Senator Donahue’s February 9 Newsletter

From the Desk of Senator Donahue

We have been at a fever pitch with subcommittee meetings as well as meetings with lobbyists and community members this week heading into the legislative session’s first funnel week.

In the subcommittees, we’ve seen a mix of bills from the governor and extreme GOP lawmakers – from culture-war grandstanding to attacks on local control to union busting and more executive power. This week even saw a bill requiring inappropriate and medically inaccurate human growth and development lessons in school – starting in kindergarten.

The nonprofits and special interest groups are all vying for funding they need to provide their programs and resources to those in need.

If we were in charge, things would be done differently. We would not be sitting on $2 billion that could be helping Iowans — but instead the GOP is stealing from the next generation, taking away from Peter to pay Paul.

This column from Art Cullen sums it up well.

By the end of next week, we will start to see the debate list shape up, and with your continued advocacy, we may be able to stop the culture war bills, the attacks on public education, the union busting, and all the rest of these bad bills that hurt workers and our economic outlook.

Happenings around the district:

We held a Linn County legislator forum that was very successful this past weekend with a lot of interest.
I will be a guest in Iowa County on Friday evening to speak about the AEA bill.
I will meet with Jones County Democrats at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Anamosa library to discuss legislation moving through at the Capitol.
I’m hosting a coffee with Rep. Elizabeth Wilson at 8:30 a.m. this Sunday at Uptown Coffee in Marion.

What is Your Top Legislative Priority in 2024?

In the early weeks of the legislative session, we’ve seen bills in the Statehouse that crank up the culture war, undermine public education, and try to erode equal rights for Iowans.

None of these bills are necessary. None of them offer more opportunity, freedom, or accountability for Iowans. None of them take our state in the right direction.

So here’s the question for Iowans: What should be the Iowa Legislature’s top priority this session?

As we approach a key deadline for considering and advancing bills through the legislative process, we want to hear from you. What’s the one thing above all others that lawmakers should focus on getting done for the people of Iowa?

Click the button below to tell us what you think.

Quick Updates

More mental health. With access lagging across the state, Iowa can do more to support mental health in schools. That’s why I joined my colleagues in sponsoring Senate File 2082, which would expand Medicaid to cover mental health provided in school-based settings, regardless of formal diagnosis. It’s what our kids are asking for and need, and I’m glad to see all of the advocacy organizations that have registered their support for the bill.
Union busting bill. This week, lawmakers held a subcommittee hearing on a union-busting bill that would give employers more power to weaken worker rights. Senate Study Bill 3158 would decertify a public-employee union if the public employer fails to file needed paperwork in a union recertification election. It’s unbelievable: under this bill, workers would be punished for something their employer failed to do. I support workers’ rights and oppose this bad bill.
Bipartisan preschool expansion. Senate File 2075 would fund a full-day preschool program for students whose household income is below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Preschool is a critical jumpstart for all kids, and those in lower income households benefit from extended instruction most. This bill has passed the first legislative hurdle, and I look forward to it passing the Senate Education Committee and reaching the floor for a full Senate vote.
Public schools are waiting. State law requires lawmakers to set public school funding for the coming year in the first 30 days of the legislative session. Setting this number is critical for districts to know how much funding they’ll receive and set their budgets accordingly. But instead of getting this done, the majority has introduced Senate Study Bill 3122, a bill that simply pushes lawmakers’ deadline back. This is a big problem for schools, which are rushing to finalize budgets and begin preparing for the coming school year.
Protect your local library. Last year,voters in Pella rejected a partisan attempt to take over the local library. Now, there’s a bill in the Legislature to threaten every library in Iowa with that same politicization. Senate Study Bill 3168 would threaten funding an independent oversight of public libraries, weakening these critical community institutions. But here’s the good news: after public outcry this week, the bill was pulled from consideration and is now being rewritten. Contact legislators on the Local Government Committee and let them know you support your local library and oppose SSB 3168.
AI technology guardrails: Artificial intelligence is a growing and exciting development in the ever-changing technological landscape, but it also raises new legal questions and challenges. Bad actors are using AI technology to create explicit images of children, creating confusion and uncertainty over what’s legal and what isn’t. The Iowa Senate Technology Committee is consideringSenate File 2136, which clarifies that AI-generated images of child abuse are illegal just as any other explicit image would be.
Register to vote, win an award. Iowa high schools that register 90 percent or more of their eligible senior students to vote by March 22 can receive the Carrie Chapman Catt Award through the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. If you’re a student or educator, follow these four steps to get voters registered and win the award!
- Step 1: Register to sign up for the 2023-2024 Carrie Chapman Catt Award.
- Step 2: Receive an Action Kit and begin planning and promoting a voter registration drive.
- Step 3: Conduct the drive and mail all voter registration forms and pledge cards to the appropriate recipient.
- Step 4: Receive the Carrie Chapman Catt Award!

Hunting Rules meeting. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall meetings focusing on hunting rules. Click here for times and locations across the state.
Fresh food grants. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Growing Together Mini Grants will provide fresh produce and nutrition education to food pantries in our community this year. The grants allow master gardener volunteers to plant vegetable gardens and then donate what they grow to local food pantries, food banks and other food distribution sites. In 2023, the Growing Together projects donated over 103,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to 100 food pantries and distribution sites serving 82,000 Iowans.
- In Linn County, the program will continue production at many donation garden sites and create an additional donation garden with a goal of donating 13,000 pounds of produce to local food pantries including the SE Linn Community Center. It will provide educational and volunteering opportunities for food pantry clients and promote donation of excess produce from home gardeners.