Here are update notes on legislation that the Governor has now completed his actions upon. The underlined bill numbers should work as a live weblink for you to see the bill text.

MISC bills of interest:

On May 22, the Governor signed into law, HF 826 relating to the comprehensive recycling planning task force. Note that on page 2, line 35, I was able to get Sierra Club added as a task force member.

HF 722 relating to regulation of certain conservation and recreation activities under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources, modifying fees, establishing an upland game bird study advisory committee, making penalties applicable, and providing an immediate effective date, was signed on May 22. NOTE again that on page 29, line 31, I had added Sierra Club as a member of the upland game bird study advisory committee.

HJR 1 joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa to dedicate a portion of state revenue from the tax imposed on certain retail sales of tangible personal property and services for the benefit of the state's natural resources. The is the proposed constitutional amendment (not requiring a Governor’s signature) which will now be on the ballot in 2010, and was passed early in the Session.

On May 4, the Governor had signed SF 151 relating to railway assistance and passenger rail service, including provisions for the administration of the railway revolving loan and grant fund, the elimination of the railway finance authority, and the administration of the passenger rail service revolving fund. A very good initiative toward future passenger rail.

SF 482 an act relating to programs administered by the commission on volunteer service by establishing Iowa summer youth corps and green corps programs and other provisions. I thought you might be interested in this one!

FLOOD RESPONSE bills:

On April 20, the Governor had signed HF 468, an act creating an unsewered community revolving loan program and fund. This was passed especially in response to the catastrophic floods of last summer.

HF 75 9 requiring counties and cities with flood hazard areas within their boundaries to participate in the national flood insurance program and requiring preparation of a flood insurance report by commissioner of insurance was signed by the Governor on May 22. This is very important from our viewpoint of course.

SF 339 relating to wastewater treatment. This bill is significant to enabling and assisting communities to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities, as highlighted by the affects of the devastating floods of last summer.

APPROPRIATIONS bills:

HF 820 relating to state and local financial matters by revising certain appropriations and appropriating federal funds made available from federal block grants, federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding, and other federal grants, allocating portions of federal block grants, and providing procedures if federal funds are more or less than anticipated or if federal block grants are more or less than anticipated, and including effective and retroactive applicability date provisions. This is the bill allocating the Federal Stimulus Funding. There is much in it relating to water quality and energy efficiency, and other environmental, conservation and natural resource issues.

HF 822 relating to and making, reducing, and transferring appropriations to state departments and agencies from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund, the technology reinvestment fund, and other funds creating and funding the Iowa flood center, providing for related matters, and providing effective and retroactive applicability date provisions. This bill also has significant funding for water quality and other environmental, conservation and natural resource matters. This is where the Environment First Fund appropriating happens annually.

SF 376 creating an Iowa jobs program, an Iowa jobs board, and Iowa jobs fund, authorizing the issuance of bonds, including the issuance of tax-exempt bonds, making and revising appropriations, and providing an effective date. This was a major part of the Governor’s bonding proposal and contains funding for projects relating to a broad range of infrastructure enhancement and replacement, including drinking water and wastewater, bridges, schools, and other facilities.

SF 467 making appropriations involving state government, by providing for agriculture, natural resources, and environmental protection. This is the annual appropriations bill for the operations of the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. We follow this one very closely each year!

ENERGY Bills:

As you will note, this was a significant area of achievement this Session, albeit not necessarily bold and broad.

HF 810 providing for the establishment of small wind innovation zones, providing for the applicability of tax credits, and including effective and retroactive applicability date provisions. This is an excellent community-based small wind initiative!

HF 817 relating to the research activities tax credit for innovative renewable energy generation components and making an appropriation and providing applicability date provisions.

SF 279 provides for the establishment of an abbreviated electric transmission franchise process. This provisions allows for upgrading of current lines in current rights of way, to new technology. It was a non-con.

SF 452 directing the office of energy independence to establish a community grant program for energy efficiency projects, and allocating appropriated amounts for purposes of funding the program. This was a primary interest bill for Sierra Club, and took a long time for legislators to actually develop. It establishes energy efficiency initiatives.

SF 456 modifying provisions applicable to facilities qualifying for wind energy production and renewable energy tax credits and including effective and retroactive applicability date provisions. This bill extends and expands the tax credits program for wind & renewable energy. Good bill.

SF 471 relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy, including allocating appropriated amounts from the Iowa power fund to fund tax credits for innovative renewable energy generation components, transferring authority over specified energy-related measures and programs from the department of natural resources to the office of energy independence, providing transition provisions relating to the transfer of authority. This was perhaps the major energy bill of the Session. It restructures the state energy programs, and focuses the direction of Iowa energy policy.

MANURE bills:

He had of course already signed HF 735 providing for the stockpiling of dry manure originating from confinement feeding operations, making penalties applicable, April 2.

As I reported earlier, the Governor did sign SF 432, the Liquid Manure on Frozen Ground Bill, yesterday.

NOTE:

These are the most relevant bills of interest to our Chapter over the 2009 Session. I am sure there may have been others of minor interest I might have included, or even others that individuals in the Club would have an interest in. The weblink for the complete listing of Enrolled Bills (so bills that went to the Governor) with bill numbers, titles and live links to the bill, as this one: 2009 Just click the underlined year to see the list.

I wanted to get this to you right away, as I leave town for 2 ½ weeks tomorrow. We will be attending graduation in Colorado Springs, then camping, hiking, photographing and generally r’n’r’ing in Grand Canyon, and the canyonlands parks of southern Utah, returning on June 16 or so.

Lyle