Senator Staed’s Feb. 14 Newsletter – Iowa Senate Democrats

Please join me this Saturday for the League of Women Voters’ Legislative Forum!

When: 10:00-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
Where: Cedar Rapids Public Library

From the Desk of Senator Staed

February is Black History Month. In honor of Black Americans, let’s talk about Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. (Susan and I had closed captioning on to better understand the lyrics.) Lamar sent a powerful statement, blending artistic mastery with deep social and political commentary. His performance wasn’t just about music – it was a message to America, touching on themes of racial injustice, historical oppression, and personal triumph. After watching his performance, I did some research to learn more about its significance.

Historical & Social Symbolism

One of the most striking elements of Lamar’s performance was his reference to “40 acres and mule,” the unfulfilled promise of land to freed slaves after the Civil War. By invoking this phrase, Lamar highlighted the ongoing economic disparities and systemic struggles faced by Black Americans.

His stage design also reinforced this message. The set resembled a prison yard, a clear nod to mass incarceration, a crisis disproportionately affecting Black communities. Lamar has often used his platform to critique the justice system, and this visual metaphor made an undeniable statement during one of the biggest televised events in America.

Personal & Cultural Impact

Another major highlight was his performance of Not Like Us, a song widely seen as a diss toward fellow rapper Drake. The performance came fresh off the song’s success at the Grammys, adding a layer of personal rivalry to an already politically charged show. Fans viewed this moment as Lamar cementing his dominance in hip-hop, particularly in an era of publicized rap feuds.

Serena Williams’ appearance during the show also carried cultural weight. As a fellow Compton native, her presence symbolized Black excellence, and her dance move – the “Crip walk” – was a nod to West Coast hip-hop culture.

A Performance with Purpose

Ultimately, Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t just entertainment – it was a reminder of America’s history and our ongoing fight for equality. By intertwining personal, cultural, and political themes, he used his platform to deliver a performance that was both provocative and unforgettable.

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.

Another good meeting with constituents for a casual coffee and conversation with State Representative Tracy Ehlert last weekend. We discussed water quality, flood control, preschool, childcare, direct care worker shortages, immigration, and much more. Thanks to all who attended and please email if you have legislative suggestions: art.staed@legis.iowa.gov

Great visit with constituent Abbey Ferenzi, Executive Director of the GuideLink Center in Iowa City, and leaders from Access Centers across the state.

GuildeLink Center partners with Abbe Community Mental Health Center, Community and Family Resources, Community Crisis Services and Food Bank, and Johnson County Ambulance to provide multiple services under one roof. These include behavior health crisis stabilization, crisis counseling, sobering service, and medically monitored withdrawal.

Thank you to Iowa’s Access Centers for the critical care they provide Iowans in need!

With:

Emily Windt, Crisis Services Manager, Abbe Community Mental Health Center, Linn County Mental Health Access Center in Cedar Rapids
Cierra Roquette, Crisis Services Manager, Abbe Community Mental Health Center, GuideLink Center in Iowa City
Jackie Smith Duggan, Director of Crisis Services, Abbe Community Mental Health Center–both GuideLink Center and LCMHAC
Erin Liz Foster, Director, Linn County, Linn County Mental Health Access Center

Constituent Bernie Lettington and I talking about animal welfare issues.

Iowa’s high-volume dog breeding facilities continue to receive regulatory citations – again ranked among the country’s biggest violators. Much can and should be done with enforcement and legislation to prevent animal neglect and abuse.

Four bills passed unanimously out of Monday’s Natural Resources Committee:

SSB 1062 – Concerns land boundaries in dispute 10+ years
SSB 1064 – American cream draft horse is a joint resolution that makes the American cream draft horse the official state horse of Iowa, showcasing our agricultural heritage
SSB 1079 – Creates a lifetime fur harvester license for residents of Iowa who are veterans or on active duty who were disabled in the line of duty
SSB 1093 – Covers beaver dams, trap ID tags, out of state fur dealer license price reduction. Current law states that only the property owner can remove a beaver dam on their property. This version changes that to allow an agent (such as a private critter removal company) of the property owner to remove beaver dams.

Served on the sub-committee for SSB1101. The bill removed redundancies in Iowa code for the gathering of greenhouse gas air quality data.

SSB 1101 passed 3 – 0 and is now eligible to come before the full State Government Committee for debate.

The Iowa Extension Council Association held a legislative reception Tuesday to highlight their accomplishments and impacts throughout the state.

In Linn County, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides:

training on advances in digital ag, soil health, and nutrient management
development of new decision-support tools for farmers and agribusinesses
continuing ed programs
Kids in the Kitchen – research-based, hands-on cooking and nutrition curriculum for 3rd – 5th graders
youth participation in 4-H hands-on learning experiences
efforts to fight food insecurity with Master Gardeners

And so much more!

Thank you to ISU’s David Brown and Tammy Jacobs, Linn County Regional Director Hailee Sandberg and Councilmember Missy Albert for their work in connecting our communities to trusted education, information and resources.

With Senator Molly Donahue

My first vote in the Senate for a bill protecting consumers from ticket sales bots. #consumerprotection

Four bills debated/passed in the Senate Tuesday, including Public School Funding (SSA) for FY26. Republicans continued their 8-year streak of underfunding Iowa’s public schools with their Senate proposal of 2% increase. Democrats offered an amendment for 5%, just to keep up with inflation. My comments during debate:

“The 2% increase in funding proposed today by Senate Republicans and the Governor is insufficient to keep pace with rising educational costs. It falls far short of addressing the growing financial demands of public schools.

In recent years, increases in funding have been small—3% in 2023 and 2.5% in 2024—while expenses for school districts continue to climb. This trend highlights a gap between the state’s funding commitments and the actual needs of schools.

Years of inadequate funding have had tangible consequences, including diminished resources for students and, in some cases, school closures across the state. These closures disrupt students’ education and their access to necessary learning environments.

Schools are facing a critical shortage of teachers, including special education staff, content-area teachers, and even elementary classroom teachers. The limited funding has made it difficult for schools to offer competitive salaries, which exacerbates staffing challenges. Teachers are leaving the profession for better opportunities in the private sector due to insufficient compensation.

Key education advocacy groups, such as the Iowa State Education Association and School Administrators of Iowa, have all spoken out against this proposal, calling the 2% increase insufficient to meet the needs of students. They argue that the funding does not adequately address the current challenges facing the state’s public education system.

As private school vouchers continue to expand, public school funding is stretched even thinner. The diversion of resources to private institutions takes away vital funds that could otherwise be used by public schools, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the public education system.

Democrats’ amendment of a 5% increase to public school funding addresses critical needs and supports long-term growth.

Our proposed increase will help school districts address ongoing teacher shortages and invest in critical areas such as special education. The funding could support more specialized staff, individualized instruction, and adaptive technologies—necessary components to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

In 2022, over 80% of Iowa schools faced a special education deficit. The proposal would help close this gap and provide better support for these students.

A 5% increase in funding allows school districts to invest in modern educational materials, classroom technology, and smaller class sizes—each of which directly impacts student learning. Updating materials and tools ensures that students are prepared for the future in a rapidly evolving world.

Additional funding can also be used to expand preschool programs, helping to provide more children with a strong foundation for their educational journey. Early childhood education has proven benefits for long-term academic success.

Higher funding enables the implementation of evidence-based programs designed to improve student outcomes, including test scores, graduation rates, and college or career readiness. By investing in these programs, we can ensure that students are better prepared for life after school.

With adequate funding for public schools, local governments will be less likely to increase property taxes to cover shortfalls in education budgets. This can help alleviate financial pressure on communities while still ensuring that schools have the resources they need.

In conclusion, while the 2% proposal does provide some increase in funding, it fails to meet the growing needs of public schools in Iowa. Insufficient funding has led to teacher shortages, resource deficits, and the closure of schools. With ongoing challenges like private school vouchers siphoning funds that otherwise could be going to public schools, this 2% proposal does not go far enough in securing a quality education for all students.

I ask your support in voting NO on this insufficient SSA of only a 2% increase in public school funding. Thank you, Colleagues in the Senate.”

Speaking of funding public education, I got to visit with Norwalk High student chefs who receive dual credits for their coursework.

High schools reach agreements with community colleges to provide these courses – yet another student opportunity that school districts may not be able to afford at 2% SSA.

Served on the sub-committee for SSB1090.

SSB 1090 prohibits a host of 19 contract provisions from being agreed to by the state when contracting with a vendor for services. This provides a cost-savings to the state, giving guidance for negotiating contracts.

The bill passed out of sub and is now eligible to come before the full State Government Committee.

Served on the sub-committee for SF 89 which pertains to the oversight and operation of the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System (ISICS).

This bill generated the most discussion in a sub I’ve served on this Session. Several stakeholders impacted by the bill’s passage spoke for and against. ISICS is used by entities providing various aspects of public safety entities with three million push-talks per month.

I agreed to move the bill forward for more thorough discussion and fact-finding (and amending) before it comes to the State Government Committee for debate.

Talking all things environmental with National Caucus of Environmental Legislators ‘s Agriculture and Water Specialist, Chris Askew-Merwin, and Environemental Health Manager, Nabjot Kaur. We discussed carbon capture pipelines, CAFOs, PFAS, nitrate runnoff, Mississippi River and healthy farming practices. Appreciative NCEL’s wealth of resources on environmental issues. It’s great also to learn what other legislators are working on in their states to protect the environment.

With Representatives Adam Zabner and Monica Kurth and Senator Bill Dotzler

I’d spoken last week with Erika Eckley, Iowa Public Information Board Director, about extending the window to file a complaint with the Board from 60 days to 90 days for open meetings or open records violations. Wednesday, we had a sub-committee for SSB1085, which does just that. All attending the sub spoke in favor of the bill and we passed it 3-0. It’s now eligible to come before the full Senate State Government Committee for debate and passage.

We discussed 5 bills in Wednesday’s State Government Committee. I was a “YES” on the first 4, a “NO” on the last one.

SF 15 requires the Real Estate Commission to alter application forms to include an indicator of whether the applicant is applying for a license effective upon Commission approval, or active upon current license expiration.
- An amendment adds a new section to the bill, to edit part of the real estate code chapter to clarify that brokerage agreements do not have to be signed between a real estate agent by buyer clients prior to a real estate auction, if the buyer is seeking property with more than four dwelling units, or if the property is not intended for human habitation.
SSB 1035 is a Department of Revenue bill, which is an omnibus bill related to state lottery administration.
SSB 1083 is an omnibus bill prepared by the Department on Management.
SSB 1090 is a department bill from DAS, which prohibits a host of 19 provisions from being agreed to by the state when negotiating a contract for services with a vendor.
SSB 1084 provides DAS authority to “dispose” of the Wallace building and the adjacent parking structure. I am concerned about the visitor parking that would be eliminated and the art sculpture in front of the building and the permanent loss of property (land) adjacent to the Capitol that could have many uses in the future.

Good to catch up with Cedar Rapidian, Dudley Fleck, Executive VP for Iowa Beverage. We talked about horses, education, children, extracurricular activities, bucket lists…oh, and beer!

Spoke with Gary Streit who is also a prostate cancer survivor. Gary’s advocating for a couple of bills to help those going through the cancer experience. One is a cap on interests charged on medical debt and the other is in opposition to work requirements for Medicaid (many cancer patients are on Medicaid). I’m in agreement on both counts and appreciate his advocacy.

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.