Highlights in this edition: 

• Smaller Growth Projected by Surrounding States as FY 2026 Revenue Forecasts Set
  • Iowa's Revenue Estimating Conference meets December 12
• Iowa Insurance Division Publishes Health Insurance Report
  • After 2024 open enrollment, nearly 40% of Iowa policies receiving advance premium tax credits (APTC) paid premiums less than $10 a month, with an average Iowa premium after the APTC of $93
• What Does It Take to be a Substitute Teacher? 
  • Individuals have two pathways toward becoming a substitute teacher in Iowa: substitute license and substitute authorization
• 2024 DNR Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants Awarded to Rural Fire Department
  • $416,000 in 50 percent cost-share grants were recently awarded to 138 Iowa rural fire departments to help their efforts to protect Iowan's and their property from wildfires
• $33.4 million provided to EMS in Iowa
  • Based on legislation by the Iowa House, emergency medical services recently received an additional $33.4 million to 66 EMS locations in Iowa 

Highlights in this edition: 

• Iowa's Taxpayer Relief Fund
  
  • It is an account in the State Treasury that holds unanticipated state revenue to be returned to the taxpayers
• Iowa Department of Education Releases New State School Performance Ratings and Federal Designations
  • Over 93%, or 351 schools, were identified in need of targeted support and improvement because students with disabilities at their school performed below the level of the lowest 5 percent of all schools
• Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Large Medical Malpractice Verdict
  • The jury decision that was reversed was for $97.4 million, with over $40 million being noneconomic damages
• House Republicans-Protecting Communities 
  • Organized retail theft goes beyond simply shoplifting and is a coordinated effort by an individual or group to steal merchandise from a retail establishment
• Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship (TPRA) Grant Program
  • TPRA is a unique grant opportunity that provides additional ways for current high school students and adult paraeducators to earn credentials while learning and working in the classroom

Highlights in this edition: 

• State Facilities Have $442 Million of Maintenance Needs
  • The summer 2024 version of the major maintenance list covers 514 different projects across the state at fifty-seven individual facilities
• Mental Health Annual Spending Reaches $1.2 Billion in Iowa 
  • House Republicans have made mental health a priority
• Iowa's Unemployment Rate Remains at 2.9% in September 
  • The figure in 1,000 lower than August and 18,800 lower than one year ago
• DNR Notes that 2024 Iowa Deer Hunting is Off to a Good Start
  • A major factor leading to Iowa's world-renowned buck quality is the simple fact that hunting during the rut - when bucks are most vulnerable - is restricted to compound and traditional bows

Highlights in this edition:

• As Income Tax Cuts Continue to Phase In, Iowa Remains in a Strong Financial Position
  • Fiscal Year 2024, the state had an ending balance of $1.9 billion in the General Fund, $961 million in the state’s Cash Reserve Fund & Economic Emergency Fund and $3.75 billion in the Taxpayer Trust Fund
• Are There Really More Democrat than Republican Professors on College Campuses?
  • According to a survey, 48.4% are registered Democrats and 5.7% are registered Republicans, which is a ratio of 8.5:1
• Major Issues with Court Debt Payment Distribution
  • Through the end of Fiscal Year 2024, the courts believe the programming errors in their IT system have resulted in the General Fund being overpaid by $26.5 million and underpayments to other state funds of $22.7 million and non-state funds of $3.9 million
• Election Day Preparedness
  • Absentee ballot requests must be received by the County Auditor’s office by 5:00 pm October 21

Highlights in this edition:

• Final Revenue Numbers for Fiscal Year 2024 Outperform Projections
  • The actual amount ended up $118.5 million higher than the forecast
• Vice President Harris is Coming for Your Gas Stove
  • 21 states moved to block new Biden/Harris energy rules
• The Saga Continues with Age-Appropriate School Materials
  • The State never required specific books to be removed, instead the new law simply said books need to be age-appropriate
• Regulation of Traffic Cameras Has Begun
  • Some communities that did not get their fixed or mobile ATE locations permitted have stated that they are examining their legal options

Highlights in this edition:

• Board of Regents Unveil Funding Request for Fiscal Year 2026
  • The Board is requesting $1 million to create a Center for Civic Education at UNI in response to the directive from the Board for the universities to develop a program covering free speech and civic education
• Iowa Department of Education Releases New Spring Student Assessment Results
  • State-level results show student achievement reaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels across most grade levels in both English language arts and mathematics
• Iowa Launches Website to Find Child Care
  • Over the last two years, the legislature approved $26 million for Iowa’s Child Care Assistance Program and childcare centers and homes
• Iowa’s New Public Safety Officer Tax Credit
  • The Public Safety Officer Moving Expense Tax Credit is for officers who establish residency in Iowa after July 1, 2024, and take full-time employment as a public safety officer in Iowa
• How Far Out of Touch Has the Democrat Party’s Base Become?
  • 28 percent of Democrats believe America would be better off if Trump had been killed and it was only two years ago that 45 percent of Democrats believed that the COVID-19 unvaccinated should be rounded up and placed into detention facilities

Highlights in this edition:

• Midwest Economic Survey Points Downward Again in August
  • Leading the downward trend is Minnesota
• IDALS Secretary Naig Announces Grants for 137 Iowa Schools to Purchase Local Food
  • Local Food for Schools (LFS) pairs school lunch programs with a local food hub to connect to area farmers
• Minnesota Teaching Standards – Based on Merit or Ideological Indoctrination?
  • Standard 8: The teacher understands how ethnocentrism, eurocentrism, deficit-based learning, and white supremacy undermine pedagogical equity
• Iowa Ranks Second in Healthcare Competitiveness Index
  • This ranking is based on the state’s percent of residents privately insured, percent of residents with employer-provided insurance, spending per capita on Medicare and Medicaid, and number of active physicians per 100,000 residents
• Iowa Continues to Improve Pension Funding
  • Iowa overall ranks 13th with a funded ratio of 92% - while the City of Chicago’s pension fund faces $37.2 billion in unfunded liability

Highlights in this edition:

• Democrat Carbon Rule Will Be ‘Catastrophic’
  • The proposed regulations would have a very damaging impact on grid reliability
• Biden Administration Overreaches (Again): Supreme Court Will Not Stop States from Blocking Title IX Changes
  • In reality, the new rule allows males into female spaces and onto female athletic teams based on subjective “gender identity” assertions
• Why is School Starting on a Friday?
  • Iowa law requires that schools cannot start prior to August 23
• Iowa Attorney General Bird Leads Coalition to End California’s Green Car Mandate
  • California’s mandate requires that all cars, trucks, and SUVs sold be electric by 2035
• Biden/Harris Administration to Provide Health Care Tax Credits to Illegals
  • This session House Republicans approved a bill prohibiting illegal aliens from accessing Iowa welfare programs while all Democrats voted against the bill
• Back to School Safety Tips
  • Stay off your cell phone and watch for kids

Highlights in this edition:

• State Identifies $66 Million in Maintenance Needs at Iowa State Parks
  • The Department identified 641 different maintenance projects in the 83 state parks and other recreational facilities
• Minnesota Energy – More Expensive, Less Reliable
  • Minnesota’s energy costs already exceed Iowa’s in all categories and will only continue to go up with Gov. Walz’ 100% carbon free energy mandate
• Has Minnesota Education Under Gov. Walz Drifted as Far Left as Rumored?
  • Fourth graders will be required to “identify the processes and impacts of colonization and examine how discrimination and the oppression of various race and ethnic groups have produced resistance movements”
• Comparing Iowa’s Election Laws Across Swing States
  • In Iowa, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, absentee ballots must be received by close of polls on election day to be counted.  In Nevada and Ohio, the deadline is 5 pm on the fourth day after the election
• Retiring in Iowa vs. Minnesota—Iowa is the Clear Choice
  • If you are a retiree in Minnesota expect to pay taxes on your retirement income at rates from 5.35% to 9.85%

Highlights in this edition:

• Concerned with Something at Your School? Here’s How to Deal With it
  • Parents, guardians and community members should work with district staff to resolve disagreements or concerns, but if that doesn’t work there are other options
• Consumable Hemp Rules Adopted
  • A liquid serving is considered 12 oz. Up to 4mg of THC can be in a 12 oz container. Up to 8 mg THC can be in a 24 oz container, and up to 10 mg THC can be in a 30 oz container
• Election Security in Iowa
  • Voters are required to provide valid identification to poll workers before they are able to receive a paper ballot
• Get Ready for Annual Sales Tax Holiday!
  • The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ends at 12:00 am midnight the following day—so the sales tax is back for Sunday purchases!