Rep. Derek Wulf (R-Hudson),

lowa Agriculture is led by those who play roles in growing our economy for effective progress, leading by example for surrounding Midwestern states. I was honored to be joined by my fellow House Representatives in attending the Ag Leaders Dinner to celebrate National Ag Week at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny last week. I admire the allegiance of our Department of Agriculture, lowa FFA, Farm Bureau members, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and many others promoting our ag industry to help with issues that owners face and where government can help.

This week brought much needed discussion to the House Floor on HF 656. I am proud to support and sponsor this bill to protect landowners’ rights while three major CO2 pipelines projects are in the works here in lowa. I understand that this bill may not be seen as perfect by folks on either side of the issue. We want to support our ethanol industry while ensuring private property rights are respected. HF 656 bill is not about opposing the pipelines, but about controlling the use of eminent domain to construct the pipelines through our state. Companies constructing these pipelines should not be able to use the heavy hand of government power to abuse landowner rights. This bill requires that the carbon capture pipeline companies reach voluntary easement for 90% of the land route before they seek the use of eminent domain. It also creates an interim study committee to make recommendations that will improve eminent domain policy in lowa in the future.

​​Earlier this week, I ran House File 652 on the Floor. This bill relates to the practice of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences and providing transitions provisions. This bill does several things but a couple key components lowers the hours required for licensing to 1550 hours and reduces the age allowed to begin taking professional classes to 16.

In previous editions of “Wulf’s Weekly Roundup From Capitol Hill,” you know both Republicans and Democrats have been working to collect information for behavior issues inside lowa’s classrooms. I was proud to join my House colleagues in supporting HF 604 for Teacher Empowerment. Too often, teachers are not getting the support they need from their administration to handle behavioral issues in the classroom. HF 604 lays out the 3-strike system rule proposed by the teachers.

Learning more about child care centers this week around our state, I was happy to support HF 668. This bill provides that child care centers and facilities will be given the residential rollback instead of commercial for property tax purposes. This bill states that properties that are primarily used for a child care center will be given the same rollback as residential property, which for this year is 54%. Currently child care centers are considered a commercial property and required to pay property tax on 90% of their assessed value.

After many years of coming to the floor, House file 265 is on track to pass through the legislature this year. This bill creates a licensure of midwives and allows licensed midwives to obtain necessary screening and testing for clients as well as administer specific medication. This bill will give more women access to quality maternal health care at a time when the number of birth centers and OB/GYNs in lowa is falling.

Rep. Wulf’s district, Iowa House District 76, includes the communities of Traer, Dysart, and Buckingham in Tama County. He can be reached via email: derek.wulf@legis.iowa.gov.