April 10, 2024 (Wright County, Iowa)
The Wright County Farm Bureau hosted a town hall meeting for Iowa Senator Guth and Representatives Latham and Thompson last Friday. Wright County residents welcomed the trio at the Clarion Public Library. The moderator opened the floor to questions from townspeople at the opening of the meeting.
Betty Ellis, Wright County Supervisor hopeful and County Auditor, shared her struggle with the new system requiring letters to be sent regarding the tax levy. “Truth in taxation is very important, but there are better ways to do so.” Representative Latham requested Ellis’ time to review a few ideas to better present this information to the public.
Guth shared that the Senate has passed “over 30 bills and confirmed about 140 governor appointees to various boards and committees”. Senate File 2401, recently revamped and passed, is aimed at supporting farmers by adjusting the Grain Indemnity Fund thresholds, according to Guth. The fund, which acts as insurance for grain farmers storing grain at elevators, was created in 1986.
The fees are waived if the fund exceeds $8 million but reinstated if it falls below $3 million. The bill, Senate File 2401, proposes adjusting these thresholds to $12 million and $5 million, while also extending coverage to credit sale contracts.
Guth shared the news that Senate File 2412 was passed. This file clarifies that manufacturers cannot be sued for the EPA-mandated labels on their agricultural products. Despite claims during the Senate debate, this bill does not prevent lawsuits if a product, like one used to control weed, causes harm. It protects manufacturers from complying with federal labeling laws regulated by the EPA, according to Guth. A local citizen questioned the lax wording of the bill, with no simple answer being provided by Guth.
Guth proudly announced the signing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by Governor Reynolds, a culmination of his and other senators’ seven-year effort. The Act strengthens protections for religious freedom in line with state and federal constitutions, according to Guth.
Representative Shannon Latham shared her excitement regarding the passage of Senate File 2391. The legislation will require “lab-grown meat” to be labeled as such. Latham then touched on the passage of House File 2612 after prompting from attendees.
It was originally proposed to redirect state and federal special education funding from AEAs to public school districts. Latham shared she was against the original bill and was happier with the amended legislation. The new legislation keeps 90 percent of school district's special education funding going to AEAs after initial allocation to districts, starting in the second year of implementation. Districts would control the other 10 percent of special education funds.
Supervisor hopeful Greg Schipull questioned if any bills regarding the constitutionality of eminent domain use had been passed in recent sessions. The conversation spread to File 2261, Iowa’s impaired waterways, funding for state parks and their workers, and citizen Oversight committees for the Iowa Department of Land Stewardship.
Eric Rector stated of recent state budgets, “The state parks got zero increases again and haven’t had an increase in their budget for the last five years. They’re 100 million dollars behind in infrastructure in the state parks. And they’ve got their same 12 million dollars.”
Rector voiced his concern regarding urban sprawl and the lack of legislation addressing the issue. “That [urban sprawl] has not raised its head at all this year,” shared Representative Thompson of recent legislation at the capital.
The suggestion was made to offer the land to the county or DNR instead of corporations buying up farmers' land to combat the issue of sprawl. The Wright County Farm Bureau moderator closed the town hall meeting at 2:30, thanking the politicians for their time.
