Iowa House adopts economic development package, trims bonding in workforce program

Representative Lundgren of Dubuque urged passage of House File 2799, describing it as an economic development authority policy bill that would establish a headquarters expansion and development for growth and employment (EDGE) program and create funds for load forecasting and transmission planning. "It goes from 10 years of bonding. It takes it down to 7 years," Lundgren said of amendment H8480, which she described as a compromise developed with community colleges and the governor's office.

The House adopted amendment H8480 by voice vote and then placed House File 2799 on its passage. The clerk reported the recorded tally as 77 in favor, 7 opposed and 16 absent/not voting; the chair declared the bill passed and the title agreed to.

The bill, as described on the floor, includes creation of the EDGE program to be administered through Iowa State University, work on load forecasting to provide an unbiased view of energy load and generation needs, and provisions affecting the business incentive training fund, the repeal of the new jobs tax credit program and interim study on the new job training program. Lundgren told colleagues the changes to job-eligibility language and the reduced bonding term were intended to tighten the program now while allowing the legislature to revisit details next year.

Colleagues offered brief floor remarks in support of the amendment; after the vote the measure moved forward to the next legislative step per routine House procedure.