Mar 05, 2021

This Week at the Statehouse – Week 8

The Legislature’s first funnel deadline ended today, March 5. We now know which policy bills are still alive and which ones have died. As a reminder, this does not apply to tax, spending and government oversight bills.

Here is a list of the major bills we’re tracking that directly impact UNI:

Alive

  • SF 478 Free Speech, includes language that mandatory staff or student training does not teach, advocate, act upon, or promote divisive concepts (race and sex stereotyping) – on Senate Calendar
  • HF 744 Free Speech (on House Calendar)
  • HSB 258 Mandatory staff or student training does not teach, advocate, act upon, or promote divisive concepts (race and sex stereotyping) (will get a new bill number when placed on the House Calendar)
  • SF 402 Big Tech Companies Censorship – bill was amended that tax incentive contracts will be severed if they have been found to violate by a court; for the Regents institutions, the language says we may sever the contracts but are not required to do so (will get a new bill number when placed on the Senate Calendar)
  • SF 183 Prohibits Design Build; allows construction manager at risk – passed Senate, on House Calendar

Alive but no action anticipated and believe will become ineligible at the Second Funnel (April 2) 

  • HF 496 Tenure – on House Calendar
  • SF 245 Name Image Likeness for college student-athletes – on Senate Calendar

Ineligible for further action as of the First Funnel (March 5)

  • SF 41 Senate’s Tenure bill
  • HSB 246 In Person Commencement
  • HSB 199 Publishing Syllabi on website for two years
  • HF 343 Weapons on Campus
  • HF 153 Public Policy Events Director
  • HF 222 Reduces appropriations if use 1619 Project as part of history curriculum
  • HF 399 Common Course Numbering
  • HSB 162 Prohibits requiring students and employees to wear masks and social distance while off campus
  • HSB 66 Regent Spending of nonstate dollars requires Act of the General Assembly
  • HF 166 Research Sponsorship Disclosure
  • SF 292 Regent Survey of Political Party

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