WEEK #17 May 5th-May 9th

SF 627 (SF 165) Length of Service award Program (LOSAP) (REGISTERED FOR)
Allows cities, townships and other government bodies to establish LOS programs for
volunteer firefighters, reserve police officers and volunteer EMS workers and to determine requirements and distributions for the programs. Fund: Creates a fund under the DOR and appropriates $1.5 million to the fund from sports wagering receipts. Allows the DOR to make matching grants to LOS programs that do not exceed $300 per participant. Establishes annual appropriations to bring the fund up to $1.5 million. Bill approved out of drafting and numbered PASSED Senate Appropriations subcommittee 3-0, now moves to full Senate Approps committee. Date TBD 4/15 PASSED THE FULL APPROPS COMMITTEE-now to the floor for debate
NO ACTION THIS WEEK

→ HF 1002 (HF 755) is the House companion bill for LOSAP Public Safety (REGISTERED FOR) A bill for an act establishing length of service award programs for volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers, making appropriations, and including effective provisions.
2/20 PASSED sub 3-0, now to full Public Safety Committee
PASSED FULL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
ASSIGNED TO APPROPS SUB: Blom, Latham, and Nielson
Passed approps sub 3-0
4/9 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE-IT IS NOW READY FOR FLOOR ACTION - renumbered HF 1002
PASSED HOUSE FLOOR-SENT TO THE SENATE

HF 702 (HF 44) Expansion of Fireworks: Public Safety, Gustoff/Gearhardt/Gjerde (REGISTERED AGAINST)
This bill allows companies who have a store location to sell fireworks year round and it also adds another day/time when it is legal to shoot off fireworks. The added date is on election day.
Passed in subcommittee - we are registered AGAINST this bill. PASSED IN FULL COMMITTEE WITH AMENDMENT Placed on calendar under unfinished business.
Passed full committee 2/28 Placed on calendar under unfinished business.
NO ACTION THIS WEEK-THIS BILL IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO THE FLOOR ON MONDAY MAY 12TH. IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE WITH YOUR CONCERNS.

SF 303 FIREWORKS ORDINANCES (Local Gov) Westrich (C), Sires, Weiner (REGISTERED AGAINST)
Strikes the power of county supervisors or city councils to limit the use and
display of consumer fireworks in July or December. 

2/12/25 PASSED subcommittee potentially with an amendment adding certain locations to be exempt and that a burn ban would supersede this law.
2/12/25 Passed full Local Gov committee
Amendment filed # 3016: View here
Deferred 4/7 PASSED SENATE FLOOR DEBATE
No action this week

HF 75 Tax abatement for surviving spouse: Ways and Means - (Bossman)
Vondran, Behn, Wilson (REGISTERED FOR)
This bill authorizes the abatement of property taxes and special assessments owed on property owned by the surviving spouse of an emergency services member killed in the line of duty. Passed subcommittee, now on to full Ways and Means committee date TBD NO ACTION THIS WEEK

→ SENATE COMPANION BILL SF 609 (SF 21) Sub: Dickey, Dawson, Townsend (REGISTERED FOR) A bill for an act authorizing the abatement of property taxes owed on property owned by the surviving spouse of an emergency services member killed in the line of duty, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. Subcommittee assigned PASSED SUB 3/13 Passed Committee 3/19 - renumbered as SF 609 - Put in Ways and Means
PASSED FULL COMMITTEE
NO ACTION THIS WEEK-PUT IN WAYS AND MEANS

SF 96/SF 635 Property tax abatement for emergency services providers
A bill for an act relating to the abatement of property taxes owed on property owned by certain volunteer emergency services providers and including effective date and applicability provisions.
Introduced to Ways and Means Subcommittee assigned: Dickey, Rowley and Townsend SUB scheduled: 04/07/2025 12:30PM Room 217 Conference Room.
PASSED SUB 4/7
4/22 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE NOW IN HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

HF 297 City Emergency Services -Local Gov -Wengryn, Determan and Gosa This bill deals with city emergency services regarding holding office as a city official and volunteer firefighter or EMS provider. It also provides guidance of reserve savings 
accounts to pay for major equipment 2/6 Passed subcommittee 2/10 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE-NOW TO FLOOR PASSED HOUSE FLOOR - 3/10 - Sent to the Senate

→ SF 499/ SSB 1073 City Emergency Services This bill deals with city emergency services regarding holding office as a city official and volunteer firefighter or ems provider. It also provides guidance of reserve savings accounts to pay for major equipment Passed sub committee Passed full committee 3/3 PASSED HOUSE Messaged from the House - Ready for Senate Floor Debate Placed on calendar under unfinished business - 4/3 PASSED SENATE FLOOR DEBATE-Now to Governor

HF 793 (HF 265) - Firefighter Certification / sex offender registry. Public Safety (Dunwell) (REGISTERED FOR) Bill deems a person listed on the sex offender registry shall not be certified as a firefighter, including a volunteer firefighter. PASSED SUB 2/19 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE 3/5 - renumbered HF 793 PASSED HOUSE 3/17 - Sent to the Senate… PASSED SENATE SUB w/Shipley, Dickey & Knox - 3/25 PASSED Full Committee - 4/3 Placed on Senate debate calendar - 4/3 PASSED HOUSE PASSED SENATE-NOW TO GOVERNOR

SF 594 (SSB 1206) - Fire Service Study - Webster Local Government An Act requiring the state fire marshal to conduct a study on the consolidation of fire protection services PASSED SUB 3/6 PASSED COMMITTEE 3/6
PASSED SENATE FLOOR DEBATE - SENT TO HOUSE/SUB SCHEDULED FOR 3/31
The amendment changed the scope of work to only study the top 4 most populous counties. Sub - tabled 3/27 Passed House Sub - 3/31
Passed full committee, Local Government - 4/1 Placed on calendar - 4/1
NO ACTION THIS WEEK-ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS CALENDAR 

HF 358 Volunteer FF, EMS and Reserve Officers tax credit-
WAYS & MEANS-Rep. Jacoby
Increases the income tax credit for volunteer FF, EMS and reserve police officers to $1,000.
4/24 THIS BILL WAS OFFERED AS AN AMENDMENT TO ANOTHER BILL, HOWEVER IT WAS DECLARED “NOT GERMAINE”

HF 362 Essential EMS
Ways & Means committee Rep Jones
Designates funding EMS as an essential county purpose for bonding.
SUB met & TABLED

HF 969 (HSB 266) - Expanding Cancer Benefits This bill requires public employers to provide health care benefits that include cancer screening exams to full-time firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service providers within the first three years of a person’s employment and every three years thereafter. The bill allows a political subdivision to be reimbursed by the state for the cost of the exams up to $1,250 per eligible employee. Expands the definition of cancer for PORS and MFPRE (411) retirement systems to include more members with cancer for coverage and cancer benefits. Adds a formula for increased contribution rates for members with cancer for coverage and cancer benefits. Adds a formula for increased contribution rates for members and decreased rates for employers starting in FY 2026. PASSED SUB PASSED FULL COMMITTEE - 3/17 Renumbered to HF 969 House approved bill 96-0 and sent to Senate State Gov Passed Sub - 3/27 Passed Full Committee, State Government - 4/2 Placed on calendar - 4-2 4/9 - Passed Senate 4/15 - PASSED HOUSE FLOOR - TO THE GOVERNOR The LSA issued a fiscal impact before the House action on the floor. According to the LSA, the bill could increase the UAL by about $550,000 but an actuarial study would be needed to confirm this. In FY 2025, the contribution rates for the 411 (MFPRE) system are currently 32.21% (split 9.55% employee /22.66% employer). The employer contribution rate decreases to 22.68% in FY 2026. In later years, the employee contribution rate will probably increase to 9.56%.

→ SF 272 - Expanding Cancer Benefits This bill requires public employers to provide health care benefits that include cancer screening exams to full-time firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service providers within the first three years of a person’s employment and every three years thereafter. The bill allows a political subdivision to be reimbursed by the state for the cost of the exams up to $1,250 per eligible employee. PASSED SUB - 3/3 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE PASSED SENATE FLOOR DEBATE WITH AMENDMENT 4/10 NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT PASSED HOUSE FLOOR-ON TO THE GOVERNOR!

HF 977 (HF 941) - Expansion of ground medical emergency transportation A bill for an act relating to the expansion of the ground emergency medical transportation program. PASSED SUB 3/3 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE 3/5 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE, 3/5 -SENT TO APPROPS as HF 977 Placed on Appropriations Calendar - 3/27 4/22 PASSED HOUSE -SENT TO SENATE APPROPS 4/28 SENATE SUB COMMITTEE ASSIGNED: Costello, Warme and Donahue NO ACTION THIS WEEK

HSB 265/HF967/ HF 1063 - IPERS Dunwell, C. Johnson and Wilburn A bill for an act relating to benefits for members of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system who are employed in a protection occupation. Changes the employer/employee contribution split (employer down from 60% to 50%; employee up from 40% to 50%). Benefits: Increases the percentage for IPERS protection occupation members used to calculate additional benefits beyond 22 years of service and (from 0.375% and 12% to 0.675% and 20%). Allows early retirement at age 50. Establishes a COLA and eligibility requirements. The House State Government Committee approved the bill, and Representative Dunwell handled the bill. The bill is now in House Ways & Means. It has not been referred to subcommittee. If the bill comes out of House Ways & Means and is made into a successor bill, it will be funnel-proof. It does not have a Senate companion and will need to come out of a Senate committee as well. According to the LSA, the current actuarial accrued liability for the fund is $2.262 billion is less than the actuarial value of assets of $2.344 billion, leaving an unfunded actuarial liability of $-82.5 million. Under the bill, the actual liabilities will increase over the value of the assets, and the UAL will go to about $200 million. In addition to offering early retirement, the bill will increase the maximum benefit to 80% of the covered wage for 30 years of service and will change the employer/employee contribution split to 50-50. The contribution rate would also be increased by 7%, up from the current 15%, so with the new split, employers would pay about $10.3 million more, and employees would pay about $26 million more ($3,400 per employee). 3/4 PASSED SUBCOMMITTEE 3/6 PASSED FULL COMMITTEE Referred to Ways and Means - 3/18 03/27/2025 Fiscal note 03/26/2025 Fiscal note NEED SUB IN WAYS AND MEANS SUB assigned: Nordman, Scheetz and Young - 4/1 PASSED SUB 4/9 4/16 PASSED FULL WAYS AND MEANS-NOW TO THE FLOOR 4/22 PASSED FLOOR DEBATE-NOW TO THE SENATE 4/30 Senate Sub committee assigned: Dawson, Koelker, Townsend SUBCOMMITTEE: MAY 12TH AT 8:30 IN THE SENATE LOUNGE PLEASE NOTE……. WE ARE HEARING THAT THE SENATE WILL BE PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE IPERS BILL THE HOUSE PASSED AND SENT OVER… BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MORE PROTECTED CLASS MEMBERS IN THIS VERSION THE SENATE IS CONCERNED THE BUDGET CAN’T SUPPORT THE RETIREMENT AGE AT 50 AND WANTS TO CHANGE THE EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE COSTS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE NEED TO MAKE THESE CONCESSIONS OR THEY WILL NOT MOVE THE BILL.