In late March, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released a proposal to change Iowa’s property tax system by having the state assume all costs when it comes to mental health services while also eliminating the mental health property tax levy. This is not the first time a major change in how mental health services are funding in Iowa has been proposed. While there have been many proposals for change, only a few have actually been implemented...

Often I refer back to the founding of our great country, and I am constantly amazed at the ability of those founders to work through some very emotional and trying issues to come up with a system of governance that has worked well for over 200 years. ...

You asked for it, and the Iowa House delivered. Hundreds of you told me that you did not want to see a vaccine passport in Iowa and as much as constitutionally possible, the House delivered on what you asked for on Wednesday April 28. The bill is simple in that it prohibits the state of Iowa or any subdivision within the state from issuing a vaccine passport or any type of identification card that shows your vaccination history. ...

This week, House Study Bill 273 passed House Ways and Means Committee with unanimous support. The bill has three divisions focusing on modernizing Iowa Code to conform to the modernization project the Department of Revenue is currently undertaking...

On Wednesday, the House Health and Human Services budget subcommittee released their spending plan for Fiscal Year 2022. With its release, all the major budget bills have been made public by both the House and Senate. This, combined with the agreement reached on the Administration and Regulation budget bill, means the budget has now moved to center stage at the Capitol...

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln Last week Todd Prichard, the Minority Leader of the Iowa House of Representatives wrote a disparaging letter to the editor to be published in newspapers across the state. ...

The Iowa House passed House File 857 this week with unanimous support. The bill creates the Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Fund and Program to be administered by Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in consultation with the Iowa Department of Agriculture (IDALS). ...

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in." - Abraham Lincoln Iowans are fortunate to live in one of the safest states in the nation. A big part of that is due to our peace officers who work night and day to protect citizens and ensure criminals are stopped. ...

"Social media isn't a tool that's just waiting to be used. It has its own goals, and it has its own means of pursuing them." - The Social Dilemma The media has proven to be both unreliable in its reporting and, in a few instances, complicit in the reporting against or for their interests. ...

House File 588 passed the Iowa House this week with nearly unanimous support. The bill creates a Hoover Presidential Library Tax Credit. The 31st President of the United States was born in Iowa, and his presidential library is located in West Branch. The library’s foundation is currently planning a $20 million renovation of the library, museum and associated grounds...

Iowa's renters and homeowners impacted by COVID-19 are now able to apply for assistance with rent and mortgage payments through two assistance programs. The Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program will provide eligible COVID-19 impacted renters with rent and/or utility assistance for a total of up to 12 months. General eligibility requirements require that applicants:...

This week the House unanimously passed House File 848 making changes to Iowa’s broadband grant program. When the governor introduced her bill, it made significant changes to the existing broadband grant program and focused on increasing broadband speeds around the state. House Republicans believed the emphasis should be placed on connecting Iowans who currently do not have access to broadband internet...

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) projected additional revenue growth in the current fiscal year and the next at its meeting last Friday. The three-person panel raised their forecast for General Fund revenue in Fiscal Year 2021 to $8.0789 billion, which is a growth rate of 1.9 percent. For the next budget year – FY 2022 – the REC raised state revenue to $8.3856 billion or 3.8 percent growth. ...

I was recently talking with some young people, and I was astounded by some of the things they said. Some of them think people’s right to voice their opinion should be limited if they “hurt the feelings” of others and the right of religious freedom should be limited if others are uncomfortable. As I listened to this, I thought I should look this up and see if it is prevalent...

This week was one of freedom and returning rights to Iowans in the way of freedom of speech and the right to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment to our U.S. Constitution states: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. ...

Iowa’s nursing homes and their direct care staff have done an exceptional job protecting the health of their vulnerable residents throughout this public health emergency. While the physical health of Iowans residing in nursing homes is extremely important, we must not forget the toll isolation from loved ones can have as well...

This week, the Iowa House passed House File 294, which will require health insurers to pay for mental health services delivered through telehealth at the same rate as they pay for in-person mental health treatment. Additionally, the legislature is considering House File 731 which would require insurers to accept out-of-state telehealth providers in their network if they meet all requirements for in-state health care providers. ...

I have often been asked what the best way is to talk with a legislator and how can you be impactful when you do so. To be honest, I had not thought about it since I had been a legislator. In the last six years, I have had many different forms of communication, some good and some bad, directed toward me and as I think about it, I can give a good summary of how to talk to a legislator that is both fun to read and informational at the same time...

This week the House passed Senate File 364 that provides three very important pandemic related tax exemptions. Collecting tax on pandemic related payments from Iowa’s small businesses and families is not the right thing to do. First, Senate File 364 fully conforms with federal law for those fiscal-year filers who previously were excluded from such conformity and allows such filers to take business expense deductions using federal paycheck protection program loan proceeds that were forgiven. ...

Recently, the Iowa House released a major piece of legislation that deals with firearms and the possession of them. The biggest piece of this legislation that I have been asked to accomplish since I have been a legislator is the ability to carry a weapon without a permit. ...

The election of 2020 left a bad taste in the mouths of many. Polling that was done in November and December shows that 30 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of Republicans felt the election was stolen from President Donald Trump. That is a huge number of citizens that felt the election results were false and, while Iowa’s results were much better, we cannot stand for the situations that happened in November in states where these red flags occurred...

Last Thursday, the House passed House File 532, which provides school districts with additional money to assist in covering costs related to COVID-19. This extra $27.2 million goes to schools that provided in-person instruction, whether that was fully in-person or hybrid, starting July 1, 2020, and ending Jan. 29, 2021, with the enactment of SF 160. We heard there was a need and wanted to help these schools during this unprecedented time...

This week in the House Ways and Means Committee, we passed two EMS bills with unanimous support. There is currently a tax credit of $100 for volunteer fire fighters and EMS personnel as well reserve peace officers. House File 144 increases that credit to $200, starting with tax years beginning on or after January of this year. House File 144 is projected to reduce net General Fund revenue by $1.2 million per fiscal year, beginning with FY 2022...

"Education is not the means of showing people how to get what they want. Education is an exercise by means of which enough men, it is hoped, will learn to want what is worth having." - Ronald Reagan House Republicans passed a Supplemental State Aid (SSA) increase for schools of 2.4% for FY22 for both the regular program and the categorical supplements. ...

Iowa’s efforts to improve the state’s infrastructure are funded through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) which receives its resources through gaming revenue. The decision of Nebraska voters to allow casino gaming in their state will endanger that funding. Just how endangered became clear on Tuesday, as the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) appeared before the Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee...

If you are like me, the discussions happening in Washington D.C. are a bit ludicrous, but I especially feel the $2 trillion relief package making its way through Congress right now is out of this world. It would be one thing if we had $1.9 trillion, but in the last year, the federal government has spent nearly $5 trillion of money that it does not have. While the federal government spending money it does not have is nothing new, this is an excessive expense...

I have been asked by several people what kind of bills I am running this year. So, in this newsletter, I would like to give you a bit of a synopsis of the bills that I have personally authored and why I have authored those bills. You will find, as I move through this brief essay, that the bills that I have written deal a great deal with Federalism or returning Iowa’s operations back to the state versus the Federal government...

In reviewing the state tax collections in January, it looks like things slowed down. The culprit for this change was not Iowans’ spending habits but rather the calendar.  The report, compiled by the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA), shows that net state revenue had slowed to neutral growth through seven months. But LSA was quick to point out one big factor — as the month ended on a Sunday, payments for certain tax filers were not due until Monday. And this calendar quirk had a big impact.. ...

My name is Camryn Huyser, and I have the extraordinary honor of serving as Rep. John Wills’ clerk for the 2021 legislative session. I am a student at Drake University with double majors in law, politics and society as well as Spanish. I plan to graduate in May of 2022 and attend law school thereafter. My ultimate goal is to study family law with an emphasis on children's rights or advocacy. I am an Iowa native from Pella, so I have no shortage of Iowa or Dutch pride...

House File 1 passed the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously this week. This bill increases the maximum Iowa net income threshold for the Iowa child and dependent care credit and the early childhood development tax credit. The current income limitation has not been changed in more than 15 years — leaving out many hard-working Iowa families from this benefit. House File 1 allows more Iowa parents than ever to claim this important credit...

Last week, Gov. Kim Reynolds revealed her plan for state spending in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The governor's plan proposes to spend $8.1141 billion from the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2022, which would be an increase of 3.7% over her revised FY 2021 budget. Gov. Reynolds's budget spends 98.31% of the on-going revenue in the General Fund ($8.2533 billion)...

Well, the legislature is fully in session, and we are conducting the business of the state of Iowa. This session is already so different than past sessions. While at the Capitol, one of my favorite things is to meet constituents who come to the Capitol, and thus far, visitors are few and far between...

Monday, Jan. 11, marked the first day of the 89th General Assembly. While much of the legislative session looked different, many pieces remained the same. This week provided for a lot of the building blocks of the session, swearing-in, getting people in offices and desks and updates from the Governor, National Guard and Chief Justice. ...

The first week of the 89th General Assembly began on Monday, and it has been a good week thus far. The first week is generally full of pomp and circumstance along with the approval of administrative issues like rules, pay and other things that keep the session going and orderly. The week also entails getting the Condition of the State from the governor, judicial and military (National Guard) of the state...

Let me be very clear, what happened with the rioting and anarchy in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 was a terrible thing. I have had friends in both political parties say that exact thing. Many of the same people who are saying bad things about this incident wanted to give a pass to those who were rioting last spring and summer in 2020, and I cannot let that pass without comment. Republicans and Democrats should together condemn any violent riots. It should not be a partisan issue...

The 89th General Assembly convened on Jan. 11, 2021. There are a number of new protocols in place to provide for greater social distancing in meetings, on the House floor and around the Capitol complex. That said, I am easily accessible via phone (515-991-7337) or email at megan.jones@legis.iowa.gov...

This last year was one of the most challenging for me that I can remember in my lifetime. I know when one thinks of world events like the Great Depression, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and many other terrible events, this year, while bad, hasn't been the worst humans have seen since creation of this world...

I shared this on Christmas Eve, and in my childhood I remember watching a Christmas classic each year: "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I learned a lot of lessons in that classic cartoon, but the biggest one is Linus' true meaning of Christmas. Through the hustle and bustle of the season we often forget the true meaning of Christmas and I would like to give you that one simple message in this update:...

The Iowa Constitution requires that every 10 years following the census there must be a drawing of congressional and state legislative districts based on changes in population, also known as redistricting. In Iowa, the responsibility of drawing the map of proposed districts lies with the nonpartisan bill drafting agency, known as the Legislative Services Agency (LSA). ...

The number of unemployment claims decreased in Iowa last week despite recent coronavirus mitigation measures. It's a good sign for the state as it continues into a period when seasonal layoffs are normal. Iowa Workforce Development reported a total of 5,593 initial unemployment claims were filed between Nov. 22-28. That's a decrease of 3,337 from the previous week's adjusted numbers...

We have learned a lot about our limits, our weaknesses and our resolve this year. One of the weaknesses we experienced was our access to broadband services. Over the last year, many people have seen their work, school, shopping and other things move online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ready or not, the increased use of broadband internet is here to stay...


Conserving America's natural resources is a nonpartisan issue. Both Republicans and Democrats alike should strive to protect our environment so future generations can enjoy the natural beauty with which we have been blessed. That's why, as a state representative, I have focused much of my energy on improving the quality of water in Iowa's lakes, rivers, and streams...

The election is now behind us — no more ads, no more phone calls, or yard signs. Voters were asked an important question on Election Day: Should Iowa have a constitutional convention? It was a small question with a potentially big impact. According to the Iowa Constitution, Iowans must be asked every 10 years if they support a constitutional convention to make changes to the Iowa Constitution. ...

The ability to vote and make one's voice heard is one of our most sacred rights. We continue to support common sense measures, which strengthen the security of our election system. Absentee voting is not being restricted. Iowa continues to be one of the most accessible states when it comes to voting. Here is some information about voting in Iowa. ...

Governor Reynolds announced Wednesday that the state finished Fiscal Year 2020 with a budget surplus of $305.5 million. This comes as the state closes the books on Fiscal Year 2020, which ended on June 30. According to the Department of Management, general fund revenue grew by 1 percent during the fiscal year. This growth came in the midst of a global pandemic which shut down significant parts of the Iowa economy for nearly two months...

Recently we have heard a lot of talk about defunding our police in this country. This talk started in Minneapolis and has since spread to large and medium cities in our nation. Instead of defunding the police, I prefer to defend our police. These brave folks have done nothing but protected and served us through all the targeting and anger of the mobs who are rioting and looting...

I was having an e-mail discussion with a good friend this week and realized something I am appalled about that I felt a need to share. America has become sharply divided to a point that my fellow Americans are self-censoring according to a survey completed by The CATO Institute. ...

Have you ever wondered about our national anthem and how it came to be?  What does it matter anyway, it's just a song or its just a flag, right? In today's era where we have rioting; people offended by the flag, anthem, founding fathers, statues, and God knows what else, I thought I would look at unity...

Recently, there has been a lot of misinformation about two bills that the Iowa House passed this year on election law. The two bills are somehow, either purposefully or mistakenly, a part of a misinformation campaign where people are informed that Republicans passed bills that are voter suppression or eliminates absentee voting. ...

On Sunday, June 14, we concluded the 2020 legislative session. This session was unlike any we have experienced before. The session was suspended, abbreviated and hyphenated. My friend and colleage, Representative Jon Throup really summarized this session well: ...

On Thursday, June 10, the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate made history by introducing a bill in both chambers, moving it through subcommittee and committee, then to the floor of both chambers, and passing it unanimously and sending it to the governor for signature. This bill, named "Justice Reform" by us but misnamed "Police Misconduct Reform" by newspapers was historic for several reasons and was much needed...

Earlier this week we released a budget plan for Fiscal Year 2021. We have to be careful about budgeting, now more than ever, because we have yet to see an end to the impacts of COVID-19. While the COVID pandemic has impacted the budget, I am optimistic that Iowa is in better shape than many states. ...

This week marked the legislature's first week back in Des Moines since the session suspension due to COVID-19 concerns on March 17. While even though we have not been physically in the Capitol building, I have still had the opportunity to hear from many of you with questions and concerns as we push through this difficult time...

I have faith in humans and in Iowans in general because we tend to do the right thing, even in the face of adversity. This is called grit and in my mind and my 25 years of military service, grit can get you through so much in life. I chose to veer away from politics for my newsletter today, even though in less than a week the Legislature will be in full swing again, finishing up our business for the year...

Since the community spread of COVID-19 officially hit Iowa in mid-March, we saw Iowans respond. Many Iowans started or expanded their reliance on internet connectivity for learning, working and socializing. This magnified, nearly overnight, the importance of a quality internet connection...

If you watch the news or look at social media each day, it can get pretty daunting. It can be a heavy weight. While some choose to focus on the negative impacts of COVID-19, many of the positive trends are largely being ignored. When looking at the unprecedented amount of data and information that the state is providing to Iowans, it is important to remember to not to look at one single day to measure the impact that COVID-19 has had. ...

Let’s not lose focus now. Over the last few months, we were told by officials that we needed to flatten the curve so as to not overwhelm the hospitals and to ensure there would be enough PPE, ventilators and other resources available because when the hospitals are overwhelmed, that is when massive death could happen. ...

There are a lot of updates this week, so let's just get right to it:  At the Monday May 11 press conference, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she would be following a "modified quarantine" after a member of Vice President Pence's staff tested for COVID-19. The Governor traveled to Washington DC to meet with President Trump and participated in some events with Vice President Pence in Iowa...

It was announced that Iowa will receive over $71 million in federal aid to help PK-12 schools mitigate the effects of COVID-19. The amount is Iowa's share of the more than $13.2 billion emergency relief provided in the elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act...

  Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that additional funding was allocated for the Iowa Small Business Relief Grant program through the CARES Act. Additional grant notifications went out recently and will continue daily until all funds are exhausted. Iowa Economic Development Authority is working through the current applicant pool and businesses with the greatest loss in revenue will be given priority. ...

This past week, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her plans to begin the process of reopening Iowa’s economy in a responsible and phased-in approach. Beginning on May 1, previously closed businesses including restaurants, fitness centers, enclosed malls, libraries, and other retail establishments will be allowed to reopen. ...

Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak first made its way to Iowa, our families, small businesses and communities have been impacted in ways they have never been. In this era of social distancing and uncertainty, many have lost their jobs, and businesses have had to shut their doors (some have done so for good)...

As we continue on through this uncertain time with COVID-19, I receive a lot of questions. I am always happy to help sort through those issues on a case-by-case basis, but thought it might be helpful to include an update with the most frequently asked questions. ...

"He who gives up his liberty for safety gets none of them." — Thomas Jefferson Wow, let's reflect on that for a bit because it is very relevant today. To keep our citizens safe as we fight this COVID-19 crisis, it has been at the expense of many of our liberties and freedoms. While I do have concerns, I supportive of the efforts our governor and president have taken to protect our state and country and believe they acted in the best interests of the citizens they are sworn to protect...

As we continue on through this uncertain time with COVID-19, I receive a lot of questions. I am always happy to help sort through those issues on a case-by-case basis, but thought it might be helpful to include an update with the most frequently asked questions...

As we continue on through this uncertain time with COVID-19, I receive a lot of questions. I am always happy to help sort through those issues on a case-by-case basis, but thought it might be helpful to include an update with the most frequently asked questions...

I have heard so many negative comments in the last few weeks it makes my head spin. The comments range from how bad the president is, the governor is, and even the state and local elected officials are. Almost no one is exempt from the criticism. While I have broad shoulders and can most assuredly handle my fair share of negative, I must say that it all might be displaced. I have also heard good comments, to be fair but I would like to address the negative and hopefully turn them to a positive...

I am by no means an expert in COVID 19. In fact, I am not much of an expert in much (some will say we knew that already) but I do know that in a time of challenge the only way to get through the challenge is to power through and defeat it. I would like to talk more about how we get through this as a people and culture...

This week, the House and Senate finalized K-12 funding for the upcoming school year. Iowa's schools will receive almost $100 million in new money for the 2020-21 school year, with additional resources targeted toward critical needs like rural school transportation costs and per-pupil equity...

We have all seen the heartbreaking new stories where a young person has suffered or even taken their own life due to depression, bullying, or other mental illness. Many of us have been directly impacted by something of this nature. Mental illness is an issue that plagues not only Iowa families, but our communities as well...

The first week after the funnel brings a lot of floor debate. Typically these bills are "non-cons" or the bills that are not controversial — but others bring about a fair amount of debate. HF 2238 was a bill that received bi-partisan support. This bill seeks to encourage youth entrepreneurship. We are always looking for ways to unleash our small businesses and reduce the amount of burdensome and costly regulations that stifle growth...

The House Republicans and the Governor both released their priorities to start the 2020 Legislative Session. I would like to touch on the House priorities first, and then the governor's. You will find that both sets of priorities are complementary but take a different approach in reaching the end goal...

This week, we announced a K-12 funding package for the 2020-21 school year. This package takes into account many of the challenges that teachers, school boards and administrators have brought to lawmakers, and targets additional dollars to address these problems...

From my family to yours I wish you a safe and prosperous New Year and new decade. May 2020 bring you blessings and Gods face to shine upon you. As I prepare to head to Des Moines for our 2020 session, I want you to know how thankful I have been to represent you these last five years. I look forward to doing great things in Des Moines this upcoming year and keeping Iowa on the right track...

On Dec. 11, the interim Public Retirement Systems Committee met to receive an update from IPERS, 411 system for police and firefighters, Judicial Branch, Department of Administrative Services-Retirement Investors Club, and Peace Officers' Retirement System. The state of these pension systems continues to be strong...

Every American has the right to due process under the United States Constitution and more specifically the Bill of Rights within the Constitution. The right to due process, in fact, is in the Constitution twice. Due process is in the Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights and it is in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution...

On Dec. 12, the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) held its December meeting. The three-member panel gathered to review Iowa's economy, revise budget projections for FY 2020 and set the official estimate for FY 2021. For the current fiscal year (FY2020), the REC raised the general fund forecast to $8.0146 billion. ...

Over the last several weeks farmers, homes and businesses who use propane for heat or to dry their corn have been experiencing a shortage due to significant transportation issues. This shortage is the product of a "perfect storm," of a late planting season this spring, early winter weather conditions and high demand for petroleum products throughout the Midwest...

First and foremost, I hope you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving. We have been entrusted with so much in this great country and state. I am thankful for my wife and family and the greatest nation on Earth. I recently traveled to China to discuss trade and other important issues that will affect Iowa. ...

Chief Justice Mark Cady passed away Nov. 15, 2019, from a heart attack. He was 66.  Chief Justice Cady of Fort Dodge, was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1998. The members of the court selected him as chief justice in 2011. Chief Justice Cady was a real judge. And I do not mean that he sat in a stuffy robe, on a high pedestal, with a wig, banging a gavel around. He was a real Iowan. A worker-bee, approachable and one of the people. Just as a judge ought to be...

In 2017, the Iowa Legislature passed HF 566 which merged municipal, school districts, community college districts (merged) and area education agency boards into one date. According to a fiscal note published by the Legislative Service Agency over the prior four municipal elections the voter turnout was 21.3%. During that same time, the voter turnout for the school board elections was averaged out to 6.5%...

On Oct. 9, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release announcing that this state agency is proposing administrative rule changes that would elevate the standard of care for companion animals in all licensed commercial facilities in Iowa.   ...

Last week was the October Administrative Rules Review Committee. I have the honor of chairing the committee that meets once a month to review rules put forth by the Executive Branch. This committee sees a wide variety boards, commissions, departments and agencies — and subsequently sees a wide variety of issues. This month, rules relating to the disinterment of human cremains were of particular interest...

On Monday Oct. 14, the three-member Revenue Estimating Conference held its fall meeting to revise state revenue projections for the current fiscal year (FY 2020) and the next budget year (FY 2021). Unlike most previous meetings, the REC had to find common ground between significantly different projections coming from the Legislative Services Agency and the Department of Management...

On Sept. 30, Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives Linda Upmeyer announced she was not going to seek re-election in 2020 and was stepping down as Speaker. This move effectively allows the incoming Speaker an opportunity to take the reins early, while still having the former Speaker in the Chamber to assist with the transition. Former Speaker Kraig Paulsen afforded the same opportunity to Speaker Upmeyer...

The Legislative Fiscal Committee met for the first time during the 2019 interim on in September. One of the major presentations was by Northeast Iowa Community College and the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, discussing their initiative to connect childcare with education and training programs for in-demand jobs. ...

Recently there has been a lot of talk about ending the electoral college and instead move to a popular vote. These talks have been brought on lately due to several of the more recent presidential races ending with an electoral victory and the popular vote going to the different candidates. Most recently President Trump won an electoral election and lost the popular vote...

The Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency (AEA) hosted a professional development course Aug. 5-6 called "School on Fire: Institute for Creativity & Innovation in Education." While it is routine for the AEAs to host professional development courses, this one was a little different. ...

The United States Department of Transportation recently announced that Iowa was awarded a $33.4 million federal Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) grant. State Departments of Transportation in 25 eligible states were invited to apply under the program — by law eligible states were limited to states with population densities of less than 100 people per square-mile based on Census data...

With the first-in-the nation caucuses this winter, prominent national Democrats like Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren have continued to endorse extreme ideas and socialism. Not to be outdone by presidential candidates' far-left health care proposals, Iowa House Democrats introduced legislation last session that would force Iowans into a socialist-style, government-run health care system that would eliminate private health insurance (House File 96). ...

An issue that surfaced late during the 2019 legislative session related to "blackout" license plates.  There was a desire to create a new license plate that was entirely black. Dordt University offered a black license plate, but featured additional white lettering. There was so much interest in an entirely black plate, people purchased the Dordt plates and used specially designed blackout brackets to cover the Dordt-specific lettering thus making a pieced-together black plate...

I started thinking about Midwest values. First, I must define Midwest values because we always talk about them. What exactly are they? Midwest values include: an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, hard work, honesty, modesty, lack of pretension, your word is your bond, always lend a helping hand, never stand by and tolerate injustice or suffering, your name/reputation/character is your most prized possession, aversion to shiny objects and flashy ways (consumerism, political spin, fast talkers, etc.). ...

Iowa is in need physicians, especially in rural areas. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Iowa ranked 46th in 2016 for the total number of physicians active in patient care per 100,000 people. The legislature made an attempt to begin addressing this issue by bolstering two scholarship funds in the education budget this year. ...

It is my pleasure to submit this letter in support of Okoboji Community Schools and Spirit Lake Community Schools desire to update the Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) in an upcoming special election. Our Schools must update their RPS due to a recent change in the law that regulates the SAVE and I urge a YES vote during this special election...

Economic activity in the Midwest is picking up, according to a monthly survey by Creighton University. The Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose in June to a rating of 55.4, according to Creighton University professor Ernie Goss. The Business Conditions Index measures economic activity in nine Midwestern states, with a rating of 50.0 or higher indicating a growing economy...

On June 27, in a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering was a political question that was outside of the reach of the Supreme Court. This case involved a map in North Carolina (Republican) and a map in Maryland (Democrat) that favored the political party that drew them...

Over the last two years, the legislature has passed bipartisan mental health reform and created the state's first ever children's mental health system. These bills have been consistently regarded by mental health advocates as the most significant steps forward Iowa has ever taken to increase access to mental health services statewide...

On Tuesday, July 9, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release in which the state agency noted that unfavorable planting conditions this spring commonly delayed, and in some cases, prevented crop planting...

The Legislative Services Agency issued their monthly revenue memo for June 2019, closing up a strong year for state revenue as collections grew 6.6%.  Through June's report, the state has taken in $7.7312 billion in net receipts in Fiscal Year 2019.  That is a $478.9 million increase over the same figure at the end of June 2018. ...

The 2019 Kids Count report was released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation last week and it showed good news for Iowa. In this 30th anniversary report, Iowa was ranked 3rd in overall Child Well-Being Support, which is comprised of indicators in four separate domains: Economic Well-Being (Iowa ranked 2nd), Education (7th), Health (8th), and Family and Community (8th)...

Governor Reynolds vetoed House File 732, which would have altered Iowa's cannabidiol program. The veto leaves Iowa's current cannabidiol law in place. HF 732 would have made several changes to 2016 law. The largest of which would be removing the 3% THC cap and allowing a person with a medical cannabidiol card to receive up to 25 grams of THC in 90 days. Patients would be responsible for managing their dosage in those 90 days and would be prohibited from receiving more in that time...

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. May was another strong month for state revenue, as tax collections were 28.1 percent higher than what was collected in May 2018. The $145 million increase in monthly collections raised the year to date growth in state revenue to 7.8 percent in Fiscal Year 2019, putting the state well ahead of the Revenue Estimating Conference’s projection of 4.8 percent growth. ...

Starting July 1, Iowa Total Care will be joining the Iowa Medicaid program and UnitedHealthcare will be leaving the program. All Medicaid members that have UnitedHealthcare have been notified with their initial assignment to either Amerigroup Iowa or Iowa Total Care. Those Medicaid members will have until June 18 to switch to the other managed care organization to be effective July 1...

Senate File 86 is a bill (now law) that places an organ donation symbol on hunting, fishing, or fur harvester licenses, similar to what is done with Iowa driver licenses. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed this bill on May 6.  Under this new law, there is an option to request that a donor symbol is added to your hunting, fishing, or fur harvester license will be added to the application for license, and future hunter education courses will include information on being an organ, tissue, or eye donor...

On Monday, May 13, Iowa Gov. Reynolds signed Senate File 599, the Iowa Hemp Act, which starts the federal-state partnership to redevelop the industrial hemp industry. Governor Reynolds in her signing letter noted that this legislation will "… allow Iowa to begin the process of entering a new agricultural marketplace for hemp. ...

Now that the 2019 session has ended, I thought it might be interesting to share a deeper dive into the state's budget.  At the end of session, supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2019 totaled $168.6 million. This amount is driven by an $150.3 million increase for Medicaid and the $15 million one-time appropriation to help communities in western Iowa recover from this spring's flooding...

This past legislative session we worked hard to ensure high quality and affordable health care in the state of Iowa. The things we did to ensure that include $4.4 million for rural hospitals, $7.7 million for child care affordability, $2.8 million for additional mental health treatment, $5.9 million for additional Department of Human Services field employees, $400,000 for rural psychiatric residencies, and $3.1 million dollars for children’s mental health...

On Tuesday, April 23, the House passed Senate File 599 by a bi-partisan 95 "aye" to 3 "nay" vote. It had previously passed the Senate 49-1. SF 599 provides the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) with the primary role of implementing operating the Iowa Hemp program. I've received a lot of questions about this program...

As you read this message the 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature has ended. There were many things that were done this year to "move Iowa forward" and we were able to have a very successful session. This last session, we were able to put taxpayers first, ensure a world class education, ensure affordable and accessible health care, revitalize rural Iowa, enhance Iowa's workforce and economy and protect public safety...

I have talked about property tax reform a few times this year and Thursday morning at 3 a.m., the Iowa House passed a historic bill that simply requires communication on how property taxes are calculated and explained to the common taxpayer. The bill that was passed out of the House and sent to the governor has several main points to it that will protect and keep taxpayers informed. The bill deals with several topics including:...

Senate File 634 is a bill about property tax transparency. I have heard from many of you lately who were concerned about your property tax assessments. It was time to take action. You deserve to know what is going on with your taxes. It should be clear and not buried deep within the depths of a government...

We are within a week or two of being done with our business at the Iowa State Capitol this year. We have had a successful legislative session and have begun the process of ending our actions for the year. Our official last day in Session is May 3. However, I don’t think we will be in Des Moines until then. We have agreed on a budget dollar amount which only spends 97.43 percent of the available dollars next fiscal year. This is not a cut in the state budget, rather a slowdown...

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed House File 227. This bill doubles the income limitation for the Iowa child and dependent care tax credit. This is a credit that supports working Iowa families who spend large portions of their paychecks on childcare...

Last week, Governor Reynolds and the Department of Human Services announced that negotiations with United Healthcare have ceased. Governor Reynolds cited UnitedHealthcare's demand for more money for less accountability as the reason for the breakdown...

Governor's bill on contraceptives creates a statewide standing order with the medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health and allows pharmacists to dispense initially three months of an oral contraceptive, hormonal vaginal ring or hormonal contraceptive patch, and then subsequent year supplies. This bill only applies to patients 18 years and older...

The House Labor Committee passed HF 666 requiring the State Government Efficiency Committee to review every occupational license in the state over a six year period of time and send a report to the General Assembly on which it must vote. This bill also requires licensing boards to inform individuals with a criminal record whether or not they would be eligible for an a license...

Last week was "funnel week." This is where the legislature's focus is narrowed to bills that have passed out of at least one committee in one chamber and are eligible to be debated on the floor and signed into law. If a bill fails to advance through a committee, it is considered "dead" for the session and is tabled. Oftentimes, a bill is not moved forward because it lacks support or needs improvement over the interim. The funnel does not apply to Appropriations or Ways & Means bills...

When I travel across house district 1, I’m often asked what the most pressing issue is facing the state. That is such a difficult question because, as you might have guessed, everyone has a different opinion. However, the one thing I hear from voters, legislators and community leaders is the issue of rural development in our state...

In 2008, the Legislature created the SAVE Fund to help schools make much-needed investments in crumbling school infrastructure. SAVE serves as an important tool for schools to make important improvements that ensure modern facilities, safe classrooms, and state of the art technology that enhance students' educational experience...

When I travel across house district 1, I’m often asked what the most pressing issue is facing the state. That is such a difficult question because, as you might have guessed, everyone has a different opinion. However, the one thing I hear from voters, legislators and community leaders is the issue of rural development in our state...

The House Government Oversight Committee met recently to follow-up on the Medicaid Managed Care Oversight legislation that was passed last year. The Committee heard from Director Jerry Foxhoven of the Department of Human Services, Alissa Weber, CEO at UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Iowa, and Jeffrey Jones, President at Amerigroup Iowa. ...

After a mild beginning to the winter season, January hit the state hard with successive snow storms that blanketed the state in snow and cold. And with it came schools closings statewide. The Department of Education doesn't keep track of days called off school for weather, so hard numbers don't exist. But anecdotally you'll hear anywhere from two days to over a dozen days called off so far this season. And that many days will present a challenge to just about every school calendar out there...

Development of the state budget took a major step forward on Tuesday when House Republicans unveiled our framework for a responsible, conservative budget in Fiscal Year 2020. The House proposal provides $7.668 billion from the General Fund to state programs beginning July 1...

This newsletter will be a bit different than the others. I have often been asked: "What it is like to be a state legislator?" So I thought it would be a good idea to give you a brief summary of what an average day is like for me. With that said, each day is different in the state capitol. There is a general flow to each day, and that is what I hope to convey with this letter...

We made significant progress on a couple of important issues this week at the Statehouse. Once again, weather was a detractor from our work on the Hill as it was across the state. All the while, we were working hard at doing the peoples work and making Iowa a better place. The two significant issues that were brought to light this week were school funding and judicial selection reform. ...

The Internal Revenue Service is officially accepting and processing federal tax returns for tax year 2018. The IRS expects more than 150 million individual tax returns to be filed this season and has already received several million in the opening hours...

On Monday, the House of Representatives held an election contest to settle a disputed election in House District 55. House District 55 was decided by nine votes. However, there were 29 ballots set aside because they were received by the auditor's office after election day...

The first week of the Iowa Legislature started on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.  We heard from Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady and the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard Timothy Orr. Some regard these speeches as pomp and circumstance, but they are really a time for each leader to lay out their vision to better the State of Iowa...