Bills die and remain alive after first funnel

Babbling Brooks Column
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     Last Friday was the first funnel in Des Moines.

     This means that bills that failed to gain approval in their respective committees in either the Iowa House or Senate are declared “dead.”

     Hundreds of bills died as of Friday, while some controversial bills are still “alive” until the next funnel cycle.

     Here is a breakdown of some of the bills that the House and Senate will no longer discussion this session:

     Senate File (SF) 335 would have reinstated the death penalty in Iowa for those offenders who commit and are found guilty of the multiple-offense of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and rape.

     SF289 would have increased the speed limit on Iowa’s interstates to 75 mph.

     House File (HF) 282 and SF156 would have raised the statewide minimum hourly wage, as well as increased the threshold for tipped employees. As a former waitress and bartender in high school and college, forcing patrons to tip more than a quarter for a bowl of soup and a cup of coffee is needed!

     HF286 would have required motorcyclists to wear safety helmets in Iowa. This has been up for debate several times in Des Moines. Apparently people don’t see it as a need law, or get strong support for or against its passing.

     SF249 and SF261 deals with smoke-free casinos in Iowa. Right now, state-licensed casinos are exempt from the state’s Smoke-Free Air Act. These bills would have pushed for all casinos to be smoke-free, eliminating the exemption.

     SF31, mandating school uniforms in public schools, clearly received no support.

     HF206 and SF168 was less controversial than other bills. If passed, they would have established a year-round Central Standard Time zone in Iowa. For those who travel out of state, this could be an issue and take some adjusting to get used to.

     HF81 would have repealed the state’s declaration that English is the official language in Iowa. We are a melting pot state. We have people from all over the world moving to Iowa, attending our colleges and universities, finding work at our top-notch hospitals. While I believe those coming from other nations should try to learn English to communicate better with the masses, we also need to work with them to assimilate into our society.

     SF29 and HF80 would have allowed the state to establish education savings accounts to assist those families looking to attend private schools or to home school their children.

     This might create some awkwardness, but I am against this bill, and glad it failed. While every parents has the right to chose where they send their children to get the best education possible, I feel taxpayers should not support sending kids to private schools.

     And if passed, I am sure those private schools would have had to abide by some new rules and regulations set by the state, attached to the funding. That would take some adjusting as well.

     HF229 would have eliminated the state-licensing requirement for hundreds of processionals in Iowa: cosmetologists, physical therapists, social workers, and more and more. This would have been more trouble for the state if it had passed.

     HF86 intended to bar state university football games on Fridays. Now that bill is just silly! Which representative wasted his/her time brining this suggestion to the floor?

     SF288, a bill I am glad to see set aside, would have required political balance among professors at Iowa universities. If you read my column in last week’s Express, you’ll get my take on this nonsense of a bill. What’s next, political balance in the workplace?

     Now, here is a look, good or bad, at the bills that are still alive in the Iowa House and Senate:

     SF220, if passed, will ban traffic cameras in the state. A related bill, SF196, will look to establish state regulations concerning traffic cameras, what can and cannot be used against the driver who commits a crime (speeding).

     SF236, which has been debated the last few years in Iowa, would legalize the sale of consumer fireworks. I don’t have any strong feelings either way. I do know it would boost the state’s economy a bit, keeping Iowans here to purchase their fireworks versus going out of state to do so.

     SF2 would put an end to state funds going to Planned Parenthood clinics. A controversial bill that is being debated all over the country, even in Washington.

     Related bills, SF234 and SF407/HF139, would place texting while driving under a primary offense and ban the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving. We all know that texting or using your cell phone for any other purpose than making a call is dangerous, but banning the use of cell phones altogether seems a bit dramatic. That means it would be illegal to make a phone call while driving or even talk on your phone, unless you’re using a hands-free device such as Bluetooth. What’s next, no eating while driving?

     SF53 plans to establish “life” at 20 weeks, barring a woman from getting an abortion after the fact. I can see some uprising from this bill for sure.

     HF163 could hurt such businesses as Advancement Services of Jones County. This bill would repeal the sate’s 5-cent deposit on all carbonated beverages and more. Redemption centers would cease to exist because why take your bottles and cans to a center if you can’t get money back in return for recycling? And I think we’ll start to see more and more litter lining our roadways and ditches, too. They may want to rethink this bill in Des Moines…

     HF164 will extend access to marijuana-derived cannabis oil for treating epilepsy. I am 100 percent on board with this bill! I have an uncle who suffers from epilepsy. He has tried every prescribed medication under the sun, even experimental treatments, and not much seems to work. He had outpatient surgery on his brain to lessen the affects of epilepsy, but I think the use of marijuana could help those with epilepsy as well.

     HF52 is much like HF86. HF52 would legalize fantasy sports activities in the State of Iowa. I am surprised this is still going strong in the House. Perhaps there are those representatives who enjoy participating in a fantasy football league or are feeling the pressure from their constituents. Either way, it’s funny.

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