Mar 17, 2020

This Week at the Statehouse – Session Suspended at Least 30 Days

On Monday, March 16, the Legislature adopted measures to suspend the 2020 legislative session for at least 30 days as the state works to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

A resolution needed to be passed to extend the 2020 regular session because Iowa’s constitution (Article III, section 14) says neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which they may be sitting. Iowa law also says (Code Chapter 2.1) the sessions of the general assembly shall be held annually at the seat of government, unless the governor shall convene them at some other place in times of pestilence or public danger. Each annual session of the general assembly shall commence on the second Monday in January of each year. The general assembly may recess from time to time during each year in such manner as it may provide, subject to Article III, section 14 of the Constitution of the State of Iowa.

The House and Senate passed SCR 102, which says that upon the adjournment of the House of Representatives and the Senate on March 16, 2020, both houses will remain adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on April 15, 2020. The Legislative Council may shorten or further extend the adjournment if deemed necessary. The joint rules are suspended during the extended adjournment and until action is taken upon the reconvening of the General Assembly.

Before adjourning, the House and Senate also passed a bill appropriating dollars for the current fiscal year, giving the Governor additional emergency powers, providing a budget continuation in the off chance the General Assembly will not reconvene prior to July 1, 2020, and waiving the requirement for Iowa schools to reschedule days canceled.

SF 2408 passed unanimously in both chambers:

  • Appropriates a supplemental appropriation for the current budget year, fiscal year 2020, as follows:
    • $525,000 to the State Hygienic Lab for additional COVID-19 testing
    • $89 million to Medicaid
    • $1.7 million to Hawk-I
    • $595,000 to Glenwood Resource Center
  • Increases the governor’s transfer authority between budget line items within the state’s budget
  • Provides for a continuation of the current budget for July and August, if needed, and will only go into effect if the Legislature is unable to meet again prior to the end of the 2020 fiscal year (July 1, 2020) – this does not apply to the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, Road Use Tax Fund, and several other non-state general fund moneys
  • Provides emergency powers to the governor to spend up to 10% ($20 million) of the Economic Emergency Fund  during the 30 days for needs related to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the Legislative Council may approve, if necessary, up to a total of $196 million in funding without the Legislature convening
  • Waives the requirement for Iowa schools to reschedule days canceled following Governor Reynolds’ recommendation to close for at least four weeks

Legislative leaders said in a statement “… the goal of pausing session is to protect higher risk members of the Legislature, staff, and public potentially at risk during the legislative session and follow the expert guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control and Iowa Department of Public Health. Additionally, at this time, the focus of state government needs to be on managing the COVID-19 outbreak.”