Ways & Means – week of March 21, 2016
SF 2301 – College savings plans operated by non-profits SF 2306 – Facilitating natural disaster response FLOOR ACTION: SF 2301 allows nonprofits to establish a 529 college savings account for...
View ArticleExpanding preschool is an investment in our future
High-quality preschool is a critical investment in our future workforce and economy, not just a way to support working parents with child care needs. Studies show the long-term value of high-quality...
View ArticleProviding a final resting place for all veterans
A change being signed into Iowa law today will give all veterans the respect and final resting place they deserve. HF 2266 helps solve a problem that goes unnoticed by many: the unclaimed remains of...
View ArticleSaving for college enhances success
Low-income students with as little as $500 saved for college are three times more likely to enter college and four times more likely to graduate, studies show. That has prompted the Legislature to...
View ArticleSubmit work for Iowa women’s art exhibit
Through May 2, female artists may submit their work for the Iowa Women’s Art Exhibition. Applicants must be Iowa residents, female, 21 or older, and not enrolled in a degree program. Submissions must...
View ArticleMedicaid changes now in place
Despite our repeated efforts to stop or delay it, Governor Branstad’s ill-conceived plan to turn over management of Iowa Medicaid to three out-of-state companies became a reality for 560,000 Iowans on...
View ArticleAppropriations – week of March 28, 2016
SF 2280 – Enhance Iowa SSB 3138 – Food banks and emergency feeding COMMITTEE ACTION: SF 2280 establishes an Enhance Iowa Board to assume the powers and duties of the Vision Iowa Board, along with...
View ArticleState Government – week of March 28, 2016
HF 2429 – Gambling licenses COMMITTEE ACTION: HF 2429 clarifies that the license fee for a gambling facility only applies when a new license is issued to a person for a facility that increases the...
View ArticleTransportation – week of March 28, 2016
HF 2437 – Annual Department of Transportation policy bill COMMITTEE ACTION: HF 2437 is the Department of Transportation’s annual policy bill. It is identical to SF 2248, which passed the Senate on...
View ArticleAttracting visitors & new workers by enhancing quality of life
Workforce development must be an Iowa priority, according to the Iowa Business Council’s 2016 report. To fill an expected 612,000 job openings by 2025, we need to attract and retain more workers....
View ArticlePreventing drug overdose deaths
Prescription overdoses kill more Americans each year than all other drugs combined. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 44 people die from a prescription painkiller overdose every day....
View ArticlePreserving resources is an investment in our future
We’re always looking for ways to make Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family. Our natural and cultural resources are an important part of that effort. The foundation of Iowa’s economy and...
View ArticleArt competition will showcase Iowa ag
Through July 1, Iowa artists are invited to submit their work for the fifth annual Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Award. This is a juried art exhibit that celebrates Iowa’s role as a global...
View ArticleShare your experience with Medicaid privatization
On April 1, Governor Branstad’s ill-conceived plan to turn over management of Iowa Medicaid to three out-of-state companies became a reality for 560,000 Iowans. If you or a loved one is on Medicaid,...
View ArticleAgriculture – week of April 4, 2016
SF 2249 – Farm lease termination FLOOR ACTION: SF 2249 requires parties to a lease for land used in farming to make any agreement terminating the lease in writing. [4/6: 50-0]
View ArticleHuman Resources – week of April 4, 2016
SF 2188 — Psychologist prescribing SF 2260 — Disclosure of ownership information FLOOR ACTION: SF 2188 allows certain psychologists with specialized training to write prescriptions for a limited...
View ArticleAppropriations – week of April 4, 2016
SF 2308 – Enhance Iowa FLOOR ACTION: SF 2308 establishes an Enhance Iowa Board to assume the powers and the duties of the Vision Iowa Board, along with additional powers and duties. The board will...
View ArticleJudiciary – week of April 4, 2016
SF 2061 – Representation of indigent persons in criminal proceedings SF 2185 – Trespass and invasion of privacy SF 2233 – Deployed parents’ custody and visitation HF 493 – Right to summon emergency...
View ArticleState Government – week of April 4, 2016
SF 2219 – Carbon monoxide detectors SF 2273 – Home food establishments HF 2429 – Gambling licenses FLOOR ACTION: SF 2219 amends current law requiring smoke detectors in multiple-unit residential...
View ArticleTransportation – week of April 4, 2016
SF 2228 – Electronic motor vehicle registration and dealer licenses HF 2437 – Annual Department of Transportation policy bill FLOOR ACTION: SF 2228 received unanimous approval in the Senate on March...
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