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!

Highlights in this edition:

• Fiscal Year 2024 Tax Revenues Beat REC Forecast
  • The REC predicted revenue to decline by 2.4%, yet actual revenue declined just 0.7%
• Title IX Athletics Rule Delayed (Again)
  • The Title IX rules relating to transgender student athletes have been delayed at least a year.  As a reminder, in 2021, the Iowa Legislature passed the Protect Women’s Sports bill ensuring only females participate in any team, sport or athletic event designated as being for females in K-12 schools.  Sex is determined by the person’s biological sex on their original birth certificate    
• Legislature Passes $36 million Impact for Child Care Providers
  • HF 2655 provides child care centers and facilities the residential rollback saving them $17.7 million
• Election Security Top Priority for Republicans
  • There have now been several elections with the newly enacted cutoff time of 8:00 p.m. on election night for absentee ballots

Highlights in this edition:

• IUB Approves Summit Pipeline Permit
  • Following this decision there will likely be a multi-year legal battle
• Title IX Lawsuit Updates
  • Many states have laws that directly conflict with the Biden Administration’s new rules which allow boys to play girls sports
• Health Care Legislation Effective July 1
  • Parents Access to Minor Health Records – SF477 requires parents to have access to health care records of their minor children
• New Special Minor’s Driving License Prompts Questions About How It Can Be Used
  • Non-school sanctioned teams like club volleyball, and USSSA baseball teams are not considered to be an extracurricular activity

Highlights in this edition:

• Next Steps for Schools, Agencies, with Launch of Statewide Special Education Portal
  • First in the nation portal allows families to connect with schools and Area Education Agencies to support their learner’s special education progress
• Iowa Department of Education Seeks Public Feedback on Rubric to Evaluate Evidence-Based Professional Development
  • The Department will develop a list of evidence-based professional development services informed by expert reviews based on a public rubric
• New Consumable Hemp Rules Proposed
  • THC is capped at 4mg per serving and 10mg max per container, Consumable hemp products cannot be sold to those under 21 years of age, Prohibits alcoholic beverages from being mixed with hemp products in a licensed facility
• Report Finds Republican Tax Cuts in Iowa will Create Jobs and Grow the Economy
  • The positive tax changes for individuals in 2018, 2022 and 2024 were all done over the vocal opposition of Democrats

Highlights in this edition: 

• House Republicans Continue to Support Teachers
  • Facts are stubborn things and the facts detail key legislation supporting and protecting teachers
• Mental Health Continues to be a State Priority 
  • $750,000 from the Autism Support Fund to be used for new ChildServe buildings to care for children with autism 
• Key Points of Interest with Public Safety Funding
  • The Department of Public Safety saw an increase of nearly $1.2 million for priorities like narcotics enforcement 
• Tuesday June 4 is Election Day for Primaries
  • Voters who have requested and received an absentee ballot for the June primary must be received by the County Auditor's office no later than 8:00 PM on June 3
• Tax Relief for Iowa Storm and Tornado Victims
  • The Internal Revenue Service announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in Iowa that were affected by severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on April 26,2024

Highlights in this edition:

• Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Ready for Implementation as Governor Signs Appropriation Bills
  • 2.5 percent increase in state aid to schools, which is projected to be an additional $87.2 million given to schools next school year plus $66.3 million in new funding to raise teacher salaries and an additional $14 million to increase pay to paraeducators and other school support staff
• Secretary Naig Thanks Governor Reynolds, Legislature for Strong Support of Iowa Agriculture
  • Iowa’s prohibition on the foreign ownership of farmland will continue to be a model for other states
• Teacher Salary Increase, Evidence Based Reading Instruction Bills Headline Education Bills Signed into Law
  • HF 2618, requires evidence-based reading instruction and tailored interventions for students who aren’t proficient
• Biden Administration Favors Illegal Immigrants Over Iowans
  • Instead of protecting our borders, the United States Federal Government has decided to sue the state of Iowa for taking action against illegal immigration
• Governor Signs Increase to Contribution Maximums for Educational Savings Plan Trusts
  • HF 2667 increases the income deduction limit on contributions to College Savings Iowa accounts by almost $1500

Highlights in this edition:

• Support for Affordable Housing and School Cybersecurity Highlight Accomplishments
  • The Housing Trust Fund that supports affordable housing saw an increase in funding, SAVE funds can now be used for cybersecurity
• House Pushes Left Leaning Ideology out of Education
  • Education data suggests that the lack of specific standards and a deemphasis on civics and history is having an alarmingly negative effect on students
• Top Health Care Accomplishments
  • Rural Emergency Hospitals, Family Medicine OB Fellowships and Postpartum Coverage were key priorities for House Republicans
• Election Security Remains a Priority
  • Safeguards around absentee ballots were strengthened
• Child Care and Adoption Tax Credit Top Ways & Means Successes
  • Child Care Centers see a property tax cut and the adoption tax credit saw a significant increase