Ensuring clean air for good health & economic growth
Businesses and Iowans depend on the work of the air quality bureau in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to protect the health of Iowans by ensuring that air emissions meet the standards set out...
View ArticleProtecting grieving families from funeral protests
Iowans should be able to grieve and honor lost loved ones at a funeral without interference from protesters carrying hateful signs and shouting vile words. A bill that won unanimous support in the Iowa...
View ArticleHelping veterans access the benefits they’ve earned
Our veterans deserve to know all the services, benefits and programs they qualify for. House File 414 will help them more easily access information on ways to apply for benefits they have earned...
View ArticleGive Back Iowa Challenge encourages employer-supported volunteering
Give Back Iowa is a six-week challenge running from April 14 through May 31 to engage Iowans in employer-supported volunteering. Employers can register at any time during the challenge....
View ArticleFunding available for roadside plantings
Through May 15, funding is available to rural communities and counties for planting projects along roadsides and trails. Money comes from Iowa’s Living Roadways program to plant native trees, flowers...
View ArticleShare the road with farm equipment
As the spring planting season begins, we need to watch out for slow-moving equipment on Iowa’s roadways. Iowa Department of Transportation data shows 158 Iowa crashes involved farm equipment in 2014,...
View ArticleAppropriations – week of April 20, 2015
SF 411 – Disaster case management SSB 1277 – Education Budget FY16 and FY17 SSB 1279 – Ag & Natural Resources Budget FY16 & FY 17 COMMITTEE ACTION: SF 411 establishes a disaster case...
View ArticleEducation – week of April 20, 2015
HF 347 – DHS childcare program licensure on school grounds HF 599 – SAVE added to reorganization and dissolution of a school district FLOOR ACTION HF 347 makes the Department of Human Services (DHS)...
View ArticleJudiciary – week of April 20, 2015
SF 385 – Expunging not guilty verdicts and dismissed criminal charges SF 404 – Shorthand Reporters HF 6 – Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee FLOOR ACTION: SF 385 provides for the...
View ArticleLabor & Business Relations – week of April 20, 2015
HF 397 – Occasional Work for Child Labor FLOOR ACTION: HF 397 relates to the child labor law and defines “occasional” in Iowa Code. As amended, the bill removes schools and local workforce offices...
View ArticleState Government – week of April 20, 2015
SF 415 – Elections Administration FLOOR ACTION: SF 415 makes changes to Iowa election laws. Under current law, precinct election officials are required to tally and record write-in votes after the...
View ArticleTransportation – week of April 20, 2015
HF 635 – Department of Transportation omnibus COMMITTEE ACTION: HF 635 is the Department of Transportation (DOT) omnibus bill. The Senate approved a version of this bill on March 24. However, that...
View ArticleWays & Means – week of April 20, 2015
SF 423 - Salvage vehicle registration fees HF 615 – Rural Improvement Zones HF 621 – Streamlined sales tax update FLOOR ACTION: HF 621 is the annual bill to update Iowa’s sales tax law to maintain...
View ArticleExpanding middle class with job training, education investments
With the state budget in good condition, a strong investment in education and job training will keep our economy growing and expand Iowa’s middle class. That’s the goal of the Education Budget approved...
View ArticleEnsuring college students can afford the education they need
We’re working to keep college affordable so that all Iowans get the educational opportunities that lead to great jobs. Almost half of bachelor’s degrees awarded in Iowa come from our private colleges...
View ArticleEconomic development budget is good for Iowa workers
Senate Study Bill 1281 contains an Economic Development Budget that will expand Iowa’s middle class and move our economy forward. The state’s Economic Development Budget funds Small Business...
View ArticleIowans speak out on need for Mental Health Institutes
The Senate’s Government Oversight Committee heard testimony this week from patients and former employees of the state-run Mental Health Institutes (MHIs) that have been targeted for closure by Governor...
View ArticleHealth care for vulnerable Iowans in jeopardy
In January, Governor Branstad surprised Iowans by proposing to privatize almost all of Iowa’s Medicaid system. Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to just over a half million Iowans who...
View ArticlePrivacy protections for victims
A new address confidentiality program will protect victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking and stalking. The “Safe at Home” program was established in HF 585, which was approved...
View ArticleClearing the criminal records of the innocent
A bill that would erase public court records in cases where a defendant is acquitted or charges are dismissed has been sent to the Governor for his signature. Under SF 385, a defendant will be able to...
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