Residents and businesses will have a chance to voice their opinions with state senator Dennis Guth and state representative Shannon Lathan on Feb. 20 at the rescheduled legislative forum.

Wintry weather cancelled the Legislative Forum originally planned for Jan. 16. The forum has been re-scheduled, and will now take place at Briggs Woods Conference Center Friday Feb. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

As the legislative session has progressed, there are hints at which bills might pass the “funnel” deadlines of Feb. 20 and March 20.

In the Iowa legislature, bills must pass out of committee in their chamber of origin by the first funnel date, and pass a full committee hearing in the opposite house by the second funnel date, to advance to a vote. Per diem payments for legislators, money that pays their expenses to travel to, and stay in Des Moines from their districts, stop on the 100th day of the session, which this year falls on April 16, 2026. That then, becomes a possible end date for this year’s legislative session.

The most contentious issues before the legislature this session remain the use of eminent domain to build carbon capture pipelines and property tax reform. We’ll briefly consider each here.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimeshy, R-Spillville, introduced a bill to regulate carbon capture pipelines. It would allow use of eminent domain under certain conditions. Supporters argue it both respects property owners’ rights, while creating a much-needed new market for Iowa’s struggling ethanol industry.

Many property owners, though, feel the bill doesn’t goes go far enough to protect their rights.

Summit Carbon Solutions, the company with a permit to build a hazardous material pipeline across Iowa prefers the new senate version to the house bill, which completely bans the use of eminent domain. However, Summit says the senate version will add both time and cost to the eventual construction of the line, should it be built.

Two property tax reform bills are presently in committee, one sponsored by Gov. Kim Reynolds; the other by House Republicans. Both would cap the growth of property taxes in any given year to a maximum of 2%.

Advocates for lower property taxes say a “hard” cap such as this is the best means of limiting property tax increases. Iowa’s current property tax rates are either the 10th or 11th highest property tax rates in the nation, depending on which source you consult.

Republicans have called for property tax reform to improve Iowa’s competitiveness nationally in economic development matters.

Arguing against a hard cap are city and county governments, and school districts, which say it would restrict their ability to fund local services and make necessary improvements to local infrastructure. They say a 2% cap is unworkable, citing increases in wages, insurance premiums and inflation, all of which have surpassed 2% in each of the last 20 years.

Democrats also have a property tax proposal. Their plan would cap tax rates at 4% per year, triple the existing homestead credit, freeze property taxes for those aged 65, or older, and send tax rebates of $1,000 for homeowners and $500 for renters as relief until the new regulations take effect. Practically speaking, the Democrats’ plan has little chance of advancing as Republicans hold majorities in both the Senate and House, and control the Governor’s office.

State Sen. Dennis Guth, R-Klemme, and State Rep. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield, have confirmed they’ll be there, and available to voters and taxpayers who have questions about the direction of lawmaking in this year’s legislative session at the statehouse in Des Moines.

The forum, in its second year, is sponsored by Hamilton County Growth Partnership, the organization heading up economic development in Webster City and Hamilton County.

Ryan Williams, President of the HCGP, told The Daily Freeman Journal, “we want to bring together taxpayers, business people, and government leaders to talk about important issues that will shape our future.” He and other officers of the partnership will moderate the discussion. Rolls and coffee will be served.

There is no cost to attend, but attendees are asked to please register in advance by email.

The address to register is elizabeth@amesalliance.com.