(Des Moines) The Legislature wrapped up the first funnel week on Thursday. This means any bill that passes through remains alive. There were around 1,000 to 1,200 bills funneled down this past week. This doesn’t include Ways and Means and Appropriation bills-they don’t have a limit like this.
Iowa District 3 Senator Tom Shipley says numerous versions of the Bottle Bill Redemption that existed for over four decades made it through the funnel process.
Shipley says he receives many comments and questions about the bill anywhere from getting rid of it or keeping it the way it is. Shipley believes they will come out with a workable solution during this session. “Redemption Centers are taking it on the chin,” said Shipley. “Some of them aren’t able to stay in business. We have a good one in Atlantic, and we want to do all we can to strengthen all that so people have a viable place to put these containers.”
Separate legislative bills would change Iowa’s 42-year-old beverage container deposit law advanced Thursday after lawmakers said the fight is far from over. Senate File 565 would require an accounting of unredeemed container deposits. House Study Bill 252 would allow retailers to decline to take bottles and can returns if there is a redemption center in the area.