Robert Celt
New Member
The second legislative funnel has come and gone, and a number of bills are no longer eligible for consideration this session. However, there are still multiple bills that the legislature has deemed important enough to push through, and that is the legislation you will likely see debated in the next few weeks.
Senate File 166, also known as the Fantasy Sports Bill, would allow Iowans to claim prizes should they win fantasy sports competitions. Fantasy sports are ambiguously interpreted under current law, and this bill clarifies that language.
A variety of health-related bills made it past the funnel as well. House File 2384, a bill regarding medical cannabis, is a scaled-back approach to the medical cannabis issue that has gained wide attention our state. Latest polls indicate that 75 to 80 percent of Iowans are in favor of this legislation. This bill would allow the use of medical cannabis for people suffering from intractable epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer pain relating to the last twelve months of life. Accompanying that bill is Senate File 2218, which would allow emergency medical technicians to acquire a small supply of medication to battle opiate overdose. The legislation would also protect those who administer the drugs from legal liability as long as they gave the drugs in good faith and acted reasonably.
Two more youth-related health bills advanced past the funnel. One bill would prevent anyone under the age of 17 from using tanning facilities to reduce the risk of skin cancer. The other would require the home team of a varsity high school high contact sport to provide a doctor, physical therapist, or licensed athletic trainer to assess concussions and other injuries at sporting events.
A bill to legalize the sale of fireworks also moved forward. Last year the House passed the measure, but it failed to clear a funnel in the Senate. After being brought back up this session, it has faced a large amount of scrutiny. It would permit consumer items such as bottle rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers, but an amendment would force local governments to vote whether to allow the pyrotechnics within their municipalities. I continue to not be in support of this legislation.
These are just a few of the bills the legislature will debate in the coming days and weeks. Of course, state supplemental aid for our K-12 schools and the state budget still need to be set, along with fully funding for our state Medicaid program for the end of this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The Revenue Estimating Conference met last week and revised our projected state income for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. I was pleased to see the newly released numbers increase state income by $30 million over the previous December estimate. That is a positive sign the economy is still doing well in our state.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Forbes: 75-80 Percent Of Iowans Support Medical Marijuana Bill
Author: State Rep. John Forbes
Contact: The Des Moines Register
Photo Credit: None found
Website: The Des Moines Register
Senate File 166, also known as the Fantasy Sports Bill, would allow Iowans to claim prizes should they win fantasy sports competitions. Fantasy sports are ambiguously interpreted under current law, and this bill clarifies that language.
A variety of health-related bills made it past the funnel as well. House File 2384, a bill regarding medical cannabis, is a scaled-back approach to the medical cannabis issue that has gained wide attention our state. Latest polls indicate that 75 to 80 percent of Iowans are in favor of this legislation. This bill would allow the use of medical cannabis for people suffering from intractable epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer pain relating to the last twelve months of life. Accompanying that bill is Senate File 2218, which would allow emergency medical technicians to acquire a small supply of medication to battle opiate overdose. The legislation would also protect those who administer the drugs from legal liability as long as they gave the drugs in good faith and acted reasonably.
Two more youth-related health bills advanced past the funnel. One bill would prevent anyone under the age of 17 from using tanning facilities to reduce the risk of skin cancer. The other would require the home team of a varsity high school high contact sport to provide a doctor, physical therapist, or licensed athletic trainer to assess concussions and other injuries at sporting events.
A bill to legalize the sale of fireworks also moved forward. Last year the House passed the measure, but it failed to clear a funnel in the Senate. After being brought back up this session, it has faced a large amount of scrutiny. It would permit consumer items such as bottle rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers, but an amendment would force local governments to vote whether to allow the pyrotechnics within their municipalities. I continue to not be in support of this legislation.
These are just a few of the bills the legislature will debate in the coming days and weeks. Of course, state supplemental aid for our K-12 schools and the state budget still need to be set, along with fully funding for our state Medicaid program for the end of this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The Revenue Estimating Conference met last week and revised our projected state income for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. I was pleased to see the newly released numbers increase state income by $30 million over the previous December estimate. That is a positive sign the economy is still doing well in our state.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Forbes: 75-80 Percent Of Iowans Support Medical Marijuana Bill
Author: State Rep. John Forbes
Contact: The Des Moines Register
Photo Credit: None found
Website: The Des Moines Register
