SF 25 – Water treatment systems
SSB 1021 – Manufacturers of native distilled spirits, beer
SSB 1084 – Bioscience Development Corporation
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 25 – Water treatment systems
SF 25 updates current law regarding the unlawful practice of a person selling, leasing, renting or advertising a water treatment system. The bill amends the requirements so that the sale, lease, rental or advertisement of a water treatment system is not an unlawful practice if the claims and representations related to removal of health-related contaminants are certified by an organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The bill eliminates the requirements that a consumer of a water treatment system be provided the manufacturer’s performance data sheet or a consumer information pamphlet compiled by the Iowa Department of Public Health. The bill does not affect Code sections relating to the sale, lease, rental or advertisement of a water treatment system. Any fraudulent practice can be enforced under Chapter 714. The Attorney General can continue to investigate a person who may be engaged in an unlawful practice and a court may impose a civil penalty. It is an unlawful practice for a person to sell, lease, rent or advertise a water treatment system in Iowa for which false or deceptive claims or representations of removing health-related contaminants are made, or for a person to make any representation or claim that the seller’s water treatment system has been approved or endorsed by any agency of the state. In 2018, similar legislation passed the Senate but was funneled by the House.
[2/6: short form]
SSB 1021 – Manufacturers of native distilled spirits, beer
SSB 1021 relates to the authority of manufacturers of beer and native distilled spirits (Iowa Code Chapter 123). It amends the section concerning native distilleries by allowing a manufacturer of native distilled spirits to be issued a class “C” native distilled spirits liquor-control license regardless of whether the manufacturer is also a manufacturer of beer; amends the section concerning limitations on business interests to provide that a manufacturer of beer may be granted one class “B” beer permit to sell beer at retail for consumption on or off the premises of the manufacturing facility regardless of whether the manufacturer also makes native distilled spirits; and amends the section concerning keeping liquor where beer is sold to allow liquor for beverage purposes to be used or kept at a premises for which both a class “B” beer permit and class “A” native distilled spirits license have been issued. The proposal was initiated by Toppling Goliath Brewing Company in Decorah, and also supported by the Iowa Wine Growers Association. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division has no objections to the legislation, noting that it offers parity for breweries and does not change the State’s three-tier system. Those monitoring the bill include Iowa Wholesale Beer Distributors Association, Doll Distributing, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Travel Federation of Iowa, Anheuser Busch, ABI, The Wine Institute and Hy-Vee. There were no lobby declarations in opposition.
[2/6: short form]
SSB 1084 – Bioscience Development Corporation
SSB 1084 is a recommendation by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. It cleans up Code language relating to the definitions in the Targeted Small Business Program. It also replaces the Iowa Innovation Corporation, which was created in 2011, with the Iowa Bioscience Development Corporation (IBDC). This new corporation’s structure and purpose is similar to the current Iowa Innovation Corporation. The corporation is structured as a non-profit corporation. The Bioscience Development Corporation will be tasked with the responsibility of enhancing bioscience-based economic development. The corporation will focus on: vaccines and immunotherapeutics; biobased chemicals; precision and digital agriculture; and, medical devices and medical diagnostics.
The proposal changes the number of members and type of members on the Innovation Council (which is different than Innovation Corporation). The membership for those who are representatives from targeted industry businesses increases by seven members. The membership of those who serve on the Technology Commercialization Committee and then serve on the Iowa Innovation Corporation is reduced by seven members. This bill does NOT change such programs and funds as the Innovation and Commercialization Development Fund or the Strategic Infrastructure Fund. The Governor recommends a new general fund appropriation of $2 million for a joint effort by Iowa State University and the University of Iowa for a Biosciences Innovation Ecosystem but no appropriation is in this policy bill.
[2/6: short form (No: Quirmbach)]