Senator Weiner’s April 18 Newsletter

From the Desk of Senator Weiner

In theory, the legislature should adjourn by May 2 – that is two weeks from today. Though at least one budget bill has moved through committee, I’m not optimistic. And if that sounds odd – it is. Our Republican colleagues have been in power for going on nine years, and they still battle with each other and the governor over budget targets.

Let’s review the state of play:

There have been no budget subcommittees in the Senate since pre-COVID. They seem to be treating that necessary transparency – both for legislators and for the public, whose tax dollars these are – with the same skepticism as many of them do COVID vaccines.
Because of income tax cuts that disproportionately help the wealthy, Iowa’s revenues are falling short – starting this year – of the amount needed. (And, I would argue, no, we are not currently overspending.)
Senate and House leadership plus the governor’s office meet behind closed doors to determine the ultimate numbers. The people have no transparency and no say. Neither do we.
The budget bills that come through committee usually contain tentative numbers – when bills come to the floor, our colleagues maintain they are set in stone.

Republicans ran a joint resolution in the Senate this week that would require a 2/3s majority of the legislature to change income taxes, locking us in at a perilous time – when our state revenues are falling and funds we receive from the federal government are in peril. I spoke to it on the floor – you can view the clip below.

There is more detail on the budget process below. It has been clear throughout this session in particular that Republicans are intent on doing everything on their own. I believe we would be in a better place if we had more balance.

To my point: We saw again this week on the debate floor that the most mundane of bills can become controversial. What started out as a good bill on open meetings laws turned into an upside down law when Republicans added a non-germane amendment to prevent open records requests for official video feeds from cameras at the capitol and for information on swipe in swipe out. When legislators and others are in a public space, they have no reasonable expectation of privacy. It is the people’s house, and the people should have a right to request these records. What happens when more information is needed on what happened with protestors – or perhaps a liaison that shouldn’t be taking place? If we are lucky, there will be cell phone videos and perhaps feed from cameras worn by law enforcement – but they won’t give the bird’s eye view over a more extended period. They argued safety and security – and while I’m all for safety and security, I don’t buy it.

One much needed piece of legislation did finally get through the Senate this week, after years of trying – anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) legislation, which the House has passed before but which kept getting jammed up in the Senate. Such laws protect freedom of speech by allowing defendants quickly to dismiss baseless lawsuits that aim to silence criticism. We need that now, more than ever. Iowa is one of only 14 states without such a statute – I am eager for that number to shrink to 13 when the governor signs it into law.

An unnecessary bill that will impact the University of Iowa also made it over the finish line – a mandate to create a “center for intellectual freedom” (HF437). The language is from a model law that comes from an ultra-conservative group, civicsalliance.org, and will actually be something of a Trojan horse within the university. It sounds good, as many of these titles do. It is not good. It could potentially risk accreditation (which our Republican colleagues knew, hence they also passed a law stating that the university can go to another organization to get accredited). This is going to be something we need to track closely, especially as we watch federal efforts to clamp down on universities across the country.

I hope you will join us in tomorrow’s demonstration in downtown Iowa City, at the corner of Clinton and Iowa Avenues, starting at 11:30am.

Discussions Continue on Property Tax Changes

Senate Republicans have introduced a bill that would significantly overhaul the state’s property tax system. The bill, SSB 1227, is meant to address complexity and uncertainty for both taxpayers and local governments, including school districts. It proposes structural changes rather than focusing on any single issue at a time.

The bill is ambitious and clearly not a finished product. It has already been updated and changed from its original form, and we could yet see more changes. We are still awaiting data modeling that will help illuminate how the bill will affect our local communities.

Rising property taxes are an issue I hear about frequently from my constituents. I recognize the need to address this problem and am willing to work with the majority party on property tax reforms. What I’m not willing to see is another tax giveaway to corporations or the very wealthy. Any reforms need to target the middle class and allow our communities to continue to provide essential services, like public safety.

SSB 1227 includes positive changes from the previous version, and I’m thankful our communities and local stakeholders are providing critical input to help shape the bill. I encourage the majority party to continue bringing everyone to the table to discuss the real-world impacts of property tax reform and how any structural changes would affect all Iowa communities.

I’ll also note that due to this bill’s complexity, it may not move forward this year. I will keep you updated as it progresses.

Moving on to the Budget

While the Legislature has not fully completed its policy-setting duties for the year, we have begun to move into the period of the legislative session when we focus on the state’s budget.

My colleagues and I believe in an open and transparent budgeting process. We believe Iowans deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent.

Passing a state budget is a required responsibility for the Legislature every year. It can be a confusing process, so I’ve put together a quick rundown on how it works and why it’s so important:

The budget process really begins before the Legislature even convenes. You’ve seen me mention the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) in this newsletter before – that’s where this process gets started. The REC meets in October and December to estimate state revenues for both the current fiscal year and the coming fiscal year, which begins on July 1.
In early January, the governor releases her budget proposal based on the REC’s December estimate and her own agenda and priorities.
With the governor’s budget in hand, the Legislature begins gathering input.
In March, the REC meets again to update its revenue projections.
The majority parties in the House and Senate use the REC’s updated numbers to put together “budget targets” – topline numbers for the state’s various spending areas.
In early-to-mid April, we typically begin seeing budget bills – the state budget is divided into separate divisions covering areas like transportation, education, health and human services, etc. These budget bills are introduced and considered through the same process as policy legislation – with a subcommittee hearing, consideration by the full Appropriations Committee, and then floor debate.
The budget bills introduced in the House and Senate – even with same-party control in both chambers, are often different, reflecting different priorities and objectives. They can also differ from the governor’s initial budget proposal.
Once the budget bills move through the Legislature, they go to the governor’s desk for her approval. She has 30 days to sign them into law, but she can also line-item veto – meaning she can reject individual spending lines while approving the rest.

Both Gov. Reynolds’ and Senate Republicans’ budget proposals would have the state spend far more money than it takes in, creating a $900 million budget deficit that would need to be covered by one-time use of reserve funds.

Quick Updates

Defending Social Security: This week, my colleagues and I sent letters to each member of Iowa’s federal delegation urging their opposition to any proposed cuts to Social Security funding or operations. More than 687,000 Iowans depend on Social Security’s monthly benefits and any cuts would be devastating. Iowa’s federally elected officials were sent to Washington to stand up for Iowans and defend us against reckless proposals, and we expect them to live up to that obligation.
Pulled Research Funding: Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) recently lost its federal funding after the National Institute of Standards and Technology learned last week that the federal government is halting its funding — effective immediately — “because it is no longer aligned with the priorities of the administration.” CIRAS has led Iowa’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) for 20 years, helping over 4,600 businesses statewide and generating more than $2.8 billion in economic impact. Despite the setback, CIRAS will continue its work and is exploring new ways to restore funding and evolve its business model.
Enhanced First Amendment Protections: On Wednesday, the Senate passed important legislation to combat frivolous lawsuits meant to silence critics and whistleblowers. Known as SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), these suits have been used to silence consumer protection organizations, small business owners, nonprofits, reporters – anyone who stood up to powerful interests. The bill must now pass the House again, but I’m hopeful this is the year Iowans finally enjoy this protection that so many other states enjoy.
Condition of Education in Iowa: The Iowa Department of Education released the 2024 Condition of Education Report at its Board meeting this week. State-level results from the spring 2024 Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) show student achievement reaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels across most grade levels in both English language arts and mathematics. However, significant proficiency gaps remain among students with disabilities and English learners in both English language arts and mathematics.
Understanding Online Safety: Project Community has produced a fast-paced and engaging 8-part video series to help older elementary and middle school students learn about the role they have in maintaining online safety and managing risks responsibly. Find and watch the entire eight-part Project Community Media Literacy series on their YouTube channel.
Youth Statewide Fishing Club: Iowa 4-H is launching a new statewide fishing club, designed for Iowa youth in grades 4-12. This program aims to deepen participants’ understanding of aquatic life found in Iowa, focusing on topics like identifying common fish species, mastering safe catch-and-release techniques, and learning the intricate art of lure tying. Enrollment for the club is now open, and club opportunities will start April 28. To join, participants must first enroll as a 4-H member in 4-H Online.
Farm & Food Celebration: Food systems practitioners, K-12 school district staff, and early care and education providers may register for the Farm & Food Celebration, set for June 13 in Grinnell. This bi-annual event celebrates local food, farmers, and Iowa’s food system. This event is open to the public and participants should register online. Registration is open through May 31.
Earth Day: Reminder that April 22 is Earth Day! Get outdoors and enjoy springtime in Iowa!

Iowa Senate Democrats