William Petroski, and Brianne Pfannenstiel

DesMoines

The first major deadline of the Iowa Legislature's 2016 session has arrived, which means scores of bills are history for this year.

Forget about raising the speed limits on Iowa's interstate and two-lane highways; don't try baiting deer while hunting on private property; and be aware that lawmakers have no plans to authorize special punishment to address "revenge porn."

The so-called funnel is a key procedural hurdle in the Legislature's session timetable, declaring bills dead that fail to win approval by committees in either the House or Senate. The deadline is officially Friday, but lawmakers had already wrapped up their work for the week Thursday afternoon. The funnel is aimed at narrowing a long list of bills that are introduced every year in the Iowa House and Senate.

"The funnel is about managing the issues load for legislators and coming to some conclusions," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

Stalemates on spending, taxes at Iowa Capitol

If a bill doesn't survive the funnel, it's typically an indication that the proposal lacks support and needs more work, said House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake.

That's why bills aimed at raising Iowa's interstate speeds to 75 mph and two-lane-highway speeds to 60 or 65 mph have failed to survive this year, said Rep. Josh Byrnes, R-Osage, chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

There simply weren’t enough votes to pass any of the higher-speed-limit bills, and House members had concerns about increased fatalities, as well as the costs associated with replacing highway signage, Byrnes said. The bills included House Files 2125, 2126 and 2249.

“It’s one of those things where you throw it out there, you have a discussion like we had, and if the support’s not there, fine,” Byrnes said. “Dump it and move on.”

The deer-baiting bill, Senate File 2133, would have allowed hunters to shoot deer on private property baited with grain, fruit, vegetables, salt, mineral blocks and certain other food. Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, said there's a problem now because baiting laws are interpreted differently by conservation officers throughout Iowa. He said his bill would have resulted in deer hunting being regulated by the number of permits issued, as opposed to "arbitrary decisions" by Department of Natural Resources employees about whether baiting has occurred. But the bill's opponents contend that baiting deer is unsportsmanlike.

The revenge porn bill, House File 2130, would have expanded the definition of harassment to include posting intimate images or video without the subject's consent. The situation can occur when intimate or sexually graphic photos are shared between consenting individuals but then are posted without consent online. It's often done by a jilted lover after a relationship has soured. A violation would have constituted an aggravated misdemeanor.

Twenty-six states have revenge pornography laws. But some Iowa lawmakers said they were concerned that the bill was not only too broad, but unnecessary. But the proposal won support from the Iowa County Attorneys Association and the Iowa attorney general's office, although it was opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa.

Another upcoming deadline at the Iowa Legislature is March 11. That's when Senate bills must be reported out of House committees, and House bills must be reported out of Senate committees.

Certain bills, including measures for state spending and taxes, are exempt from funnel deadlines. In addition, legislative leaders have authority to bring bills up for floor debate, regardless of deadlines. This year's session is tentatively scheduled to conclude about April 19, which is the 100th calendar day of the session and when lawmakers' daily expense payments stop.

Here is a list of some of this session's other dead bills:

MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING: The proposal would have cut the amount of time those convicted of certain violent felonies would be required to spend behind bars before becoming eligible for parole or work release. Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, contended that prosecutors and judges should have more leeway in determining prison sentences. The bill died, but Wolfe said it’s possible the changes proposed for sentencing those convicted on some robbery charges could be added to another bill this session. House File 2171

BEER GROWLERS: The bill originally would have streamlined the process for brewpubs — retailers, often restaurants, that also make and sell their own beer — to sell large to-go containers of beer called growlers. They currently must sell the beer to a distributor and buy it back before selling to customers. The bill would have removed that middle step. Lawmakers instead opted to require a study of the issue, rather than pass the bill in its original form. House File 2156

PUBLIC INTOXICATION: It is illegal to be drunk in public or to “simulate intoxication,” which resulted in 10,662 public-intoxication charges for the 12 months ending June 30, 2015. The bill would have repealed Iowa’s public-intoxication law, with proponents arguing that officers can arrest drunk individuals on charges such as disorderly conduct. But it was met with strong opposition from law enforcement officials, who argue that the law gives officers a way to keep individuals from harming themselves or others. House File 2023

RAISING TOBACCO-PURCHASE AGE: The age to buy tobacco in Iowa would have been increased to 21 from 18 under a bill introduced by Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, who says he wants to keep cigarettes and other tobacco out of the state's high schools. But opponents, including lobbyists for the tobacco industry and Iowa's retail and grocery stores, say Iowans are legally adults at 18, can serve in the military, and should keep their right to decide whether to use tobacco and vapor products. Quirmbach said it's likely he will introduce a similar bill next year, with the understanding that it takes time to educate the public about such issues. Senate File 2016

DEATH WITH DIGNITY: Iowans facing a terminal illness could have obtained a prescription for a self-administered medication that would end their lives under the Iowa Death with Dignity Act, proposed by Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, and several other Democratic lawmakers. The measure was considered during a Senate subcommittee hearing that provoked emotional debate, and it did not advance, but Bolkcom says he expects discussion on the issue to continue. The bill was modeled after an Oregon law enacted in 1997. Senate File 2051

CRIMINAL ASSET FORFEITURE: A bill proposed by Sen. Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, would have provided that property is not subject to forfeiture unless a person has been convicted of a felony for which forfeiture is expressly authorized as a penalty. Under current law, a conviction for an offense is not required for an asset to be subject to forfeiture. Critics contend that that has led to abuses in which law-abiding citizens traveling with cash have had their money seized by law enforcement.Lawmakers ultimately agreed to amend the Senate bill to authorize a study of the issue, meaning that no changes to the law will occur in 2016. Senate File 2166

STANFORD BAND: Iowa's three state universities would have been prohibited from cooperating with Stanford University until Stanford officials publicly apologized for "unsporting behavior" by the school's marching band during the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl football game, under a bill proposed by Chelgren. His proposal won him some attention from University of Iowa fans still smarting from a 45-16 loss to Stanford. But Stanford officials haven’t apologized for the band’s irreverent performance that poked fun at Iowans, and Gronstal refused to take the bill seriously. Senate File 2081

POLICE BODY CAMERAS: The Iowa Senate discussed two bills governing the use of police body cameras, but it decided that more research is needed before lawmakers implement major new legislation addressing the issue. This will include matters involving the storage, retention, public inspection and confidentiality of law enforcement body camera video and audio recordings. As a result, legislators are simply proposing an interim study that will prepare recommendations for the 2017 Legislature. Senate Study Bill 3088 and Senate File 2174

SPORTS REFEREE ATTACKS: Assaults against sports officials would have been punishable with enhanced criminal penalties under a bill introduced by Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, at the suggestion of a constituent who is an athletics official. The official cited an incident at a Texas high school football game last year in which two players allegedly targeted one of the game officials and blindsided him, knocking him to the ground. The bill failed to clear a committee, amid objections that enhanced penalties for crimes against certain people are a bad idea. But Jones says she has since gotten feedback that more protection is needed for referees and umpires. So the issue will receive further study, though it won't be debated again this year, she said. House File 2020

CEDAR RAPIDS CASINO: A bill aimed at forcing state regulators to grant a state gambling license to establish a nonsmoking casino in Cedar Rapids has failed to win support for the third consecutive year. Sen. Wally Horn, D-Cedar Rapids, who proposed the legislation after state regulators rejected plans for a $164 million casino in his community, said he sees no chance for the measure to win approval this session. It has been too difficult to overcome opposition from lawmakers who have casinos in their districts and who are worried about possible cannibalization of Iowa’s gambling industry, he said. All of Iowa’s 22 casinos allow patrons to smoke. Senate File 139

PET WARRANTIES: People selling cats and dogs would have been required to furnish the buyer with a written warranty at the time of sale. The warranty would cover illness, disease, or a congenital or hereditary condition and it would expire after 21 days. The purchaser could make a claim for a return of the money, exchange for another dog or cat, or reimbursement of veterinarian fees. But the warranty would not have covered a condition that occurred after the sale occurred. Sen. Dennis Guth, R-Klemme, who proposed the bill, said it was suggested by members of kennel clubs and it received a generally good reception. Guth said he hopes some provisions might be amended onto other legislation this session. Senate File 2177

HUMAN CLONING: All human cloning in Iowa would have been prohibited, whether for reproductive or therapeutic purposes, under a bill introduced by Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan. The measure would have repealed a chapter of Iowa law that prohibits human reproductive cloning but not therapeutic cloning. A person who violated the bill by performing or trying to perform human cloning would be guilty of a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Senate File 2114

LOTTERY GAMES FOR DISEASE SUPPORT: The Iowa Lottery, which provides a share of its profits for veterans programs and state government services, would have established a multiple sclerosis support fund and authorized lottery games to benefit persons with the disease, under a bill introduced by Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale. Senate File 2048

TINTED WINDSHIELD EXEMPTIONS: Iowans with certain medical conditions would have been exempted from a state law prohibiting motor vehicles from having excessively dark, tinted or reflective windshields, windows or side wings, under a bill proposed by Republican Reps. Rob Bacon of Slater and Dave Deyoe of Nevada. People would have been allowed to obtain a signed document from their doctor or optometrist saying the tinted or reflective product was necessary for their health. Bacon said the bill was requested by a constituent with vision sensitivity to sunlight. House File 2195

OLDER JUROR EXEMPTIONS: People 73 and older would have automatically been exempted from jury duty under a bill proposed by Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport. To opt out of jury service, a person could have simply notified the court after their 73rd birthday. A person who made a false claim of being age 73 could be found guilty of contempt of court. Lykam says the proposal stemmed from a constituent's idea, although he's aware that jurors can already be excused for health reasons. House File 2056