Rep. Christian Hermanson of Mason City tours new Iowa State vet lab

The following is a legislative update from State Representative Christian Hermanson (R–Mason City), representing District 59 – the eastern half of Cerro Gordo county – in the Iowa Legislature:

Week 14 of session is in the books (and week 15 getting underway):

AT-EASE North Iowa!

As we reflect on the Easter season and the hope it brings, we also mourn the loss of a global spiritual leader. This morning, news broke that Pope Francis has passed away. For approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, including many here in North Iowa, he was a symbol of humility, compassion, and service. His legacy reminds us that leadership rooted in faith and love for others can leave a profound mark on the world.

This Easter, I’ve been reminded of the values that sustain our families and communities – faith, family, and service. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve House District 59 with those principles in mind and hope your family found time for peace, reflection, and renewal during the holiday.

I’m also excited to share some positive news for our local economy. The Iowa Economic Development Authority recently approved funding through its Manufacturing 4.0 Technology Investment Program for 33 manufacturers across the state. This program helps small and mid-sized companies adopt smart technologies that improve productivity and keep Iowa manufacturing competitive. Right here in Mason City, Dimensional Graphics Corp received $74,000 in grant funding to support a $148,000 project aimed at modernizing their operations. These kinds of investments not only strengthen local businesses but help secure good-paying jobs in North Iowa.

This past week, the Iowa House advanced a slate of bipartisan legislation, including Senate File 619, which passed overwhelmingly 91–1. This important bill strengthens how our state prepares for and recovers from natural disasters, making Iowa more resilient in the face of future storms and floods.

SF619 includes several forward-looking reforms:

Creates a Natural Hazard Mitigation Loan Fund to help communities invest in flood protection and critical emergency infrastructure.

Expands Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance for Iowans forced from their homes by severe weather.

Establishes a New Housing Recovery Program to accelerate rebuilding efforts in disaster-affected areas.

Cracks down on bad actors in the insurance industry by adding new consumer protections for homeowners.

Modernizes licensing and oversight of insurance adjusters to ensure fair treatment for Iowans after a loss.

This is a smart, commonsense investment in Iowa’s long-term security, and I am proud to have supported it.

LEGISLATIVE WORK:

Monday, the 14th

• Met with House District 59 Public School Administrators

Tuesday, the 15th

Floor Debate

• HF 979 – A bill for an act relating to vehicles operating with a permit for excessive size or weight, and providing fees.
  • Pass: Yes: 92 | No: 0 | Excused: 8
• HF 876 as amended – A bill for an act providing for the disclosure of lead service lines in real estate disclosures.
  • Pass: Yes: 94 | No: 0 | Excused: 6
• HF 805 as amended – A bill for an act relating to the practice of dental assistants without registration by the dental board.
  • Pass: Yes: 61 | No: 32 | Excused: 7
• SF 427 – A bill for an act relating to requirements for licensure as a professional land surveyor.
  • Pass: Yes: 94 | No: 0 | Excused: 6
• SF 574 – A bill for an act relating to retention of fees for public improvement contracts.
  • Pass: Yes: 90 | No: 4 | Excused: 6
• HF 806 as amended – A bill for an act relating to peer review committees and organ procurement organizations.
  • Pass: Yes: 93 | No: 0 | Excused: 7
• HF 919 as amended – A bill for an act relating to children’s specialty hospital designations for certain nonprofit organizations, and including effective date provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 93 | No: 0 | Excused: 7
• HF 969 as amended – A bill for an act concerning retirement contributions of and benefits associated with cancer diagnoses of members of certain public retirement systems, and including effective date provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 94 | No: 0 | Excused: 6

Wednesday, the 16th

Ways & Means Committee

• HF 110 – A bill for an act excluding overtime pay from the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1

• HF 211 – A bill for an act creating a radon mitigation system tax credit available against the individual and corporate income taxes, and including retroactive applicability provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1

• HF 268 – A bill for an act exempting cash tips from the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1
• HF 962 – A bill for an act modifying the child and dependent care credit available against the individual income tax, and including retroactive applicability provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1

• HF 963 – A bill for an act exempting the sale of laundry soap or detergent from the sales tax.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1

• HF 964 – A bill for an act exempting the sale of toilet paper from the sales tax.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1

• HF 965 – A bill for an act relating to the adoption tax credit available against the individual income tax, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1
• HF 966 – A bill for an act exempting the sale of dietary supplements from the sales tax.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1
• HF 967 – A bill for an act relating to benefits and contributions for members of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system who are employed in a protection occupation. (Formerly HSB 265.)
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1
• HSB 233  – A bill for an act relating to the applicability of actions of certain international organizations.
  • Pass: Yes:  | No:  | Excused: 1
• HSB 270 – A bill for an act relating to the historic preservation tax credit available against the individual and corporate income taxes, the franchise tax, and the insurance premiums tax.
  • Pass: Yes: 24 | No: 0 | Excused: 1
• HSB 225 – A bill for an act providing for regulation of certain noncoal mine sites, including the reclamation of land above active underground mine sites disturbed by the formation of sinkholes, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 16 | No: 8 | Excused: 1
• HF 328 – A bill for an act relating to county recorder fees and land record information systems management.
  • Pass: Yes: 16 | No: 8 | Excused: 1

Thursday, the 17th

Floor Debate

• HF 994 – A bill for an act concerning quarterly reporting on and payments of beer barrel and wine gallonage taxes, and including effective date provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 92 | No: 0 | Excused: 8
• HF 1000 – A bill for an act providing for the establishment of a veterans service organization grant program, and making appropriations.
  • Pass: Yes: 92 | No: 0 | Excused: 8
• HF 165 as amended / SF 369 – A bill for an act requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas.
  • Pass: Yes: 60 | No: 33 | Excused: 7
• SF 277 – A bill for an act modifying provisions related to compulsory education, truancy, and chronic absenteeism.
  • Pass: Yes: 93 | No: 0 | Excused: 7
• HF 1008 as amended – A bill for an act relating to the creation of land redevelopment trusts.
  • Pass: Yes: 92 | No: 1 | Excused: 7
• HF 512 / SF 398 as amended – A bill for an act relating to closing costs for a debt secured by an interest in land.
  • Pass: Yes: 93 | No: 0 | Excused: 7
• HJR 9 / SJR 9 – A resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of a accused to confront children and other witnesses.
  • Pass: Yes: 87 | No: 6 | Excused: 7
• HF 641 as amended / SF 311 – A bill for an act relating to city civil service employees and related procedures and including effective date provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 81 | No: 12 | Excused: 7
• HF 996 – A bill for an act providing a sales tax exemption for the furnishing of parking facilities services.
  • Pass: Yes: 74 | No: 19 | Excused: 7
• HF 901 as amended – A bill for an act relating to the law enforcement academy, including military veterans with active duty military police experience and former federal law enforcement officers.
  • Pass: Yes: 92 | No: 0 | Excused: 8
• HF 990 as amended – A bill for an act relating to the licensure of medical cannabidiol dispensaries.
  • Pass: Yes: 90 | No: 2 | Excused: 8
• HF 992 – A bill for an act relating to the fee for duplicates or other evidence of interstate fuel use tax permits or licenses.
  • Pass: Yes: 88 | No: 4 | Excused: 8
• HF 995 – A bill for an act relating to the issuance of a medical cannabidiol registration card to a person who is not a resident of Iowa.
  • Pass: Yes: 91 | No: 1 | Excused: 8
• HF 989 as amended – A bill for an act relating to animal feeding operations, by providing for the regulation of anaerobic digester systems, providing fees, making penalties applicable, and including effective date and applicability provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 79 | No: 13 | Excused: 8
• HF 391 / SF 175 as amended – A bill for an act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curriculum provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve.
  • Pass: Yes: 60 | No: 30 | Excused: 10
• HF 148 – A bill for an act relating to special landowner turkey hunting licenses.
  • Pass: Yes: 86 | No: 4 | Excused: 10
• HF 841 / SF 423 as amended – A bill for an act relating to the purchasing of a youth deer hunting license and tag.
  • Pass: Yes: 85 | No: 6 | Excused: 9
• HF 1012 / SF 619 – A bill for an act relating to the natural hazard mitigation financing program, the disaster recovery housing assistance program, the disaster recovery new housing program, post-loss assignment of benefits, the licensing and regulation of adjusters, appraisers, and umpires, and the Iowa economic emergency fund, and provisions.
  • Pass: Yes: 91 | No: 1 | Excused: 8

(TOP PHOTO: “I had the chance this week to tour Phase 1 of the new, world-class Iowa State University – College of Veterinary Medicine – Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory with Rep. Tom Determann. As members of the Iowa House Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) Appropriations Committee, we’re proud to be part of a team that has directed over $80 million toward this $141.5 million project, one of the most important investments RIIF has made in Iowa agriculture. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Randy Wheeler, Executive Director of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, Rep. Tom Determann, Dr. Roger Main Professor and director of the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory. Rep. Christian Hermanson, and Mr. Steven Kruse, Iowa State University Alumni and HD59 constituent. Not pictured, Dr. David Schmitt, State Veterinarian from 2008 to 2019.”)