Senator Staed’s Jan. 17 Newsletter – Iowa Senate Democrats

From the Desk of Senator Staed

I am incredibly honored to be serving Iowans in my new position as State Senator. Susan (who agreed to be my clerk again this Session) and I have had a busy first week, working on legislation, attending several legislative receptions to learn about a host of issues impacting Iowans, and meeting with constituents who’ve come to the Capitol. Honestly, one of our favorite things is seeing YOU here in the Statehouse so please let us know if you plan on making the trek to Des Moines!

Staying in Contact in 2025

This week marked the beginning of Iowa’s 2025 legislative session. Over the next few months, my colleagues and I will be hard at work on your behalf at the Capitol and in our home districts. I want to thank you in advance for your passion and engagement on the issues facing Iowans today.

This year, Senate Democrats will focus on providing opportunity to folks who just want a fair shot. We’ll be working on behalf of all Iowans to address wage theft and worker safety, to provide affordable and accessible housing and healthcare options, to properly fund and support public education and our AEAs, and to hold Republicans accountable when they prioritize special interests over Iowa families.

With this weekly newsletter, I’ll be providing consistent updates on what’s happening at the Capitol so you can stay informed and active. Please continue to speak up for the issues you care about and stand up for our shared values. We’re in this fight together.

In addition to this newsletter, 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

Governor Kim Reynolds used her annual Condition of the State address this week to paint a rosy picture of her administration’s leadership, but the reality just doesn’t back her up.

Iowans aren’t better off than they were eight years ago. Housing isn’t more affordable, childcare isn’t more accessible, maternal and infant mortality rates continue to rise, 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 last night that could threaten the long-term health of Iowa’s Unemployment Trust Fund and risk Medicaid recipients having their access to health care interrupted. She didn’t mention anything about expanding preschool access to the one-third of Iowa kids without it. She made no mention of the opioid settlement dollars sitting in state accounts that opioid-impacted Iowans desperately need. And she introduced a budget that will spend more money than the state takes in, forcing us to dip into our reserve funds.

There are, however, opportunities for bipartisan cooperation this session, and I’m willing to work across the aisle to make Iowans’ lives better. We can address Iowa’s rising cancer rates, hands-free driving legislation, childcare access and availability, and cell phone usage in K-12 schools.

I am for ensuring, safeguarding, and expanding opportunity for all Iowans. If my Republican colleagues want to make positive change, Senate Democrats and I are ready to work.

Thank you to the Biden Administration for their work on so many fronts, making life better for everyday Iowans. Here’s a short list of some of those accomplishments and a link to a more detailed list:

Passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to increase investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport and national broadband internet, as well as waterways and energy systems.
Helped get more than 500 million lifesaving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans through the American Rescue Plan.
Stopped a 30-year streak of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that created enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole and provided funds for youth mental health.
Made a $369 billion investment in climate change, the largest in American history, through the Inﬂation Reduction Act of 2022.
Ended the longest war in American history by pulling the troops out of Afghanistan.
Provided $10,000 to $20,000 in college debt relief to Americans with loans who make under $125,000 a year.
Cut child poverty in half through the American Rescue Plan.
Capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare through the Inﬂation Reduction Act.
Passed the COVID-19 relief deal that provided payments of up to $1,400 to many struggling U.S. citizens while supporting renters and increasing unemployment benefits.
Achieved historically low unemployment rates after the pandemic caused them to skyrocket.
Imposed a 15% minimum corporate tax on some of the largest corporations in the country, ensuring that they pay their fair share, as part of the historic Inﬂation Reduction Act.
Recommitted America to the global ﬁght against climate change by rejoining the Paris Agreement.
Strengthened the NATO alliance in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion by endorsing the inclusion of world military powers Sweden and Finland.
Authorized the assassination of the Al Qaeda terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri, who became head of the organization after the death of Osama bin Laden.
Gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices through the Inﬂation Reduction Act while also reducing government health spending.
Held Vladimir Putin accountable for his invasion of Ukraine by imposing stiff economic sanctions.
Boosted the budget of the Internal Revenue Service by nearly $80 billion to reduce tax evasion and increase revenue.
Created more jobs in one year (6.6 million) than any other president in U.S. history.
Reduced healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act by $800 a year as part of the American Rescue Plan.
Signed the PACT Act to address service members’ exposure to burn pits and other toxins.
Signed the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen American manufacturing and innovation.
Reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act through 2027.
Halted all federal executions after the previous administration reinstated them after a 17-year freeze.

Release: The Biden-Harris Administration Record

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.
Iowa Corrections Officer Honored: High Risk Unit Officer Ben Keen has been named the US Marshal Northern District of Iowa Task Force Officer of the Year. I extend both my congratulations and thanks to Officer Keen’s dedication to community safety and justice.
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.
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, encouraging students to plant 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

I’m Ranking Member of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee. During opening remarks of the first meeting Monday, I commented:

“My priorities include protecting our natural resources, preserving water quality, soil health, and the air we breathe. I want us to ensure that future generations can enjoy the outdoors and all our natural resources. To me, this means better funding for the Dept. of Natural Resources, extension of the REAP sunset, funding the U of I Flood Center, and other clean water initiatives. It also means establishing a baseline for water quality, creating benchmarks to monitor our water quality, and to measure our achievements in every watershed, river, lake and stream in Iowa.”

Interestingly, a couple members later commented during the committee that Iowa has great, clean water.

It’s going to be an interesting Session. First, we’ll have to find agreement on the facts.

Imagine this for a moment: sharing underwear that some unknown person wore before you.

Gross, right?

This is a real thing I learned about from members of the Youth Justice Council. Monica Malek and Audi Wodrazka-Espinoza explained that youth in “temporary” juvenile detention centers sometimes have to do this. YJC is spreading awareness on this practice and proposing that the youth be allowed to wear their own underwear or that funds be available to supply new ones.

First meeting of the Senate Technology Committee (with Linn County Senator Charlie McClintock, Chair and Senator Liz Bennett, Ranking Member) was similar to most committees’ first meetings with the adoption of Rule 39. This is a standard set of rules for conducting a meeting, but #4 gives the Majority Party an incredible amount of power:

“The rules adopted by a committee, including subsections 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of this rule, may be suspended by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the committee.”

For parliamentarians, here are the complete set of rules:

Rule 39

Rules for Standing Committees

The following rules shall govern all standing committees of the senate. Any committee may adopt additional rules which are consistent with these rules:

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.
The chair of a committee shall refer each bill and resolution to a subcommittee within seven days after the bill or resolution has been referred to the committee. The chair may appoint subcommittees for study of bills and resolutions without calling a meeting of the committee, but the subcommittee must be announced by placing notice in the journal. No bill or resolution shall be reported out of a committee until the next meeting after the subcommittee is announced, except that the chair of the appropriations committee may make the announcement of the assignment to a subcommittee by placing a notice in the journal. Any bill so assigned by the appropriations committee chair shall be eligible for consideration by the committee upon report of the subcommittee. When a bill or resolution has been assigned to a subcommittee, the chair shall report to the senate the bill or resolution number and the names of the subcommittee members and such reports shall be reported in the journal. Subcommittee assignments shall be reported to the journal daily. Reports filed before 3:00 p.m. shall be printed in the journal for that day; reports filed after 3:00 p.m. shall be printed in the journal for the subsequent day. Where standing subcommittees of any committee have been named, the names of the members and the title of the subcommittee shall be published once and thereafter publication of assignments may be made by indicating the title of the subcommittee.
No bill or resolution shall be considered by a committee until it has been referred to a subcommittee, the subcommittee has held a public meeting, and the subcommittee has made its report unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the members.
The rules adopted by a committee, including subsections 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of this rule, may be suspended by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the committee.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the members of a committee is needed to sponsor a committee bill or resolution or to report a bill or resolution out for passage.
The vote on all bills and resolutions shall be by roll call unless a short-form vote is unanimously agreed to by the committee. A record shall be kept by the secretary.
No committee is authorized to meet when the senate is in session. This rule does not apply to conference committees or subcommittees.
A subcommittee shall not report a bill to the committee unless the bill has been typed into proper form by the legislative services agency.
A bill or resolution shall not be voted upon the same day a public hearing called under subsection 10 is held on that bill or resolution.
Public hearings may be called at the discretion of the chair. The chair shall call a public hearing upon the written request of one-half the membership of the committee. The chair shall set the time and place of the public hearing.
A subcommittee chair must notify the committee chair not later than one legislative day prior to bringing the bill or resolution before the committee. The committee cannot vote on a bill or resolution for at least one full day following the receipt of the subcommittee report by the chairperson.
A motion proposing action on a bill or resolution that has been defeated by a committee shall not be voted upon again at the same meeting of the committee.
Committee meetings and subcommittee meetings shall be open.

Access to mental health care continues to be a barrier for Iowa students. State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council members are asking legislators to support the requirement of mental health resources and information on school websites, and to require schools partner with students to identify other ways for students to be aware of mental health resources and information.

Appreciative of SIYAC students Alexis Van Voorst and Ebele Agu for their work on this very important issue.

Visited with the Board of Regents and University Presidents Tuesday afternoon. So appreciative of their passion for delivering a world-class education to our students. Especially enjoyed visiting with former colleague in the House, Nancy Dunkle, who now uses her gifts in finance and administration to serve on the Board.

Soooo proud to work with these legislators!

Representatives Tracy Ehlert, Aime J Wichtendahl, and Elinor Levin – three of the sharpest electeds who care deeply about ensuring their constituents’ voices are heard at the Statehouse.

Chief Justice Susan Christensen gave the Joint Convention Condition of the Judiciary Address. She spoke about raising indigent defense attorneys’ salaries as we continue to have a shortage in the state. She also discussed cost-saving measures of changing the statute to require fewer magistrates as many have workloads less than 31%.

Always impressed with Chief Justice Christensen’s passion to ensure all Iowans get fair and prompt justice.

State Government Committee Chair, Sen. Rozenboom, said things are going well in Iowa and will scrutinize each bill before the committee to determine if there’s a compelling need for the change.

Ranking Member, Sen. Cindy Winckler, suggested we should watch the Administrative Rules and Regulations changes and proposals taking place due to the government reorganization bill that passed last Session.

This is one of the larger committees that covers a multitude of topics.

Autism Advocacy Day at the Capitol gave me an opportunity to visit with Iowans from across the state who are on the autistic spectrum, along with their families. According to the CDC, 1 in 36 Iowa children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I spoke with a mother who received a detention notice yesterday about her child missing school. This is due to a law passed last Session which tightens truancy. I believe the bill was misguided and takes away local control. Parents often need to pull their student out of class for therapy, treatment, and doctor appointments.

The Autism Society of Iowa has several legislative priorities this year, including:

Eliminate age requirements for autism insurance coverage
Enable those on Hawki Insurance to have applied behavior analysis therapy coverage
Fully fund the Regional Autism Assistance Program in the HHS Budget so families have access to family navigators to assist them with services and resources
Increase wages for Direct Support Professionals
Increase Medicaid reimbursement for dental care
Improve employment opportunities for autistic adults through support of the Work Without Worry legislation

Pictured with Dr. Matt O’Brien, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics

We’ve a page from my District (Hiawatha) this year in the Senate. Meet Isabelle Miller, senior at Marion High!

State of the Iowa National Guard by Major General Stephen Osborn. The guard is strong and Major General shared some of their accomplishments and the commitment of our service members.

Please join me at the League of Women Voters’ Legislative Forum this Saturday, 10am-11:30am, at the Hiawatha Public Library Community Room. All Linn County legislators have been invited to participate and it’s a great opportunity to ask us questions and learn more about legislation.