Iowa Funnel Week: what passed and what’s done

(ABC 6 News) – The Iowa Legislature saw its first major deadline in the first funnel week this week. Funnel week means bills had to pass through one full committee in the House or Senate to advance.

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The Iowa House advanced legislation blocking companies from using eminent domain in a bipartisan vote. Eminent domain is the government’s ability to take homeowners’ private property for public use. If passed, the bill could end the proposed summit carbon solutions pipeline’s path through Iowa.

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Two bills that did not make it out of committee dealt with vaccinations. A Senate bill that would ban mNRA vaccines, which is similar to the COVID-19 shot, stalled. Meanwhile, a house bill banning vaccines unless manufacturers waived legal protections also did not pass committee.

Another bill that did not survive funnel week was a house bill imposing a statewide policy against using public property for camping or long-term shelter.

Bills that will move forward include a house bill that would lower the age necessary to purchase and carry a pistol or revolver in the state from 21 years old to 18 years old.

Finally, a bill targeting obscenity protections for public libraries will continue forward.