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2022 SESSION UPDATE - JAN 26, 2022
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TOURISM LEGISLATIVE NIGHT 2022
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Iowa Travel Industry Partners gathered statewide partners for Tourism Legislative Night with Iowa’s elected officials on January 18, 2022. Conversations taking place at Wooly’s in Downtown Des Moines focused on the importance of tourism to Iowa’s economy. Bipartisan members of the Iowa Senate and Iowa House of Representatives attended the event with industry professionals.
Tourism Legislative Night was hosted in partnership with multiple statewide tourism associations and organizations, including the Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, the Field of Dreams, RAGBRAI, Iowa Restaurant Association, Iowa Gaming Association, Iowa Golf Council, and Iowa Bicycle Coalition with support by Travel Dubuque, Experience Waterloo, Catch Des Moines, and Visit Quad Cities. iTIP is committed to forming a united front with collaboration essential to continued growth of the industry.
 
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The tourism and hospitality industry was decimated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry is starting to see some recovery, but much work is still left to be done. Increased tourism investment will lead to a healthier economy and a strong workforce for the entire state. The following initiatives will assist with the recovery of the hospitality industry. Learn more on the website.
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Iowa Elected Officials are currently in week 3 of the 2022 Legislative Session. Members are continuing to work hard in order to get bills introduced ahead of the first funnel on February 18. Both chambers have introduced fewer bills this session than last year; at this point in the session last year, the two chambers had introduced more than 550 bills and study bills. So far, the two chambers have combined for only about 300 bill introductions.
The Governor's tax relief plan has been released. Governor Reynolds laid out her comprehensive tax relief plan during the Condition of the State, but more details and fiscal implications are now available in House Study Bill 551.
The Legislature is also prioritizing child care for Iowa families. To build off of the priorities Governor Reynolds outlined in her Condition of the State, the Legislature brought forward three bills (HSB 510, HSB 511, and HSB 539) based on the report to improve access to child care for working families. Many of these recommendations look to provide flexibilities to parents and providers that reduce regulations and align Iowa’s child care regulations with the majority of other states.
The Senate welcomed Senator David Rowley, who replaces Senator Whiting in Senate District 1. The Senate remains at 32 Republicans and 18 Democrats. The House added two new members, Rep. John Dunwell (R – Newton) and Rep. Mike Bousselot (R – Ankney), with Republicans flipping a seat previously held by the Democrats making the split 60 republicans to 40 democrats.
Representative Prichard, who was first elected in a special election in 2013, announced that he will retire at the end of session. Prichard served as the House Minority Leader for three years. Representative Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights was chosen by her caucus to serve as the new Minority Leader. Konfrst is the first woman to lead the Iowa House Democratic caucus. Republican leadership in the House and Senate remains unchanged with Senator Jack Whitver (R-Ankeny) serving as Majority Leader, Senator Jake Chapman (R- Adel) serving as Senate President, Representative Pat Grassley (R – New Hartford) serving as House Speaker and Rep. Matt Windshitl (R – Missouri Valley) serving as Majority Leader.
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Enhance Iowa's Sports Tourism Program will provide financial assistance for projects that market or promote sporting events in Iowa. Eligible sporting events include professional, collegiate and amateur level sporting events that occur in Iowa. Promotion/marketing activity can occur for up to two years.
Cities, Counties, and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for funding for new events or new campaigns (organizations receiving Regional Sports Authority District (RSAD) funding are ineligible to apply.) Applications must be submitted a minimum of 90 days prior to the event, although the application timeline may be considered up to 2 years prior to the event. (Grants may overlap fiscal years.)
Applications will be accepted on the first of the month starting Feb. 1 through June 1, 2022, or until program funds are fully allocated. Awards will be considered during the Enhance Iowa Board meeting the following month, if no questions are posed by Board members or IEDA staff during application review.
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COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT CHANGES
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Changes below reflect the addition of three new members to the Legislature. A full list of committee assignments can be found here.
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SENATE APPROPRIATIONS
Mathis replaces Hogg
SENATE COMMERCE
Giddens replaces Lykam as Ranking Member
Lykam replaces Wahls
Nunn replaces Whiting
SENATE ETHICS
Mathis replaces Hogg
SENATE HUMAN RESOURCES
Rowley replaces Carlin
SENATE JUDICIARY
Rowley replaces Whiting
SENATE JUDICIARY
Dickey replaces Whiting as Chair
Rowley & Jeff Taylor replace Brown & Koelker
SENATE JUDICIARY
Rowley replaces Whiting
SENATE RULES
Brown replaces Whiting
SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT
Brown replaces Whiting
SENATE TRANSPORTATION
Dickey replaces Shipley as Vice-Chair
J Smith replaces Giddens as Ranking Member
Shipley replaces Kraayenbrink
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS
Lofgren replaces Carlin as Chair
SENATE WAYS & MEANS
Dickey, Goodwin & Zaun replace Carlin, Driscoll & Whiting
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Koelker replaces Lofgren as Chair
SENATE TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE & CAPITALS
Driscoll replaces Whiting as Vice-Chair
Rowley replaces Driscoll
HOUSE ADMINISTRATION & REGULATION
Bergan replaces Landon as Chair
Dunwell replaces Bergan as Vice Chair
Steckman replaces Nielsen
HOUSE AGRICULTURE
Prichard replaces Steckman as Ranking Member
Bohannan replaces Breckenridge
HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
McConkey replaces Ehlert
HOUSE EDUCATION
Ehlert replaces Winckler as Ranking Member
Winckler replaces Williams
HOUSE AGRICULTURE
B. Meyer replaces Anderson as Ranking Member
Anderson replaces Wilburn
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HOUSE ADMINISTRATION
Cahill, Gjerde & Konfrst replace B Meyer, Mascher & Prichard
HOUSE AGRICULTURE
Gjerde replaces Judge as Ranking Member
Prichard replaces Breckenridge
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Bergan replaces Landon
Oldson replaces Hall as Ranking Member Mascher & Prichard
HOUSE COMMERCE
Bousselot replaces Cisneros as Vice-Chair
Cisneros replaces Landon
Judge replaces Oldson as Ranking Member
HOUSE ECONOMIC GROWTH
Bousselot replaces Wills
Staed replaces Bennett as Ranking Member
Williams replaces Kurth
HOUSE EDUCATION
Steckman replaces R Smith as Ranking Member
Gjerde & Staed replace Donahue & Winckler
HOUSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Jacoby replaces Bohannan
HOUSE JUDICIARY
Anderson & Prichard replace Bohannan & Oldson
HOUSE LABOR
Bousselot replaces Bloomingdale
HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Siegrist replaces Cisneros as Vice-Chair
Dunwell replaces Gustafson
TBD replaces Landon (the committee has one open Republican position)
Donahue replaces Oldson
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES
Bohannan replaces Breckenridge
HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY
Kressig replaces Breckenridge as Ranking Member
Gaines replaces Kressig
HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT
Kurth & Winckler replaces Bohannan & Konfrst
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
Dunwell replaces Landon
Hansen replaces Kressig as Ranking Member
Prichard replaces Konfrst
HOUSE VETERANS AFFAIRS
Cahill replaces Wilburn as Ranking Member
Bohannan replaces Breckenridge
HOUSE WAYS & MEANS
Winckler replaces Brown Powers
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The full 2022 legislative calendar can be found here.
Below are the key dates of interest.
JANUARY 10 – First day of session (Iowa Code Sec. 2.1)
JANUARY 11 - Governors Condition of the State Address
FEBRUARY 18 – Final date for Senate bills and joint resolutions to be reported out of Senate committees and House bills and joint resolutions out of House committees (First Funnel)
MARCH 18 – Final date for Senate bills and joint resolutions to be reported out of House committees and House bills and joint resolutions out of Senate committees (Second Funnel)
APRIL 19 – 100th calendar day of the session (Per diem expenses end)
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