2024 Iowa Legislative Session kicks off
The legislative session in Iowa kicked off this week and the Chamber will be actively advocating for QC businesses with our policy goals focused on business and economic growth, quality of place, and workforce. 2024 represents yet another opportunity for business leaders to engage with the Chamber and policymakers to promote a pro-growth policy agenda. We attended the Republican Party of Iowa's legislative kickoff on Monday, Jan. 8, connecting with policymakers ahead of a busy year.
Here are some of the bills and policies on the horizon we're tracking for you.
Business and Economic Growth
The Major Economic Growth and Attraction Program (MEGA), SF574 remains a live bill in the second session of the 90th General Assembly. MEGA would positively impact the Quad Cities' ability to attract investment from new primary employers or major expansions from existing employers in the region. This legislation would help us compete in the national economic development space and we support its passage this year.
Elected leaders in Iowa have also voiced the desire to increase the size and speed of tax cuts for Iowans, suggesting we potentially eliminate Iowa state income tax. The Chamber’s Business Advisory Council has discussed this potential, and concerns were raised over the impact it could have on key governmental functions and overall stability. The Chamber supports a swifter implementation of the 2021 tax cuts and encourages a robust examination of further opportunities to keep dollars in the hands of hard-working Iowans.
Quality of Place
Destination Iowa represents a historic investment in quality of place across Iowa, whether on Davenport’s riverfront, the Field of Dreams in Dyersville or for trail systems in Northern Iowa. Quad Cities business leaders recognize the importance of this investment – 89% of them support funding for amenities to attract and retain employees. These investments do just that by helping to create vibrant, livable spaces.
Talent and Workforce Development
Quad Cities businesses are hurting for qualified talent. A lack of workers has long been the number one issue for Iowa employers and now falls to a close second behind inflation. Fixing Iowa’s workforce crisis does not have one single solution. Increasing funding and flexibility of funds at all levels from elementary to four-year universities is key to ensuring anyone who wants to improve their skills for a job can do so. That means increasing funding for the Iowa Tuition Grant and Regents funding. It also means providing additional flexibility within accounts for K-12 schools and continuing to increase funding for job training programs like 260F.
Investment and regulatory reform in the childcare industry is also a concern. 66% of businesses recognize that affordability and availability of care impact their available workforce. In fact, childcare is a major factor impacting the attraction and retention of workers, second only to wages and benefits. We support efforts to reduce the tax burden and regulatory costs on childcare businesses and encourage the state to look for opportunities to reduce costs for families while improving wages for childcare workers.
