Legislative Update

The 2022 Iowa Legislature adjourned on Wednesday, May 25th at 12:15 am, five weeks behind schedule due to a dispute on education funding. Even after several extra weeks of work on the school choice bill, legislation that would have expanded parental choice and transparency in education simply couldn’t get passed.

Gridlock among the Republicans who have sizeable majorities in both chambers persisted and for the second year in a row the Governor’s hallmark education proposal languished. Governor Reynolds would like to provide publicly funded scholarships to help families pay for private school expenses. The Governor has vowed to be back next year with the same bill.

The session had stretched more than a month past its target end date, even though Republican legislators acted quickly early in the session, sending Reynolds their top priority — tax cuts — in time for her to sign a 3.9% flat tax into law hours before her nationally televised March 1 response to President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union Address. Later that week, she signed a law banning transgender women and girls from competing in female sports.

Lawmakers approved an $8.2 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. One of the most notable policy bills that got passed in the final end-of-session flurry was the 20-year-old bottle and can redemption bill.

Unfortunately, IMTA’s top priority, lawsuit abuse did not make it over the finish line. There had been some hope that it could make some favorable movement in the year-end bills but once again there simply were not enough votes in the House.

“We were beyond disappointed that we couldn’t get this legislation passed especially when were just a few votes short in the House. It is extremely frustrating but we will not give up and will be back next year,” said IMTA President Brenda Neville.

“I take these losses very personally because I know the importance of getting legislation that will curb the lawsuit abuse that is plaguing this state and nation. I am extremely grateful for the countless number of IMTA members that have stepped up and helped with these efforts. The grassroots support by our members is tremendous.”

While lawsuit abuse was the main focus of attention, IMTA monitored over 75 other legislative proposals, weighing on many of them due to their potential impact on trucking operations. The IMTA government relations team will now focus on their summer outreach activities – meeting with candidates and legislators in preparation for the 2023 legislative session.

“We will be talking with all the candidates about the importance of our lawsuit abuse legislation. First, we will focus on the primaries and then we will shift our attention to the general election in November. With redistricting, there are a lot of important races we will be involved with and as always, we will be limiting our support only to the candidates that can support the priorities of Iowa’s trucking industry,” said Brenda Neville.

Not only did golfers show up in BIG numbers --- 188 registered golfers --- but they showed up ready to support Truck PAC Iowa in a BIG way as well. Combined with the registration fees, the fundraisers during the event brought in a record-breaking $40,000 for Truck PAC Iowa.

“I just can’t get over how ready and willing folks were to support our efforts out on the course. They get it. They understand how crucial the political environment is for trucking, and they certainly showed their support of our efforts in financially supporting the pro-business, pro-trucking legislators,” said IMTA Chairman of the Board Brenda Dittmer with Weinrich Truck Lines.

Special thanks to the Legacy Golf Club who not only are IMTA members, but they welcome us back year after year with open arms. Additionally, thank you to our volunteers that helped raise funds throughout the day at the Board of Directors Challenge, the Putting Contest, and at the LEAD IMTA Council hole --- Brenda & Barry Dittmer (Weinrich Truck Lines); Adrian Dickey (Dickey Transport); Scott Szymanek (Eldon C Stutsman); Brad Kohlwes (Argee Transport); Tiffany Popovici (Bison Transport USA); Kendra Klooster (West Side Transport, Inc.); Dominic Julick (Fareway Stores); and Corey Bruce (JT Logistics).

Allied Industry Division Bauer Built Tire & Service BMO Transportation Finance Central Trailer Service Cottingham & Butler Eastern Iowa Tire, Inc. Gatr Truck Center GTG Peterbilt, Inc. Hanifen Towing Housby Interstate PowerSystems Iowa Council of Safety Management Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation Joe Morten and Son, Inc. Kunkel & Associates, Inc. Kwik Trip / Kwik Star LEAD IMTA Council Lube-Tech Meritor MHC Kenworth MHCS Mid-States Utility Trailer Midwest Peterbilt Group Midwest Wheel Companies Ottsen Oil Company Pomp’s Tire Purple Wave Auction RDO Truck Centers Sioux City Truck and Trailer, Inc. Tarbell & Co., P.L.C. Tenstreet Thermo King Sales & Service Thompson Truck & Trailer Truck Center Companies Truck Country Truckers Insurance Associates TrueNorth Companies US Cargo Control Warren Transport, Inc. Weinrich Truck Line, Inc. Wilson Trailer Company

Brenda Dittmer (Weinrich Truck Lines); Adrian Dickey (Dickey Transport); Barry Dittmer (Weinrich Truck Lines)

Blake Grolmus & Paul Budreau (Ruan Transportation) Jael Kulp & Liz Krause (MHCS)

Ben Koehler (MHC Kenworth); Grant Horton (Waste Connections); Scott Cirksena (Kenworth); Dave Osman (Green Products Company)

Mike Spalla (Kunkel & Associates, Inc.); Dave Neuwohner (All Season’s Trucking); Travis Busch (Kunkel & Associates, Inc.); Aaron Peterson (Peterson Transportation)