BW INSIGHTS

2021 Festival of Trees

By BrownWinick | 12.03.2021
For the past several years BrownWinick has been a proud supporter of the Blank Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees event, and this year was no different. For the November 26 – November 28 event, BrownWinick participated by decorating a tree with toys and other items as well as decorating a wreath to be auctioned off at the Festival, with all... Read More

Wills for Veterans

By BrownWinick | 11.15.2021
In honor of Veterans Day 2021, BrownWinick held the inaugural “Wills for Veterans” event to benefit veterans in the Des Moines metro area. The Estate Planning team provided basic wills and power of attorney documents for approximately 50 local veterans and their spouses during the event. “Giving back to our community is integral to who we are as a... Read More

The COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate (and More) is Here

By Danielle Smid | 11.08.2021
As discussed in our prior blog entry, on September 9, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) would soon issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) which included a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for large employers. OSHA’s ETS was finally released on November 4,... Read More

Iowa Enacts a New Law on Employer Vaccination Mandates and Unemployment Insurance

By Danielle Smid | 11.08.2021
On October 29, 2021, Iowa passed and enacted House File 902 which establishes new requirements for employers mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees. The new law also affects unemployment benefits for employees who are discharged for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In reviewing the summary below, keep in mind that the law... Read More

Government Relations Update - 10.29.21

By BrownWinick | 10.29.2021
Yesterday, the Iowa Legislature met in a special session and approved the second redistricting map prepared by the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency (“LSA”). Every 10 years, states are required to redraw congressional and legislative district maps using updated U.S. Census population data. The Iowa Senate passed the new map by a vote of... Read More

Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandates Have Arrived. OSHA’s Nationwide Private Sector Mandate is Close Behind.

By BrownWinick | 10.26.2021
Federal Contractors Targeted First On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14042, an Executive Order on “Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors.” EO 14042 ordered federal departments and agencies to ensure that contracts and contract-like instruments include a clause requiring prime contractors to... Read More

Government Relations Update - 10.15.21

By BrownWinick | 10.15.2021
October 15, 2021 REC SUMMARY The Revenue Estimating Conference (“REC”), comprised of a three-member panel (Kraig Paulsen, Holly Lyons, and David Underwood) met this morning (10/15/21) as part of their standard schedule of meetings to estimate future state revenues. A summary of the information discussed during the meeting is below, along with the... Read More

Iowa Court of Appeals Decision Serves as Cautionary Tale for Construction Contractors

By BrownWinick | 10.08.2021
The Iowa Court of Appeals issued a decision this week that sent a strong message to construction contractors – ignore your contracts at your own risk. Specifically, the Court stated, “Contracts mean what they say. Here, a party that failed to follow what a contract said in terms of the procedure to change the scope of the contract seeks to avoid... Read More

U.S. Department of Agriculture to Invest in Renewable Energy Infrastructure

By Haley Van Loon | 09.20.2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on September 9th that the Department will invest $464 million to improve the renewable energy infrastructure in 48 states and Puerto Rico. This program is designed to support rural communities, agricultural producers, and businesses. The USDA intends to prioritize a... Read More

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