From the Desk of Senator Petersen
2025 Legislative Session Underway
The 2025 Legislative Session is underway and set to run for 110 days (or until the legislature passes a balanced budget).
This year, Senate Democrats welcomed three new senators to our caucus: Matt Blake, Art Staed, and Tom Townsend. Senate Republicans welcomed four new senators. Governor Reynolds called for a special election for later this month to fill the vacant senate seat created when she named Sen. Chris Cournoyer as her new Lt. Governor.
Thank you for your input on bills you’d like to see me sponsor this session. The best ideas for legislation come from the people I represent. Many of those bills are coming back from the bill drafters, and I’m look forward to filing them on your behalf.
I hope to keep you updated on many of the happenings at the statehouse through my newsletter, social media and legislative town halls. You can follow me on social media and our website through the links below.
Thank you for your continued support!
The Condition of the State
On Tuesday night, Governor Kim Reynolds gave her annual Condition of the State address. While she believes the condition of the state is strong, I’ve got concerns about where it is headed under her leadership.
Iowans aren’t better off than they were eight years ago.
Housing isn’t more affordable, our water isn’t cleaner, childcare isn’t more accessible, public schools and health care are underfunded, maternal and infant mortality rates are on the rise, minimum wage is still $7.25, and the gap between CEO and worker pay is larger than ever. There is so much work to be done.
Let’s start with the bad. The governor introduced proposals going after safety net programs that provide economic security to Iowa families. Once again, she’s going after unemployment benefits for Iowans who lose their jobs by cutting earned benefits and making it nearly impossible to obtain. She is also proposing more hoops for Iowans (both kids and adults) to receive health care through Medicaid and Hawk-i.
The Governor also introduced a budget that will spend more money than the state takes in. She’s dipping into reserve funds the same year her private school voucher program is set to remove its cap, allowing the wealthiest Iowans to send their kids to private schools on taxpayers’ dime. The private school voucher program is draining our budget, and students at public schools are paying the price. The Governor is proposing a 2% increase for public school budgets and no additional funding for preschool, which leaves 1/3 of Iowa’s four-year-olds without access to preschool.
Governor Reynolds also made no mention of spending the millions of opioid settlement dollars that have been under lock and key in the Treasurer’s Office for more than two years while hundreds of Iowans have lost their lives to opioid addiction.
On the positive side, Governor Reynolds did open the door to some opportunities for cooperation this session: address Iowa’s rising cancer rates, hands-free driving legislation, maternal health, and cell phone usage in K-12 schools.
While we have many policy disagreements, I will continue to look for avenues to work together and push policies that improve the quality of our lives.
Quick Updates
- Radon Testing: The state Health and Human Services Department, in a partnership with the American Lung Association, is offering free radon testing kits for Iowans to use to measure radon levels in their home. Radon is one of the major causes for lung cancer, and if your home has not been tested recently, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity available through the state for a free test kit.
- Find a place to return your empty beverage containers: Retailers have been allowed to refuse to redeem beverage containers that consumers had purchased at that retail location since changes to the Bottle Bill were passed in 2022. This has made it more difficult for a consumer to know where they can return their containers to collect their nickel deposit and make sure that the containers are recycled. Now Iowans can use a website developed by the Iowa Beverage Association to find sites where they are can redeem their containers. Iowans can go to Empties.org and enter their address to find locations nearby where they can return containers, either at a redemption center or a retail location.
- A Virtual Mobile Clinic (VMC) now serves homeless Veterans in the Des Moines area: The VMC is a mobile medical facility that contains two exam rooms, a laboratory area, and waiting room and can accommodate 12-15 appointments each day, staffed by a registered nurse, two telehealth technicians, and a driver. On Fridays, it will now be stationed at VA’s facility that supports Veterans experiencing homelessness in downtown Des Moines. The VMC offers vaccines, cancer and HIV screening, in addition to primary care. The downtown Veterans facility, the Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) is located at 1223 Center Street and veterans can use this facility to search for jobs, launder clothes, and receive other basic needs.
- IRS opens Free File for Taxes: The Internal Revenue Service announced the IRS Free File Guided Tax Software has opened for taxpayers ahead of the official start of tax season later this month. Starting Jan. 10, the IRS Free File will begin accepting individual tax returns. Taxpayers can access free tools offered by trusted IRS Free File partners by visiting www.irs.gov/freefile.
- Care for caregivers’ online series: Iowans who want to take better care of themselves as they care for others can enroll in Powerful Tools for Caregivers, a series of classes offered virtually by ISU Extension and Outreach. The next six-week, online series begins Feb. 3, 1–2:30 p.m. The $40 fee registration fee also includes a guidebook. Online registration is now open. For more information about Powerful Tools for Caregivers, call 563-886-6157
- Grants available for tree plantings at Iowa schools: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through the USDA Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), received funds for schools to plant trees. A total of $105,000 in funds are available to help increase and diversify tree cover on school grounds, encourage students in planting trees. Grant funding is up to $5,000 per project. Apply online at www.iowadnr.gov/urbanforestry by March 21.
- Find a summer job in your favorite park or forest: Work alongside conservation and law enforcement professionals in an Iowa state park or forest this summer! Seasonal workers will explore the outdoors by performing hands-on duties in park management, natural resource practices, visitor engagement, and/or law enforcement. Apply at: www.iowadnr.gov/employment
This Week in the Capitol
Senate District 18 Legislative Team is back at the statehouse: (L to R) Rep. Austin Baeth, Sen. Janet Petersen, and Rep. Sean Bagniewski
Thanks for the visit from Roosevelt High School I-JAG students Kamden, Eman, Gabriela, and Leontae and their instructor Vincent Hanna this week to talk about the program.
Taking the oath of office in the Senate Chamber on Monday.
Love for Red was at the statehouse this week, pushing for better access to period products for Iowans.