DES MOINES, Iowa — A handful of bills made it through the Iowa House floor to mark the end of the lawmaker work week as the second funnel deadline nears.
A bill that made it through the chamber last year but failed to get signed into law is one that criminalizes smuggling of undocumented immigrants in any means of transportation.
The bill makes it a class C felony if someone is caught doing so, with higher degrees added in the scenario that the individuals are being smuggled in a manner that will cause serious bodily injury or death. The bill originally worded those being smuggled as “noncitizens”, which Iowa House Democrats took issue with.
“We’re very concerned about the definition of noncitizen. We don’t find that in code. And so we’re a little concerned about what that means. Also, just unintended consequences, right? People who we’re worried about, religious organizations who are having a hard time, you know, we’re just trying to help out their neighbor,” said Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, (D) District 32 from Windsor Heights. “What are the implications there?”
The bill would end up being amended to replace noncitizen with “a person in violation of federal immigration laws.”
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“Law enforcement has told me that this legislation would provide more tools in the fight not just to prosecute those who are engaged in human smuggling, but also those bad actors engaged in concealing those here illegally…,” said State Representative Steven Holt (R) District 12 from Denison. The bill passed in a vote of 75 to 14, it goes over to the Iowa Senate for consideration.
The Iowa House also passed Governor Kim Reynolds’ state employee paid parental leave bill. The bill would give a state employee parent who gives birth or adopts a child four weeks of paid leave. A state employee who did not give birth is entitled to one week of paid leave. The bill passed by a vote of 87-2 and is sent over to the Iowa Senate.
“Nothing is more important to me than supporting Iowa families. The weeks after bringing home your baby are vital time for bonding and recovery and a crucial development period for newborns. I want to thank Iowa House legislators for prioritizing families and recognizing the importance of present parenting.”
Governor Kim Reynolds, (R) Iowa
One bill was on the calendar that has been advocated for by law enforcement agencies and families that have lost a loved one due to distracted driving. The distracted driving bill would increase the fine of distracted driving from $45 to $100. But more importantly, would only allow the use of a mobile device in a hands-free mode. The bill ended up not being debated on the floor on Thursday as the Iowa House Republican caucus considered doing so.
“We expect to have support within the caucus that we have not got at this point in time. But usually a bill that’s going to be on the calendar has a enough level of support that we want to have that for discussion within the caucus,” said Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R) District 57, from New Hartford.
The Iowa Senate approved the bill earlier in the week and the legislation only received one vote against it. If the Iowa House does pass the bill it will be sent off to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
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