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House passes economic development budget, preserves housing renewal program and funds, after multiple amendment fights
Summary
House File 2772, the state economic development appropriations bill, passed the House after extensive floor amendments and debate over housing renewal, misclassification enforcement and other priorities; final vote was 55–32 in favor.
House File 2772, a multi-agency economic development appropriations bill that includes codifying the housing renewal program under the Iowa Finance Authority and funding for the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Department of Workforce Development, passed the Iowa House after extended debate on several amendments.
Representative Latham, sponsor and subcommittee chair, opened by describing the bill’s funding for economic development programs and codifying the housing renewal pilot. Representative Wilson offered a strike amendment (H8383) that would add inclusive-goal language for IEDA, require IEDA to review laws affecting economic development, raise the IFA rent subsidy to $1,000,000, restore misclassification enforcement funding and reinstate STEM internship money. Supporters argued these changes would help workforce recruitment, affordable housing and enforcement against employee misclassification; opponents said the budget simply could not absorb all proposed increases.
Multiple amendments were offered on the floor, including H8415 (which makes the housing renewal program permanent and passed on the floor), an amendment to beef up penalties for misclassification, and others addressing minimum wage and first-time homebuyer and military homeownership assistance funding. Several motions to suspend the rules to take up amendments were defeated on recorded roll calls; other amendments passed or failed by voice or recorded vote as reflected in the clerk’s entries.
At the close of debate Representative Franklin moved HF2772 as amended for final passage; the clerk reported a machine vote of 55 ayes, 32 no and 13 absent, and the chair declared the bill to have passed and agreed to the title. The bill will be messaged to the Senate.
