This Week at the Statehouse – Week 10
This week saw floor debates and committee debates in the House and Senate as the legislature is over half way done. Not as many new bills are being filed. We’re still waiting on the start of the budgeting process.
Bills the Regents are monitoring that had action this week includes:
HF 323 PAYING STUDENT TEACHERS. The bill passed out of Senate subcommittee this week and is available for consideration by the full Senate Education Committee. The House passed the bill by a vote of 69-26 on February 22nd. The bill allows school districts to pay a student teacher; it is left up to each school district.
HF 355 TEACHER BACKGROUND CHECKS; NO LICENSE RENEWAL FOR VETERAN TEACHERS. The bill passed out of House Ways and Means committee and is now eligible for full House consideration (will get a new bill number). The bill repeals the license renewal requirement for teachers employed for at least 10 years and who possesses a master’s or doctoral degree. Also requires continuing background checks every five years for teachers who are not subject to these renewal requirements and allows the BOEE to charge a reasonable fee for these background checks. Adds charter schools and private schools to background checks. There is no Senate companion bill.
HF 494 PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS LICENSURE COMPACT. The bill passed the House Ways and Means Committee and is now eligible for full House consideration (will get a new bill number). The bill establishes this compact that would provide access to counseling and would benefit our students and establishes a commission to administer the compact.
HF 553 CYBERSECURITY DEFENSES. The House amended and passed the bill this week by a vote of 97-0. The bill is now before the full Senate for consideration (attached to SF 495). The bill adds blockchain technology to the Uniform Electronics Act.
HF 631 BRADY GIGLIO LIST. The bill unanimously passed the House and it is now eligible for the full Senate consideration (attached to SF 385). The bill strikes the repeal of the current Brady-Giglio list policies which was set to be repealed on July 1, 2023. Adds a requirement that prosecutors keep confidential and not release information to the public the file of an officer or statements, recordings or complaints. The bill is effective upon enactment.
HF 667 (formerly HSB 229) ATHLETIC CLAIMS. The bill unanimously passed the House Appropriations Committee (will get a new bill number) and is now eligible for full House consideration. The bill requires the Regents universities’ athletic departments to reimburse the state general fund for an award or judgment on a claim relating to the conduct or actions of an employee of an athletic department. The bill applies retroactively to January 1, 2023. There is no Senate companion bill.
SF 507 – GOVERNOR BILL BANNING PUBLIC FUND INVESTMENT IN ESG COMPANIES. The Senate passed the bill 33-16 on March 7. The House amended and passed the bill this week by a vote of 63-34. It now returns to the Senate for consideration of the House amendment. The bill restricts the Regents and other public retirement funds from contracting with certain companies engaged in non-pecuniary social investment or a boycott of certain companies (limiting investments in the fossil fuel, timber, mining, production agriculture, firearms, firearm parts, firearm accessories, or ammunition companies). Non-pecuniary social investment is defined as investment or commitment of public funds to further environmental, social, governance, political, or ideological interests without a reasonable business purpose. Requires the maintenance of a list of scrutinized companies involved in investments. Includes reporting requirements.
SF 514 STATE GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION. The bill received final approval by the House this week, by a vote of 58 to 39; the bill will now get enrolled and be sent to the Governor for her signature. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 34 to 15 on March 7th. The bill reorganizes all of state government and merges certain state departments. For UNI, this affects our Governor’s STEM Advisory Committee employees; the bill moves the agency to under the Department of Education.
Upcoming Dates
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.