 182, (formerly HF 7), passed the House Education Committee by a vote of 15-8. The bill requires the three Regents universities to define certain course terminology in teacher preparation programs. The Regents universities are putting this reporting information together to meet the February 27, 2023 deadline outlined in the bill. The bill goes to the full House for consideration. (There is no Senate companion bill)

Budget Presentation

On Monday, Randy Pilkington, Executive Director of UNI BCS, and Dan Beenken, Director of UNI Family Business Center, presented UNI’s economic development budget request to the House Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee. We are asking for an increase of $400,000 to the Family Business Center and the Institute for Decision Making.

Upcoming Dates

February 13 – President Mark Nook, along with the presidents of Iowa State and Iowa, will present UNI’s budget request to the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee

February 14 – UNI Day at the Capitol

February 14 – Randy Pilkington, Executive Director of UNI BCS, and Dan Beenken, Director of UNI Family Business Center, will present UNI’s economic development budget request to the Senate Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee

March 3 – First Funnel – Bills not reported out of their originating committee by this date are no longer eligible for consideration (does not apply to budget, tax or oversight bills)

March 31 – Second Funnel – House bills not passed out of Senate committees and Senate bills not passed out of House committees are no longer eligible for consideration (does not apply to budget, tax or oversight bills)

April 28 – 110th Calendar Day (lawmaker per diem expenses end)

If you have any questions, please email me at mary.braun@uni.edu.