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Legislature opens Jan. 11, sets key dates

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Business leaders and many others closely follow the Iowa Legislature, which can change lives and livelihoods with its actions.


Many of you have your legislative priorities set and briefing papers in hand. You go into New Year’s weekend and the beginning of 2016 with the comfort of knowing that all your proposals are still alive — because the lawmakers aren’t in session yet.


There will be few universal truths about the 2016 session, but here are a few, and some key dates to keep in mind:


– It will open Jan. 11. There will be pomp, and maybe circumstance. Both parties will pledge to cooperate in a new era of almost unimaginable accomplishment, together, in harmony. Speeches will be made. Journalists will listen intently, as though this is different than every other opening day.


– The next day, Jan. 12, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad will deliver his Condition of the State address, detailing his budget priorities. This will be a big deal, as usual. Democrat leaders will call it a good speech — ignoring the fact it went on too long. They will note that there is some common ground, or at least the chance of agreement, and some differences of opinion. Journalists will write this down, and may report some of it via Twitter, blogs, websites and on paper produced from dead trees.


– On Jan. 13, the session will ease into gear without much news, save a speech on court priorities by the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. However, by week’s end, the goal of almost unimaginable accomplishment will begin to look tenuous as party leaders and some rank-and-file members begin to issue public statements noting what they perceive as the weaknesses of their colleagues across the aisle. Posturing will ensue. Bills will be drafted. Committees will begin work.


– Jan. 22 will be the final day your favorite senator or representative can draft that bill you’ve been lobbying for.


– Feb. 19 is the last chance for bills to clear a committee. It’s called a funnel.


– Feb. 22-26 is the period in which our friends in the House of Representatives and Senate consider only House and Senate bills and unfinished business per Joint Rule 20, one of those items that was hammered out during the detente that came at the beginning of some other session, no doubt.


– From Feb. 29 (hey, it’s a leap year!) to March 11, debate is not limited by rule. Your favorite lawmaker will know what that means.


– March 11 will be the final date for Senate and House bills to get out of committee, the so-called second funnel. This is more winnowing of the legislation that still has a chance of seeing the governor’s desk.


– The rest of the session rolls on through committee work and leaders’ decisions on what is going to get floor debate. It’s complicated, but many of you know the drill.


– April 19 is the 100th day of the session, which means lawmakers won’t get their daily expenses paid anymore. That is supposed to be an incentive for them to leave town, but they often don’t until later because they are still seeking harmony and accomplishment, and serving you, the people. Often, this is the period in which we discover that no bill is really dead if the leadership wants to let it back in as an amendment. It’s good to remember: The session is not over until the final gavel, and the last long night often brings more than a few surprises.


Read the full calendar.