Legislative Work
This Week's House GOP Newsletter - May 16, 2024
Highlights in this edition:
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Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Ready for Implementation as Governor Signs Appropriation Bills
- 2.5 percent increase in state aid to schools, which is projected to be an additional $87.2 million given to schools next school year plus $66.3 million in new funding to raise teacher salaries and an additional $14 million to increase pay to paraeducators and other school support staff
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Secretary Naig Thanks Governor Reynolds, Legislature for Strong Support of Iowa Agriculture
- Iowa’s prohibition on the foreign ownership of farmland will continue to be a model for other states
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Teacher Salary Increase, Evidence Based Reading Instruction Bills Headline Education Bills Signed into Law
- HF 2618, requires evidence-based reading instruction and tailored interventions for students who aren’t proficient
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Biden Administration Favors Illegal Immigrants Over Iowans
- Instead of protecting our borders, the United States Federal Government has decided to sue the state of Iowa for taking action against illegal immigration
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Governor Signs Increase to Contribution Maximums for Educational Savings Plan Trusts
- HF 2667 increases the income deduction limit on contributions to College Savings Iowa accounts by almost $1500
This Week's House GOP Newsletter - April 18th, 2024
Highlights in this edition:
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Support for Affordable Housing and School Cybersecurity Highlight Accomplishments
- The Housing Trust Fund that supports affordable housing saw an increase in funding, SAVE funds can now be used for cybersecurity
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House Pushes Left Leaning Ideology out of Education
- Education data suggests that the lack of specific standards and a deemphasis on civics and history is having an alarmingly negative effect on students
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Top Health Care Accomplishments
- Rural Emergency Hospitals, Family Medicine OB Fellowships and Postpartum Coverage were key priorities for House Republicans
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Election Security Remains a Priority
- Safeguards around absentee ballots were strengthened
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Child Care and Adoption Tax Credit Top Ways & Means Successes
- Child Care Centers see a property tax cut and the adoption tax credit saw a significant increase
This Week's House GOP Newsletter - April 11, 2024
Highlights in this edition:
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Budget Work Picks Up Pace as House, Senate Appropriations Bills Unveiled
- This important step allows Iowans to draw some comparisons between the different approaches of the two chambers
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IEDA Awards CAT Grants and Sports Tourism Grant
- Fort Dodge, Atlantic, Clear Lake, Mt. Pleasant, Kalona, Clayton County, Carroll, Rock Valley, Mt. Ayr and Newton all received grants
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Programs that Help Workers
- The adult and dislocated worker programs are designed to assist unemployed and underemployed Iowans to improve their skills and obtain quality employment
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Connecting Public Dollars to Charitable Services
- Another tool for local governments to utilize public dollars to help those in their communities who need assistance
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Governor Signs Bill on Foreign Ownership of Land into Law
- The new law increases reporting requirements, increases enforcement of current laws, and authorizes the Attorney General’s office to investigate reports of potential violations of Iowa’s laws concerning foreign ownership
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House Passes Iowa Rural Development Tax Credit Program
- The bill will save Iowans $1.8 million annually
Bill Analyses - Week of April 8th, 2024
HF 2646 – Final Disposition of Remaining UST Funds
HF 2644 – Court Reporter Equipment Incentive Fund
HF 2681 – Traffic Cameras
HF 2686 – Government Realignment Clean Up
HF 2574 – Boards and Commissions Strike After Amendment Division Analysis
HF 2531 – Cabaret and Nuisance Violations
HF 2641 – IDALS Code Updates and Choose Iowa Promotional Program Code modifications
SF 2071 – Bingo Prizes
HF 2684 – Out of State Cannabidiol Registration Cards
HF 2463 – Driving Privileges for Drivers Under 18
SF 2370 – Governor’s Rules Bill
This Week's House GOP Newsletter - April 4th, 2024
Highlights in this edition:
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House Republicans Release Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2025
- The budget outlines an increase of $402.8 million over the current year spending level of $8.55 billion
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Department Seeks Public Input on Literacy Standards
- The Iowa Department of Education is hosting a series of public forums seeking input on proposed updates to the state's literacy standards
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House Advances Maternal Health Legislation
- Medicaid postpartum coverage eligibility is extended to one year after birth and funding goes directly to entities helping pregnant women with prenatal nutrition, family economic self-sufficiency, housing, childcare, purchasing cribs, car seats, formula, and other things
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Governor Reynolds Signs Iowa's Religious Freedom Restoration Act
- The debate made clear Democrats do not understand RFRA or what religious liberty actually means
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House Passes Iowa Rural Development Tax Credit Program
- The program targets business with fewer than 250 employees and are not located in one of the 12 most populous counties in the state
This Week's House GOP Newsletter - March 28th, 2024
Highlights in this edition:
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Governor Reynolds signs AEA, Teacher Salary Increase Bill
- Beginning teacher salaries rise to $50,000
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House Advances Child Care Legislation with $43 Million Impact
- The Child Care Assistance Program sees an increase in funding
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Texas-Style Crackdown on Illegal Immigration Goes to Governor
- If a person has previously been caught in the country illegally and they later enter Iowa they are guilty of the crime of reentry into the state
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House Passes Bill to Expand Tax Income Deductions for 529 Contributions
- Allows tax free transfers from an Iowa College Savings Account to a qualifies Roth Individual Retirement Account
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Changes to Minor Driving Privileges Move Forward
- A student with this license is now limited to 25 miles, on the most direct route, in how far they could drive
This week's House GOP Newsletter - March 21st, 2024
Highlights in this edition:
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A Meeting Unlike Any Other … the March Revenue Estimating Conference
- The conclusion of the spring REC meeting effectively fires the starter’s pistol on this year’s budget season
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Senate Fails to Move Key Bills
- Social Studies Standards emphasizing American history died in Senate Education Committee
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House Passes Legislation to Avoid Tax Increase on Iowa’s Livestock Farmers
- House File 2649 passed the House floor this week with unanimous support
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Childcare Center Property Tax Parity
- Property that is primarily used as a child care center or facility receive a tax break