Senate Dumps a Bucket of Bills

In what is seen as a move to end the session within the allotted 80 days, the Senate dumped about 26 bills this morning from the calendar. These bills will not likely see the light of day again this year.

Among them, the ones CSG were watching included SF2337 providing minimum paid sick and safe time for employees; SF2307 increasing the civil damages recoverable for injury to or the death of a parent or spouse; SF2214 legalizing betting on professional sports. The first two of these bills would have ultimately increased costs for businesses.

Friday March 5, marks the second funnel deadline where Senate bills must be passed out of their House committees and House bills must have made it out of Senate committees. If not, they’re done.

A notice also went out that all gaming bills would be dropped for the year. While was not what some horse people wanted to hear, it was beginning to be apparent that bills in need of heavy lifting would not make the cut.

By Monday we will have a much narrower view of what bills we’ll be left to work with. In the meantime, its sunny and feels like 45 degrees in Des Moines. Spring fever aside, the prediction is session will be over the first week in April.