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House backs tax exemptions, creates nuclear workforce fund for Regents campuses
Summary
House File 2757, amended to require Regents to consider the governor's nuclear task force recommendations, passed the House. Sponsors said the measure creates a workforce fund for nuclear energy programs and includes sales and use tax exemptions for nuclear generation facilities.
The Iowa House passed House File 2757 after approving an amendment to require that Board of Regents recommendations on nuclear workforce programs consider findings from the governor’s nuclear energy task force.
Representative Young, sponsor for the measure, said the bill creates a nuclear energy workforce fund to support programs at the state’s Regents universities and that the programs could range from certificates to engineering degrees. "In that amendment, a nuclear energy workforce fund is created," he told colleagues, saying the fund would be used for workforce programs at the Board of Regents universities.
An amendment to the amendment (H8436) required Regents to consider the task force’s recommendations when developing workforce proposals; Young said that change was intended to align Regents’ planning with the task force’s work. The amendment was moved and passed by voice vote.
The bill was read for final passage. The clerk opened the voting machine and the vote resulted in 83 yeas, 2 nays and 15 absent; the bill received the constitutional majority and was declared passed. Supporters framed the proposal as job-creation and an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy; floor debate emphasized workforce development and potential high-paying union jobs.
Next steps: the House ordered the bill messaged to the Senate.
