Highlights in this edition: 

• Wisconsin Legislature Wins Legal Battle over Ability to Appropriate Funds to Itself
  • What makes the case unique is that the education funding was not appropriated to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, but instead was put in the Legislature's "emergency account"
• Iowa Department of Education Issues Final Report on Education Standards Comprehensive Review
  • Iowa's social studies standards were adopted in 2017 and in 2021 the Fordham Institute described them as vague, unambitious and without substance
• Democrats Cry Wolf on Medicaid and SNAP "Cuts" - What is Actually in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) 
  • The OBBB appropriates $10 billion per year to rural health care, and Iowa can assume to receive at least $100 million of those funds this January
• New Law to Promote and Expand Affordable Housing and Assisted Living Choices
  • This means families can add a small apartment or home on their property, creating new rental units or support for relatives

Highlights in this edition: 

• Governor Takes Final Action on FY 2026 Budget
  • $252.7 million increase to Iowa's Medicaid program
• Governor Signs Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform, Lawsuit Filed
  • The legislature hopes that legal delays do not cause pharmacy closures in the meantime
• Summer Nutrition Programs Across Iowa Provide Free Healthy Food Options During Summer Break
  • These federally funded programs are open to all children ages 18 and under
• Hands Free Law Goes into Effect on Tuesday
  • A violation will result in a $100 fine and will be considered a moving violation 

Highlights in this edition:

• Casino Gaming Tax Running Ahead of REC Projection
  • Iowa's sports wagering tax collections may see a further boost in the future, thanks to the Illinois Legislature
• Governor Signs Work Requirements for Medicaid Expansion Population
  • This bill ensures that able-bodied adults are working
• Private Property Rights Veto Won't Deter House Republicans
  • Despite the veto, Speaker Grassley has made it clear that protecting private property rights is essential
• State Transportation Commission Approves 2026-2030 Construction Plan
  • The plan expects to spend $4.3 billion in state and federal funding for various projects over those five years

Highlights in this edition:

• Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Addresses House Republican Priorities
  • And after some hard bargaining and over numerous objections, House Republicans maintained the commitment of $14 million of additional funding to school districts to supplement pay to paraeducators and other vital school support staff
• Governor Reynolds Signs Education Bills Into Law
  • HF 865 focuses on behavior over identity and applies the same standard to all kids focusing on a straightforward, individual-centered approach rooted in observable behavior, universal standards, and personal responsibility, avoiding an overreach into cultural or ideological territory
• We Know About Minnefornia...But What About Calirado?
  • Colorado made "deadnaming" and "misgendering" discriminatory acts under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act
• Iowa SNAP Waiver Approved, Begins January 1
  • Democrats seem to forget the "N" in SNAP stands for "nutrition."

Highlights in this edition: 

• Iowa's High School Graduation Rate Climbs
  • This marks the first time since 2020 that Iowa's graduation rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels
• Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies
  • President Trump's EO emphasizes restoring safety and order in classrooms, arguing that prior policies prioritizing racial equity over behavior-based discipline compromised student safety and academic achievement 
• Behavioral Health Statewide Plan 
  • The plan outlines a comprehensive, person-centered system of care, focused on building a full behavioral health continuum
• Federal Budget: Lack of Evidence for Gender-Affirming Care
  • The report concluded that there is no robust evidence demonstrating that puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries are not effective in treating gender dysphoria or improving mental health outcomes in minors

Highlights in this edition: 

• House Republicans Release Budget Plan
  • House Republicans continue to keep their word to paraeducators
• Iowa Ranks Fifth in the Nation, Landing the Midwest in Preschool Access for Four-Year-Olds
  • State spending totaled nearly $97,000,000, up 1 percent since last year 
• DNR Notes that Black Bear Sightings on the Rise in Northeast Iowa
  • Iowa has gone from having an occasional visiting bear, to more frequent visiting bears to now having two-to-four bears move in over winter
• Iowa is Finally Inheritance Tax Free
  • Senate File 619 passed back in 2021 phased out Iowa's inheritance tax at a rate of 20 percent each year until it was repealed totally this year

Highlights in this edition:

• Appropriations Committee Allocates Sports Wagering Tax Proceeds
  • The Fund has grown to $40.6 million as there is only one program that currently gets funding through it annually - $1.75 million a year for gamblers treatment programs in the state
• New Legislation Aims to Enhance College Affordability
  • The final decision on tuition increases must be made by April 30 of the previous fiscal year, allowing students to plan their finances more effectively
• Health Care Workforce Bill Sent to the Governor
  • The data shows that if you do your medical school training and your residency training in one state, you are far more likely to stay and practice in that state
• House Advances Open Meeting Enforcement
  • The bill increases training for public officials on open meetings and public information rules and increases fines for violations