Clockwise from left: Ross Baxter of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Randy Forburger of Safari Club International, Students from Dowling Catholic High School, EMS students from DMACC, Waukee legislative forum with Waukee NW High School Student Docken Haas and Rep. Kenan Judge, Celebration of the 74th National Chin Day (ethnic minority from Burma).
FUNNEL WEEK
We just passed the first funnel in the Iowa Legislative Session. The funnel narrows the scope of legislation by only moving forward bills that have passed out of committee in either the House or the Senate. Bills that did not pass committee are often considered “dead” for the session.
However, nothing is truly dead until the very end of the session. Policy can reappear, even in amendments to budget bills on the last day of session. Read here for a list of a few bills that survived the funnel.
Both the House and the Senate are going into debate on Monday, and we may be in debate multiple times through the week. There are a number of bills grabbing headlines, but below are a few other bills that I will be keeping an eye on.
You can share your thoughts by calling either the House (515-281-3221) or Senate (515-281-3371) switchboard to leave a message that will be left on a legislator’s desk. To share your thoughts, please contact your own legislators as well as the Republican Majority Leader at Jack.whitver@legis.iowa.gov.
SSB 3134 Limits the rights of property owners to sell their land for fair market price if the land will be used for conservation efforts. In less than a week, I received 800 emails, dozens of phone calls and Capitol visitors in opposition to this bill, but not one Iowan contacted me to support this legislation. At the same time, legislation to protect landowner rights from eminent domain abuse did not survive the funnel.
SSB3080 This Private School Voucher Bill seeks to draw $50 million from public education funds for private savings accounts that will have little taxpayer oversight. The funds can be held for years and spent on many other things beyond private school tuition. Families making up to $110,000 will be able to apply. This bill comes on the heels of the Governor signing a state funding increase for public schools that does not keep up with increasing costs for transportation, health insurance and utilities.
SSB3074 Significant changes to Iowa’s tax code have been proposed in the House, in the Senate and by the Governor. The Senate is the only chamber proposing to increase the state sales tax, which would fund the Natural Resources Trust Fund, but also take away local control by preempting Local Option Sales Taxes. In all three versions, the flat tax would raise state income taxes on Iowans making under the $60,000 median household income (half of all Iowans). Those at the median income level would see no change or a small decrease. The wealthiest Iowans would see the largest tax benefit.
SF2268 This bill seeks to increase the number of children allowed to be watched by one child care provider at a center, from six 2-year-olds to seven, and from eight 3-year-olds to 10. Child care providers have been adamant that increasing ratios will add strain to an already stressed and underpaid workforce while reducing the quality of care. Instead, child care advocates call for state investment and professionalizing the child care workforce.
SSB3144 This legislation creates a system to track available beds for intense psychiatric care throughout the state while providing a new tiered-rate system for higher acuity care. It’s important that this legislation receive an appropriation to increase funding for psychiatric care. If there is not a budget increase, it will mean shifting resources away from other vital health and human resources needs. Iowa needs more access to mental health care, and it will take real investment to provide the resources our neighbors need.
WHERE TO GET THE LASTEST COVID DATA
Now that Governor Reynolds has let the public health disaster emergency expire, you can find COVID-19 reporting data on the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) website: idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Reporting. It will include positive test data and vaccine administration data.
IDPH will use data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to identify Long Term Care facilities with positive cases and will assist in infection control. That data can be found here: data.cms.gov/covid-19/covid-19-nursing-home-data
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will continue to require hospital data reporting. Iowans can access that information here: protect-public.hhs.gov/pages/hospital-utilization
COVID-19 vaccines continue to be available statewide. Unfortunately, the day after the public emergency proclamation ended, the vaccinate.iowa.gov state website was taken offline. You can still find your nearest vaccine provider at vaccines.gov/search/.
State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott works for the people of Iowa Senate District 14, which includes Adel, Booneville, Van Meter and Waukee in southeast Dallas County.
Contact her at 515-207-9464 or sarah.trone.garriott@legis.iowa.gov.