Senator Donahue’s Feb. 14 Newsletter

From the Desk of Senator Donahue

Week five brought some debate and some wild winter weather – along with some great opportunities to meet folks that came to visit the Capitol.

In the coming weeks, we will be doing more debating as funnel week will quickly be upon us. For those that don’t know about funnel week, that is the week in which bills need to be in and through the committee process to move forward. No new legislation will be introduced by legislators after that point for this particular session.

The Legislature has several self-imposed deadlines to help keep things moving. Today, for example, is the deadline for Senators to request bill drafts from the Legislative Services Agency.

Events around the district this coming week:

This coming week, we have some people with some big birthdays. I won’t divulge what that birthday is for them, but if you know these people in the Marion and Cedar Rapids area and see them, please wish them a very happy birthday!

Linda	Kuster
Cindy	Grimes
Elena	Murillo
Marjorie	Walter
Fredrich	Mellberg
Michelle	Simonsen
Michael	Pedersen
Melissa	Reck
Melissa	Seifert
Martha	Webb
Shane	Schrupp
Timothy	Cleveland
David	Warren

The Underfunding of Iowa’s Public Schools Continues

Earlier this week, over the objections of Senate Democrats and school districts around the state, Senate Republicans advanced a school funding bill that will continue to leave our public schools underfunded and force our students to do more with less.

Senate Republicans, in concert with Gov. Reynolds’ wishes, pushed through a bill that would increase funding for our public schools by 2% for the 2025-26 school year. What does a 2% increase mean in practice?

Well, to start, public schools will be forced to continue contending with prolonged teacher shortages – Iowa’s schools are among the nation’s most understaffed, according to data from the NCSL. At 2%, many school districts will be forced into significant budget cuts due to rising operational costs and growing expenses. Under the Republican plan, nearly half of Iowa’s school districts could be forced to raise local property taxes in order to cover funding gaps.

It didn’t have to be this way.

During the floor debate, Senate Democrats proposed an amendment to improve the bill, increasing school funding by 5%, aligning with education experts around the state. With a 5% increase, Iowa’s 482,000 public school students would receive a similar increase amount in funding to the amount Republican lawmakers have proposed for the roughly 27,000 kids in the unaccountable private school voucher program for next school year. Our public schools would be able to address teacher shortages, invest in modern educational materials, update classroom technologies, support special education needs, and expand preschool programs.

Under 5%, we would be able to adequately support Iowa’s public schools and begin to make up for years of persistent underfunding.

The Republican proposal, SF 167, passed 29-18 with three Republican senators joining the Senate Democrats in voting NO.

House Republicans passed an alternative public school funding bill, which differs from Senate Republicans and the governor. They proposed a 2.25% increase in funding with additional components, including a one-time appropriation to be divided between all school districts in the state. Senate and House Republicans will now need to figure out how to move forward and agree on a funding level, but regardless of which route they choose, one thing remains clear: both Republican proposals are wholly inadequate and fail to address our public schools’ needs. Iowa’s public school students deserve better than what is being offered by Gov. Reynolds and Republican lawmakers.

Pesticide Petition

Who were we elected to represent, Iowans or chemical companies?

That’s the question my Democratic colleagues and I are asking Republican lawmakers this week. The majority party is pushing to advance SSB 1051, a bill that would give huge chemical companies blanket immunity if Iowans are injured by their products.

This bill is backwards, plain and simple. It strips legal protections away from Iowa farmers who face increased risk of diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s while protecting the chemical companies whose products are contributing to the problem.

Our focus should be on Iowans, not big corporations. We should not be taking away Iowans’ right to have their day in court.

I’m asking you to sign on to our petition to demand Senate Republicans put Iowans’ interests first and to stop protecting the companies who are contributing to our rising cancer rates.

Quick Updates

Pro-cancer bills being advanced by legislative Republicans: Over the past two weeks, Senate Republicans had advanced multiple bills that will make it more difficult to address Iowa’s high cancer rate. One, SSB 1051, would shield pesticide manufacturers from being sued by Iowans who develop cancer or other serious health conditions as a result of their product. Another bill, SF 120, would limit the ability for youth to access the HPV vaccine, which is a known cancer prevention tool. This despite Iowa’s rising cancer rates.
Robotics team bill: This week the Iowa Senate Education Committee recommended the passage of SF 61, a bill designed to enhance robotics extracurricular activities in Iowa high schools. The proposed legislation mandates that the Iowa Department of Education provide technical assistance to school districts for establishing career and technical student organizations focused on robotics. Additionally, it authorizes high school athletic organizations to sponsor interscholastic robotics competitions. Iowa robotics team members from different high schools came to the Capitol to testify before senators and promote STEM education and the growth of robotics programs across the state. With the committee’s recommendation, SF 61 will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.
February is CTE Month,which highlights the achievements in career and technical education programs. Iowa students and educators gathered for CTE Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 11. This annual event, sponsored by the Iowa Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), showcases CTE student booths and displays in the Capitol Rotunda and provided opportunities for students to meet with legislators and state officials to share their learning experiences.
Taylor Swift Bill: This week, the Iowa Senate unanimously passed SF 146, referred to as the “Taylor Swift Bill,” aiming to prohibit the use of automated bots that purchase large quantities of event tickets online. These bots often acquire tickets in bulk, making it challenging for individual consumers to secure seats and leading to inflated resale prices. It mandates that ticket vendors report any suspected bot activity, granting the Iowa Attorney General authority to pursue civil penalties against violators. The legislation draws its nickname from incidents during Taylor Swift’s 2023-2024 Eras Tour, where fans faced difficulties obtaining tickets due to bot interference. The bill now moves to the Iowa House for their consideration.
National Donor Day: Feb. 14th is not only Valentine’s Day but also National Donor Day, an observance dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of organ, eye, tissue, blood, platelets, and marrow donation. By registering as a donor, you can offer hope and life to those awaiting transplants. Consider honoring this day by signing up as a donor and discussing your decision with loved ones. For more information on organ donation in Iowa, visit the Iowa Donor Network’s website: iowadonornetwork.org.
The City of Cedar Rapids was awarded a $500,000 grant for water quality projects. The funding is made available through the Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Financial Assistance Program. The 2024 program received 32 applicants requesting more than $15 million in water quality grants. A committee consisting of designees from the Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship judged the Wastewater and Drinking Water Financial Assistance Program applications based on the program’s priorities.
Registration is Open for Virtual Teacher License Renewal Course in Financial Security: Iowa K-12 teachers can improve their own personal finance skills as well as build skills in their students by participating in “Small Change: Building Financial Security for Educators.” This Iowa State University Extension and Outreach blended course starts Monday, March 24, with an introductory session from 4:30-6:30 p.m., followed by a four-week, self-paced, facilitator-led online learning experience that ends April 21. The course fee is $30 to Iowa State Education Association members and non-members. Those who do not need license renewal credit may register and audit the course for a $15 fee. Register online by March 17.
Reel in a chance for your child’s artwork displayed at the Iowa State Fair: Iowa kids ages 5 to 18 can enter the Iowa Fish Art Contest, presented by the DNR and Wildlife Forever. Entry deadline is Feb. 28. One entry per child. Artwork must feature one or more of these species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Iowa Darter, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Crappie, Muskellunge.
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy has been updated for the first time since 2017. The strategy was originally created in 2013 by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Survey (IDALS). It was result of a 12-state task force on the growing levels of nitrates in the Mississippi River Basin. The 2025 version reflects increased access to data and new practices, including a precision ag tool to optimize nitrogen application. The strategy encourages farmers to participate in the nutrient reduction strategies. View the updated version.
New Grant Opportunity to Support Summer Youth Internships: Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) announced this week it is opening a new round of grant funding for organizations to help kickstart youth internships across the state. Applications are now open at iowagrants.gov and will be accepted through Monday, March 10, 2025. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, educational institutions, employers, and community organizations. Grant funds can be used for participant wages, compensation after program completion, training resources, program supplies and materials, and administrative costs. Priority funding will be given to programs that:
- Provide internships to youth that are at risk of not graduating, from low-income households, or who face barriers to upward mobility in the labor market, such as being from communities underrepresented in the workforce.
- Provide evidence of the ability to recruit and co-enroll internship participants in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Youth Program in their local area.
- Programs must be based in a high-demand occupation as determined by the state. Organizations interested in learning more may register for an upcoming informational webinar on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 1 p.m. (Zoom). To view a full list of grant requirements, visit IWD’s Summer Youth Internship Program page.

Iowa Senate Democrats