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Legislative roundup: Drone, computer science bills before Iowa lawmakers

In recent weeks, after setting aside adjustments to the 2017 budget, Iowa lawmakers have begun proposing and debating legislation. A lot of time has been spent on large and controversial items, including removing funding for Planned Parenthood and changes to the state’s collective bargaining rules.

Even with the attention on those issues, some bills have made their way before lawmakers that may be of interest to Iowa entrepreneurs and technology companies. They include a proposal on how the state should regulate unmanned aerial vehicles and a computer science law the governor championed earlier this year.

Here’s a quick look at some of that legislation:

Drones

A bill before an Iowa House committee lays out rules for how state agencies can use unmanned aerial vehicles, more commonly known as drones.

The legislation covers a lot of ground. One section would prohibit law enforcement from taking images with or archiving data collected by a drone unless a search warrant is issued.

It would also limit what individuals could do with their drones, unless they have prior permission or are using UAVs over their own property. For instance, drones could not be used to drop objects, spray liquids or gasses or emit sounds. Taking pictures of others would also be off limits unless given prior permission or a picture is taken on public property.

Drones also could not be equipped with weapons, but the U.S. armed forces and Iowa national guard would be exempt.

Rep. Jarad Klein, R-Keota, is leading the drone-bill discussion, Radio Iowa reported.

“I don’t anticipate rushing this by any means, but we’re going to keep it moving along,” Klein told Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson. “We’re going to address the concerns that everybody’s bringing up and make sure we’re good to roll.”

It’s not the first time Iowa government has regulated the use of drones. In 2014, state lawmakers approved legislation prohibiting state or local law enforcement from using drones for traffic enforcement, The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported.

A year prior, Iowa City also passed rules that banned drones for surveillance purposes.

What to look for: HSB 88.

Computer science

The governor’s office officially proposed its computer science legislation earlier this month. The bill text is fairly similar to what Clay & Milk reported in January.

Broadly, the bill would task the Iowa Department of Education with adopting rules to establish “high-quality standards” for computer science education in elementary, middle and high schools. It would also setup a fund to offset the cost of teacher training in computer science.

What to look for: HSB 107 and SSB 1047. The House and Senate study bills are identical.

Fantasy sports betting

One bill would make it legal for cash-paying fantasy sports contest – think Draft Kings and Fan Duel – to operate in Iowa and allow Iowans to participate.

Similar legislation has come up in past years, but failed.

What to look for: HSB 52.

Benefit Corporations

Business founders could incorporate their companies as “benefit corporations” under a proposed bill. The legislation would allow for-profit corporations to become a benefit corporation “with the purpose of operating in a responsible and sustainable manner,” the bill explanation reads.

Public benefits could be artistic, charitable, cultural, economic, educational, cultural, literary, religious, social, ecological or scientific in nature, according to the legislation.

What to look for: HF 62 and SF 221.

Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

1 Comment

  • Paul Greenwood
    Posted February 17, 2017 at 2:02 am

    Nice Legislative round up for the session….thx .

Comments are closed.

Legislative roundup: Drone, computer science bills before Iowa lawmakers | Clay & Milk
A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.
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