NEWS

Iowans make their voices heard at 3 public hearings Monday

Molly Longman
mlongman@dmreg.com

Iowans get to tell lawmakers what they think about three contentious bills on Monday.

Legislators will hold three public hearings on Monday in the Supreme Court Chamber, Room 103 at the Capitol, where they'll hear comments from the public about three Iowa bills that have proven controversial.

Here's a rundown of what the bills could do, what's at stake and how to get involved:

The Iowa State Capitol building on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in Des Moines.

Water utility bill hearing (watch replay)

When: concluded

What it is:House File 484, formerly House File 316, would dismantle the Des Moines Water Works and other independent water utilities, making them city departments controlled by their respective city councils.

Changes made last month to the original bill would give Des Moines and other cities the authority to decide the fate of a federal lawsuit filed by Des Moines Water Works against three northwest Iowa counties, and some opponents of the bill say legislators are using it to coerce Des Moines Water Works into dropping the suit.

Proponents of the bill, sponsored by state Rep. Jarad Klein, R-Keota, are in favor of spreading out costs of water utility improvements.

The bill will prohibit water utilities from designating money or staff to planning, designing and constructing new water treatment facilities in the metro area.

Minimum wage hearing 

When: 5–6:30 p.m.

In early January, Iowa unions held rallies across the state to celebrate minimum wage increases in Johnson, Linn, Polk and Wapello counties.

But if House File 295 is signed into law, it could override the local minimum wage ordinances those folks were celebrating.

The legislation would prohibit counties and cities from straying from federal or state requirements for minimum wage, employment leave and other conditions of employment.

Critics of a uniform minimum wage say it curtails local government, taking power away from counties and cities, while some supporters say it would simplify paying workers for employers.

The current federal and state minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

As of Sunday afternoon, 104 people were signed up to speak out about the bill.

Voter ID

When: 7–8:30 p.m.

House File 516 would require Iowans to show identification at the polls. The legislation would make election-related changes in the state, including voter registration, absentee voting, voter identity verification, signature verification and more.

Proponents believe that the legislation would decrease election fraud. According to an Associated Press report, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate's office received reports of 10 potentially improper votes cast out of 1.6 million counted statewide in recent elections.

Opponents of the bill believe that it would restrict access to voting in Iowa.

A February Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found 69 percent of Iowans say they think voters should have to present a government-issued identification card in order to cast their ballot.

One hundred and thirty-eight people were signed up to speak about the bill as of Sunday afternoon.

Speakers at each hearing will have the floor for three minutes each.

Iowan can sign up to speak at a hearing on the Iowa Legislature's website. at legis.iowa.gov.