End Senate File 345: Save Iowa's Glass Art Industry

My name is Zerron Horton and I represent the Glass Industry Coalition of Iowa.

During the 2024 legislative session in Iowa, Senate File 345 was brought forth by Senator Dan Dawson and unanimously and swiftly passed in secrecy, ultimately landing for signature on Governor Kim Reynolds desk and being signed into legislation on May 17th, 2024 with absolutely no dispute despite the major implications it held within its literature. With it came an unprecedented and crippling blow not only to the glass art and lampworking industry here in Iowa, but to the stores and families that house these functional works of glass art, putting a seal of fate on the smoke shop industry throughout the state!

In the bill came a wave of unfair legislations including a staggering 40% taxation on metal and glass "devices" with reasoning being "drug abuse" and "use of illicit substances", selling and delivery permitting requirements, store layout restrictions making it almost impossible to have a multi-genre storefront and more that will leave the smoking industry with little to no foundations left to stand on! If we do not act now the industry we have helped build and maintain with dignity will soon disappear in Iowa and with it a fine art craft and the families who have dedicated their lives to it. The blatant disregard and negligence of our legislators in passing this bill with no review will destroy a longstanding industry built on glass art, community and brotherhood, thus leaving families across the state without the livelihoods they have built with hard work and integrity.

Its surreal to believe that this is even happening...for all those who think we are just throwing smoke this is a very real cause...

A little history of this bill for those who dont know already but this is Senator Dan Dawsons baby in terms of his contribution to legislation. He has been on a crusade against our industry for years and goes about it nice and dirty to get his way.

Senate File 345 was enacted in secrecy during the end of the 2024 legislative session hidden between educational bills as it was shown to pertain to the regulation of illicit drug use and was voted on with effectively no push back.

Now rewind to 2021 when this bill was termed Senate File 363 and you will understand why this is an issue and how they had to go through such lengths to get it passed.

1.) We have fought this bill and defeated it with huge uproar from our community showing what our state wanted without being heard.

2.) We worked with senators to help kill the bill and brought a mass of public attention to the issue to help amend it to be beneficial to all involved and not just the state.

3.) We offered to work with legislators to build a bill that could help grow our industry space while leaving meat on the bone for both parties.

4.) We have been more than willing to help bring more education to our legislators in order to build a better view of our industry and they ignored all of it.

Now we're angry, and rightfully so!

If you want to help please do so by throwing emails at your senators here in Iowa showing your disgust with their actions, signing our in store and online petitions, joining our coalition or giving a donation to help fight the legal battle we are gearing up for!

Reach out to news outlets to spread coverage acrossed the state and show the public the atrocity that our state representatives are doing in secrecy!

Like and share our posts and help us build a front we can all fight on.

WE NEED OUR GLASS COMMUNITY NOW MORE THAN EVER!!!!

It's ridiculous the absolute disregard these people have for their constituents that have paid their taxes and dues already.

Join us at our coalition page and help make our voices heard or share all this info as far as you possibly can!

Our industry and livelihoods depend on it!

The Glass Industry Coalition Of Iowa

Change Petition To End Senate File 345

GoFund Me To Battle Senate File 345

The immediate implications of this bill upon taking effect on January 1st, 2025 will be widespread and damaging beyond repair if we do not act fast and come together on a community front to fight and make known the communities frustrations with our state legislators actions!

Please help us fight against these injustices and save the American glass industry in Iowa by fighting against unfair taxation without representation and help us solidify our industry for years to come!

We appreciate your support in any way you can and hope we can make a difference together!