LSA staff previews republication of Iowa Administrative Code and automated sunset dates

Committee staff told members the Legislative Service Agency will republish the Iowa Administrative Code in February after completing a software transition that began the prior July.

The republishing will change formatting across the code and will, for the first time, display calculated five-year sunset dates at the chapter level where applicable. That change results from enactment of a statute this past session that requires future sunset dates be included with each chapter so the public and agencies can see when rules may expire.

Jack, the committee staff member who briefed members, said the new system's republication may change footnote formatting and chart dimensions. He urged members, agency staff and the public to contact him if they spot what appear to be typographical errors after the republication.

Jack also explained: "When this mass republication occurs in February, suddenly for every chapter of rules in the administrative code, you'll be able to see its future sunset date." He added the system has been tested to calculate those dates and that the Feb. 5 bulletin will be limited in content to allow the system to do the required processing.

Staff explained how the sunset date is calculated: a chapter's five-year sunset date is set five years from the chapter's effective date (when adopted in full or readopted in full); the clock resets if the chapter is rescinded and readopted later. Staff noted executive orders requiring agencies to re-adopt rules will affect many chapters' sunset timing.

Members asked procedural follow-ups and were directed to contact staff with questions; staff said they would provide more detailed documentation if members requested it.