March is Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month is celebrated in March to honor the contributions of women throughout history and recognize their achievements in various fields. It began as a weeklong celebration in the U.S. in 1980 and expanded to a month in 1987. The month highlights influential women in politics, science, arts, sports, activism, and beyond.
The theme this year is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” which highlights the collective equality, strength, and influence of women in leadership, mentorship, and education roles.
I want to take a moment to lift up and celebrate the incredible women in my Senate Democratic caucus. Their unwavering commitment to making Iowa a better place for all of us is truly inspiring. From advocating for families and education to fighting for equality and opportunity, these leaders are making a lasting impact on our communities.
Their voices, strength, and dedication continue to pave the way for future generations. I am proud to stand alongside them as we work toward a brighter and more equitable future for all Iowans. These women embody this year’s theme: Senators Janice Weiner, Molly Donahue, Liz Bennett, Claire Celsi, Janet Petersen, Sarah Trone-Garriott and Cindy Winckler.
Decreasing Revenues and Bad Budgeting
It’s clear the majority party’s budgeting isn’t working for Iowans. It’s not working for the children whose public schools are underfunded, it’s not working for the thousands of workers being laid off, and it’s not working for the families trying to cover the cost of childcare or find housing they can afford.
Now, after years of massive corporate tax breaks, Republican lawmakers’ runaway voucher spending will continue the misguided budgeting trends into the next five years.
The state’s Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met last week to update their projections for the state’s revenues for the current and upcoming fiscal years (the REC meets every October, December, and March). According to their estimates, the panel projects state revenues will drop by over $1.2 billion in just two years, between FY24 and FY26. To put it mildly, that is a significant decrease.
For FY26, the governor has proposed appropriations (spending) of $9.433 billion, which, thanks to our decreasing revenue, is $925 million more than Iowa’s projected revenues. Gov. Reynolds is planning on spending more money than the state takes in during the 2026 fiscal year.
Now, here in Iowa, the governor is statutorily obligated to sign a balanced budget. So, the $925 million difference has to come from somewhere. It comes from two places, in fact. The first is from the Taxpayer Relief Fund (TRF) and the second is from carryforward surplus dollars from previous years. These are both one-time funds.
In a five-year projection provided by the state’s Department of Management (see below), the Reynolds Administration is planning on dipping into these reserve funds to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars for each of the next five fiscal years. That means the governor is planning on spending more money than the state takes in for five straight years and covering her poor budgeting with a dwindling supply of one-time money.
In this table, the top row represents actual and projected state revenues for the given fiscal year (actual for years past, projected for years future).
In the bottom row, you can see the one-time money the governor plans to transfer from the Taxpayer Relief Fund to cover the deficit in her budgets. The TRF can only be used to cover up to 50% of the deficit, so the gap between projected revenues and projected spending is actually double the number in the bottom row.
Visit Your Iowa Capitol!
One of my favorite aspects of serving in the Iowa Senate is coming to work in the beautiful Iowa State Capitol. Each day the building is filled with groups of Iowans from every corner of our state, from lobby days to school trips to sightseeing excursions, and more. All visitors are welcome in the People’s building.
If you’ve never taken the opportunity to visit, we’d love to see you! Here are a few tips if you’re planning a trip to the Golden Dome.
When to come: The Capitol is open year-round between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The House and Senate are typically in session Monday through Thursday between January and late April or early May, so if you’re looking to meet your legislators or see the Legislature in action up close and personal, you’ll need to plan accordingly.
Take a tour: The Capitol is truly a sight to behold, full of art and history. The Capitol is staffed by highly knowledgeable guides who lead tours throughout the day and can give an in-depth history behind the building and its unique characteristics. If a self-guided tour is more your speed, those are available as well. For groups of 10 or more, please click here to request in advance.
Watch a debate: The Senate and House galleries are open to the public during all periods of debate. You can sit in, watch the discussion, and see the votes cast in person from a seat overlooking the chamber.
Meet me in the rotunda: I am always happy to meet with my constituents, so please come say hi! Outside the Senate chamber, on the second floor, there is a pad of “pink slips” where you can write a message and provide your contact information. Hand the slip to a Senate employee near the Senate chamber door and they’ll hand-deliver it to the senator on the floor. When there’s a break in the action, I’ll come out to say hello, hear your concerns, and take a photo, if you’d like!
Let’s make a plan: If you know you’re going to be visiting the Capitol – especially with a group – please reach out in advance and I’ll be happy to assist you. If I know you’re coming, I can be sure to set aside time to meet and even formally introduce and recognize you on the Senate floor.
The Week in Pictures & How I Voted
Quite a crowd at the League of Women Voters Linn County legislative forum. Audience topics of interest included: school funding, state budget, civil rights, Medicaid, legalizing guns for minors and local control. Thank you to the League for hosting and for constituents for participating in this important conversation.
Well, that was depressing. Attended a zoom meeting presented by National Conference of State Legislatures, “Medicaid and the States.” Focus was on federal actions’ potential impacts on states and territories for receiving/utilizing Medicaid dollars. Of course, the situation is fluid right now, but this was to prepare states for various scenarios being proposed in Congress, including per capita or aggregate funding. Some examples require changes in eligibility making it more difficult to get help. Others reflect reductions in reimbursements to providers and caps on individual services and denial of services.
Members of Congress are proposing cuts to the most vulnerable and poorest Americans so that billionaires can get or retain their tax cuts. We must not let that happen.
Please call our Congressional delegation and state your opposition to Medicaid cuts:
- Rep. Feenstra: (202) 225-4426
- Rep. Hinson: (202) 225-2911
- Rep. Miller-Meeks: (202) 225-6576
- Rep. Nunn: (202) 225-5476
- Sen. Ernst: (202) 224-3254
- Sen. Grassley: (202) 224-3744
Christine Landa and Nate Klein of Junior Achievement presented before the Education Appropriations Committee about 3DE. 3DE is a high school learning model that connects students to real-world business challenges and prepares them for the workforce.
Also, at the Capitol to discuss how 3DE can be more widely integrated in our schools is CRCSD Superintendent Tawana Grover, Prairie HS student Paisley Joens, College Community School District Superintendent Doug Wheeler, educator Matt Sima, JA CEO Jack Harris, JA Central Iowa President Ryan Osborn, JA Central Iowa VP for Education Shannon Gerard, and Green State Credit Union’s Melissa Winter.
The Senate is beginning the process of approving the appointees nominated to boards and commissions. Democrats are shy one person of stopping any of these appointments, but we will still conduct our due diligence in researching the individuals, providing our input.
Monday, Iowa Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) Director Adam Steen was introduced. As head of DAS, Adam oversees 350+ employees and the following departments: State Accounting; State Finance; Employee Relations; Procurement, Goods and Services; Construction, Major Maintenance, Capitol Events; State Library; State Historical Society and State Human Resources.
Adam has been DAS Director since 2021. Senator Cindy Winckler and I spoke with Adam about upcoming challenges and projects in his department.
9 bills debated in the Senate Monday:
SF 106 – repeals the prohibitions for operating or riding a snowmobile or ATV with a loaded firearm, discharging a firearm from a snowmobile or ATV, and having a loaded firearm in a vehicle. [NO vote; to me, this is a safety issue]
SF 140 – amends the current prohibition list of satellite location voting sites. The new prohibition applies if the site is on school property and there are school issues on the ballot [NO vote; this removes a valid location for satellite voting and it is already a challenge to find these spots especially in smaller communities. This bill limits voter access.]
SF 257 – clarifies that a sticker issued for the upcoming year prior to the expiration of the current registration year does not invalidate the registration and is not required to be displayed on the plate. [YES vote]
SF 315 – requires the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to conduct an online reverse auction process for pharmacy benefit managers seeking to administer benefits under the state employee health plan [YES vote, it allows competitive bidding]
SF 407 – increases the number of governor-appointed members to sit on the district-level judicial nominating commissions to be one greater than the number of elected members. It removes the senior judge to sit as chair of the commission, and instead, it allows the members to elect their own chair. [NO vote; this further politicizes the judicial process]
SF 469 – establishes an “emeritus license” under the Board of Medicine for licensees over 60 years old. The bill requires emeritus licensees to primarily engage in supervising/training – although they are allowed to maintain the same scope of practice previously held. [NO vote. I’m concerned about doctors practicing without continuing their education which helps them stay up to date on latest advancements in medicine, improve patient care and maintain their professional competence.]
SF 470 – prohibits a dental carrier from denying a claim submitted by a dental care provider if the services had received prior authorization from the dental carrier (there are several exceptions). The dental carrier is also required to reimburse the claim at the rate that was provided per the prior authorization. [YES vote]
SF 491 – expands upon remotely piloted aircraft (drone) usage, prohibiting the use of drones within 400 feet over private farm property without permission. [YES vote.]
SF 311 – restricts cities’ ability to discipline employees who hold civil service rights. Police officers and firefighters statutorily hold civil service rights, but other employees may as well. [NO vote. The bill preempts any other form of citizen police conduct review boards. These boards were created to provide transparency and trust within the community. Also, this is another intrusion on local control.]
First thing on the docket Tuesday morning was a conversation with Coalition for Family and Children’s Services in Iowa members.
Mary Beth O’Neill, Four Oaks CEO; Emily Walker Blomme, Foundation 2 Crisis Services CEO; and Crystal Hall, Tanager Community Based and Prevention Services Director, spoke with me about the uncertainty of funding sources at federal and state levels. It’s important the legislature protect behavioral health funding for Iowa’s youth. (3 out of 8 under age 21 rely on Medicaid for healthcare.)
Foresight is the legislature acting to ensure our youth have the services they need now before their symptoms and issues escalate.
Served on the sub-committee for SF597 which is about the obligations of certain state and local government entities in erecting, rebuilding, or repairing partition fences. Because the bill was amended to “may” instead of “shall” use REAP dollars for these projects is optional (something already happening), I was a YES vote.
So, basically, this bill was code clutter.
Democrats filed an amendment to SR6, allowing a simple majority of Senators to bring up a bill for debate. This was obviously asking for Senate Republicans to bring Eminent Domain up for a debate.
We’ve all received scores of emails from farmers – many of them century farmers – asking us to stop the carbon pipelines from running through their land. If you own property, a private business should not have the right over that land.
Republicans voted down the amendment. (FYI, per Food & Water Watch, Bruce Rastetter, the CEO and founder of Summit Agriculture Group -which owns Summit Carbon Solutions, has donated more than $1.6 million to Iowa candidates and committees over the past 25 years.)
No eminent domain for private gain.
10 bills passed in the Senate Tuesday:
SF 605 – establishes a $5,000 threshold for withholding for sports wagering prizes by referencing the federal income tax requirements established in federal law [YES vote. There currently is no withholding threshold established for Iowa residents for sports wagering winnings. This meshes Iowa law with federal.]
SF 22 – Hands Free Driving [Although I don’t like the part of the bill exempting rural agricultural vehicles (and voted for Sen. Bisignano’s amendment to strike the exemption), I was a YES vote. I’ve heard from many constituents about this bill. It will save lives and assist law enforcement.]
SF 233 – expands Iowa’s “Right to Try” legislation beyond current “terminally ill” patients to those with “life threatening or severely debilitating illness”. [YES vote. There are safeguards protecting individuals from exploitation and this bill could provide better quality of life and save lives.]
SF 378 – Speed limit increase [No. Seems counterintuitive to the above “hands free” bill. Instead, we should Back the Blue, save lives and keep the speed limit as it is.]
SF 514 – When no rebuttable presumption against awarding joint custody exists, this requires a court to award temporary joint physical custody during a pending custody proceeding. [NO vote. This handcuffs the court and could possibly put children in danger.]
SF 523 – authorizes the court to award separate rights and responsibilities of joint legal custody to each parent. [YES vote. This allows the court to resolve custody right disputes on application from either parent. The parents may stipulate to a parenting plan, and the court shall approve it unless it finds the agreement is not in the best interest of the child.]
SF 583 – authorizes multidisciplinary threat assessment teams in schools. [YES vote]
SF 594 –creates an interim study committee to analyze whether to consolidate fire services under a countywide fire protection structure. [YES vote]
SF601 – changes the time allowed for cities to provide notice of a proposal for election to determine whether to sell a city utility from 60 days to at least thirty days prior to submitting the proposal. [YES vote]
SR 6 – updates the organization and protocols governing the Senate, including the regular order of daily business, how committees are to operate, rules for debate, appointees, and various aspects of parliamentary procedure. [YES vote]
Always a pleasure connecting with labor unions from Linn County.
“Unions have been the only powerful and effective voice working people have ever had in the history of this country.” – Bruce Springsteen
Thank you, union members, for your continuing contributions for ensuring fairness and dignity in the workplace!
Senator Molly Donahue and I visiting with Linn County Rural Electric Co-op’s Gary Shropp and Terry Sullivan about property tax reform and public-school funding. The REC co-op has been member owned since 1938!
Iowa Conservation Alliance is all about protecting our outdoor heritage. Great to visit with President Fred Long and American Fisheries Society Executive Director Jeff Kopaska.
Protecting our natural resources is essential for ensuring the well-being of future generations and maintaining a healthy planet. Natural resources such as water, forests, minerals, and wildlife are vital for our survival, supporting everything from agriculture to energy production. Overuse, pollution, and deforestation are threatening these resources, which could lead to irreversible damage. By adopting sustainable practices, reducing waste, and prioritizing conservation efforts, we can preserve these precious resources for future generations. It is our collective responsibility to take action and safeguard the environment through thoughtful policies, community involvement, and responsible consumption. Every small effort counts in ensuring a balanced relationship with nature.
11 bills debated in the Senate Wednesday:
SF 27 – requires courts to notify the Department of Transportation (DOT) when a person is ordered by the court to complete Remedial Driver Improvement, or RDI, within 10 days of the order and when the person completes the action within 10 days of the court receiving confirmation of completion [YES vote]
SF 256 – relates to land boundaries by acquiescence. Under current law, land boundaries and corners must be recognized and acquiesced for a period of 10 years to be permanently established boundaries and corners. The bill makes this law self-executing, meaning these boundaries and corners by acquiescence are permanent and immediately law (once the 10-year period has passed). [YES vote]
SF 273 – Grooming expanded definition change for educators [NO vote. Broadens the definition of “grooming” as it relates to mandatory reporting to the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students and is too broad and ambiguous.]
SF 288 – requires “reasonable accommodations” for any student (or employee) who is pregnant or gives birth while attending an Iowa Regent University or an Iowa Community College. [YES vote, though I see this as more code clutter as it doesn’t require anything that the Regents aren’t already doing]
SF 448 – exempts school bus drivers from being required to complete a Department of Education training unless the school district employing the driver requires it. Drivers are still required to obtain a certified driver’s license (CDL) to operate the school bus – in addition to training that the school district requires. [YES vote]
SF 459 – Ranked Choice Voting Prohibition [NO vote. Another local control issue. I’ve received dozens of emails from constituents in support of having RCV as an option for municipalities and only one email in favor of the bill from the Heritage Foundation.]
SF 513 – prohibits a court from including a postsecondary education subsidy in a dissolution of marriage temporary orders, final judgments, or decrees. [NO vote. There’s no evidence that judges don’t already treat this seriously. Currently, an order to pay post-secondary education tuition requires ‘good cause’ by the court.]
SF 521 – requires courts to direct a person found in contempt during a marriage dissolution proceeding to pay reasonable attorney fees incurred by the opposing party as a result of the actions constituting contempt. [YES vote]
SF 573 – relates to motor vehicle insurance coverage for glass repair and replacement relating to vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems and is based on model legislation developed by the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) and has had input from many stakeholders. [YES vote]
SJR 9 – is a proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would allow the legislature to limit a defendant’s right to confront witnesses who are under 18, with mental illness, with intellectual disability, or other developmental disability. [YES vote. We are the only state that requires children to confront their sexual predators.]
SF 603 – Iowa Workforce Development’s department bill. We passed this clean bill out of the Senate, but it was amended in the House by Rep. Kaufmann and now the bill does the following:
- Amends the Registered Apprenticeship Act. It inserts language that states that unless expressly required by the state law, the use of apprenticeship training shall be voluntary and shall not be mandated by any state agency or political subdivision.
- A political subdivision shall not impose additional restrictions, qualifications, or requirements on development, contractors, subcontractors, or apprentices relating to the apprenticeship training beyond those expressly authorized in the Registered Apprenticeship Act or state law.
- A political subdivision shall not make receipt of any incentives or eligibility for such incentives contingent upon compliance with any such restrictions, qualifications, or requirements.
- The amendment specifically amends Code sections related to school districts, counties, and cities that they cannot adopt or enforce such ordinances, motions, resolutions, or amendments regarding those restrictions and qualifications.
Very much enjoyed my conversation with Leslie Olson of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and Tara Nepal, Problem Management Plus Coordinator College of Public Health University of Iowa. They were at the Capitol to spread awareness of some of the barriers refugees and immigrants face when first arriving in the US. Tara understands firsthand as he was expelled from Bhutan and lived in a refugee camp in Nepal for 18 years before coming to America. He knows about the poverty and struggles but also the desire to contribute and be part of community.
One of the little-talked about issues is the need for mental health services for those newly arrived in our country. That’s what Problem Management Plus provides in their peer-led program to strengthen skills to manage problems and cope with stress.
So grateful for Iowans such as Tara and Leslie who support immigrants and refugees as they navigate new challenges in a foreign land.
Quick Updates
- Equal Pay Day: Celebrated on a different day each year, Equal Pay Day highlights the gender wage gap across various industries and demographics. According to recent data, the gender pay gap for women is currently 83% for full-time, year-round workers and 75% for all workers (including part-time and seasonal). This year, Equal Pay Day is celebrated on March 25, the 84th day of the year – that means, by most recent data, it takes a woman one year and 84 days to earn the amount of money a man earns in one year. Looking for opportunities to take action? Visit www.aauw.org/issues/equity/pay-gap/ to learn more about the wage gap and what you can do to fight it.
- Rural Healthcare Struggles: This NPR article takes an in-depth look at the state of rural hospitals in Iowa, and it’s not good. It’s clear that significant investment is necessary to keep rural hospitals operational in Iowa so that all Iowans can access care when they need it.
- Federal Cuts Impact Local Food Programs: The Trump Administration has cut $11.3 million in federal funding that provides thousands of Iowa children with locally produced meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables at schools, daycares, and food banks across the state. The cuts, affecting funding from 2025 to 2028, followed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announced scaled-back spending as part of President Trump’s broader budget reductions. Farmers and advocacy groups warn that the funding loss threatens both access to nutritious food and the financial stability of local producers. An Iowa Farmers Union spokesman said Iowa producers had already planned over $3 million in food sales for 2025 through these now-defunded programs.
- Golden Owl for Local Educator: Last week, seven educators were honored across Iowa as finalists for the 2024-25 Golden Owl Award, which recognizes excellence in agriculture education. This award highlights the vital role of agriculture educators in shaping the future of the industry. This year saw a record 570 nominations for 131 exceptional educators in both secondary and postsecondary education. Each finalist was celebrated at a special event in their home district or community college, receiving an engraved plaque and a $500 prize. They now move forward as contenders for the 2024-25 Golden Owl Award, which comes with a $3,000 grand prize and the Golden Owl trophy. Congratulations Laura Brecht of Prairie High School for their impact and commitment to agricultural education!
- Defining “Proficient”: Reviewing your child’s assessment reports can generate a lot of questions including, what does it really mean for my child to be “proficient” at reading? Iowa’s Reading Research Center (IRRC) staff answers in this month’s Ask IRRC video. You can learn more about literacy assessments and what they mean for your child by visiting a new eLearning module, Understanding Your Student’s Literacy Data.
- Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program: Do you know a junior or senior at one of Iowa’s public universities pursuing a “high-demand” career field? Find out if they may be eligible for the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program! This program provides grants for up to four semesters and offers a $2,000 incentive payment to students who accept a high-demand job in Iowa within six months of graduation and work full-time for at least 12 consecutive months. Don’t miss this opportunity to fund your education and launch your career in Iowa!
- Diesel Emission Reduction Grants: The Iowa Department of Transportation is accepting applications through May 9 for diesel emission reduction grants. The Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA), part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was created as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and is designed to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions among on-road or non-road vehicles and equipment, including school buses, medium- and heavy-duty transit buses and trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and nonroad engines, equipment, or vehicles.