The Iowa Legislature will kick off the 2021 legislative session of the 89th Iowa General Assembly on Jan. 11. Several readers have asked what the Legislature is focusing on this session amid COVID-19 recovery, and what priorities have been set forth by elected officials and groups supporting agriculture.

This column focuses on a few key issues that appear to be on the forefront and takes a look-ahead at what surely will be a unique legislative session following 2020’s COVID-19 mid-session suspension.

Though commodity groups are holding their annual meetings virtually this year due to restrictions on gatherings, there are still many issues that need to be discussed, and the commodity groups are diligently prioritizing legislative priorities post-election.

Focusing on rural issues

Economic recovery and rural issues, including internet broadband expansion and child care reform, appear to be key to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ legislative priorities for 2021. Recently, the Greater Des Moines Partnership announced its legislative priorities, and many of those priorities are important to agriculture in the state.

The organization will advocate for expanding access to affordable broadband in both rural and urban areas of the state through a number of avenues, including private investment, as well as supporting education, small business, health care, agriculture and the quickly changing workforce. Expanded access to affordable child care and supporting policies are key to the health of the rural workforce, according to the governor.

Livestock producers and commodity groups are focused on animal disease research and COVID-19 relief.

Of course, retaining and not expanding the existing regulatory framework for the livestock industry is a top priority for livestock producers and all commodity groups. Foreign animal disease research, preparedness, and prevention and its funding remains a top priority for livestock producers.

Financial recovery from volatile markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is a high priority this session for all producers. The 2020 virtual Iowa Farm Bureau annual meeting series featured speakers that focused on the lessons learned through COVID-19, from supply chain disruptions and the economics surrounding it to what the future of ag may look like moving forward.

Insight on other issues

Water quality, soil health and legislative funding for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy remains a priority for Iowa’s agricultural leaders. Several proposals are being discussed for additional funding sources, and we will monitor that issue closely, along with the legislative funding stream for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Ag commodity groups generally support passage of the Invest in Iowa proposal, which would fund Iowa’s Natural Resource and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund (IWILL) and provide support for the mental health system in Iowa. It remains to be seen what momentum there will be after the pandemic is over.

As always, taxes and how to provide tax relief to farmers will be widely discussed among legislators, including protecting critical tax credits, such as Section 179 and biofuels credits. Last session’s tax reform efforts were hindered by COVID-19 and the financial impact of the pandemic.

Also, the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association will continue to support legislative efforts to obtain and increase funding for biofuels infrastructure and usage.

This year’s timeline

To keep on pace to finish the session in 110 days, the Legislature sets two self-imposed “funnel” deadlines. The first deadline is March 5, when Senate bills must be reported out of Senate committees and House bills must be reported out of House committees. The second deadline is April 2, when Senate bills must be reported out of House committees and House bills must be reported out of Senate committees. The session is scheduled to end on April 30, although it is not uncommon for the session to be extended to finalize work.

In short, any bill that is introduced that does not pass in its committee of origin prior to the first funnel deadline is deemed “dead” and does not progress, thus limiting the number of bills the Legislature has to deal with in the session. It’s important to note that appropriations, ways and means, and oversight bills are not subject to the funnel deadlines. Policy bills that contain spending or taxing provisions that passed the policy committees move on to appropriation, or ways and means committees for review.

In next month’s Legal Issues column, we will continue to provide updates on bills introduced this session, their status, and potential effect on farms and farm families. Stay tuned for new legal developments and answers to reader questions next month. The information contained in this article is current as of Dec. 15. For more information on any of the bills introduced in the session, visit legis.iowa.gov.

Herbold-Swalwell is an attorney with Brick-Gentry in Des Moines. Email [email protected].