Highlights in this edition:

• DAS: State Facilities Have $454 Million of Maintenance Needs
  • Making a substantial reduction to the number of projects on the current list will require a larger commitment to utilizing RIIF for its intended purpose – maintaining the state’s buildings
• Youth Employment Bill Already Making Positive Impact
  • A Des Moines Register poll recently found that 57% of parents approve the aim of the bill
• Iowa Board of Regents Releases FY 2025 Appropriations Requests
  • It is good to see that the Regents institutions responding to House Republican requests to focus their work on the vocations needed most in the state
• National Voter Registration Day
  • September 19 was National Voter Registration Day and a great reminder to double check and ensure you are registered to vote

Highlights in this edition:

• September Workshops for Local Redevelopment/Rehab Program
  • The program provides grants to communities for the redevelopment and rehabilitation of vacant or underutilized buildings
• Iowa Department of Education Releases New Spring Student Assessment Results
  • State-level results from 2022-23 show relatively little to no growth across most grades in English language arts
• Covid- Is It Déjà Vu All Over Again?
  • Schools cannot require students to wear masks
• DNR Notes that Pheasant Survey Results Highest in Eight Years
  • The biggest increases coming from southwest, northwest and northeast regions

Highlights in this edition:

• As the School Year Begins, What Resources Do Parents Have?
  • Parents, guardians and community members should work with district staff to resolve disagreements or concerns
• Mental Health Rate Increases in Effect
  • The Legislature continued prioritized bills to recruit and retain mental health providers in Iowa
• Michigan Election Questions Highlight Need for Iowa’s Strong Election Integrity Laws
  • Iowa received high scores for its ballot security
• House File 718—House GOP Prioritized Taxpayers Over Tax Spenders
  • The legislation passed both chambers with only one “no” vote and minimal controversy

Highlights in this edition:

• Pushing Back Against the Woke Agenda in Education: Part 2
  • Of major note is the 2022 Protect Women’s Sports bill
• Iowa Ranked 2nd Best State for Health Care
  • Broken down by category had Iowa ranked 2nd for cost, 6th for outcomes
• Watch Your Mouth In Michigan as Left-Coast Insanity Takes Hold
  • A new bill regulates the language citizens can use and allows criminal charges if the language used makes a person “feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened” this includes if a person intentionally uses the wrong pronoun to address another - offenders would be guilty of a felony and could face a fine of up to $10,000 or up to five years in prison
• Iowa is the BEST State to Retire
  • Bankrate rated Iowa the number one state for retirement after consideration of affordability, overall well-being, cost of quality healthcare, weather, and crime

Highlights in this edition:

• Pushing Back Against the Woke Agenda in Education
  • Thanks to House Republicans, everybody was back in school full time by February of 2021
• House Republicans Took On the Woke Agenda Beginning in 2021
  • Taxpayer paid training sessions and taxpayer paid curriculum should reiterate basic American principles from the Declaration of Independence, the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – all Americans should be treated equally, regardless of race, color, creed or religion
• FY 2023 was a Record Year for Spending on DOT Projects
  • Over the last 17 years, the number of deficient bridges has fallen from 256 to just 23 currently
• Governor Sends Iowa National Guard to U.S. Southern Border
  • 100 Iowa National Guard troops will help secure the U.S. southern border
• Annual Tax Holiday on Back to School Clothes Coming Right Up
  • The weekend of August 4^th is Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday weekend

• Fiscal Year 2023 Finishes with Iowa on a Solid Financial Base
  • The state took in $9.6 billion in net receipts
• Iowa’s Students First Education Savings Account Program Generates More than 29,000 Applications
  • Approved ESA accounts may be funded as soon as July 15
• Supporting the Unborn
  • Miscarriage is clearly not prohibited in anyway in this bill
• How Does Iowa’s Income Tax Stack Up With Our Neighbors?
  • Minnesota really is earning their new nickname as the California of the Midwest, while Wisconsin’s governor recently vetoed an income tax cut

Highlights in this edition:

• More Money Going to Iowa’s Broadband Efforts
  • With this round’s allotment, the total funding that has been granted by the state for this effort is $501.8 million
• The Push for Removal of DEI in Schools Continues
  • “(DEI) has become their new religion. They no longer going to church on Sunday, but boy, are they trying to make sure that everybody is evangelized on campus, that there’s only one acceptable viewpoint.”
• Government Realignment Goes into Effect Next Week
  • Iowa will go from 37 state agencies to 16 agencies without eliminating services currently provided to Iowans
• Last Chance to Apply for 65+ Property Tax Exemption—Due July 1
  • This is in addition to the homestead tax credit many Iowans over 65 already receive

Highlights in this edition:

• Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Ready for Implementation as Governor Signs Appropriation Bills
  • The FY 2024 budget will spend 88.33% of the projected ongoing revenue for the year
• Democrats Want Government to Control Your Energy Use
  • Local government officials should not be using the force of law to impose their left-wing green agenda to determine how much energy Iowans are permitted to use inside their own private residences
• California Democrats Target Parents Who Do Not Believe In Transgenderism
  • The bill requires judges adjudicating custody disputes “over transgender-identifying children to favor the parent who "affirms" the child's preferred identity
• Protecting Iowa’s Caucus Integrity
  • The Iowa Democratic Party is attempting to turn the process into a primary instead of a caucus

HF 101 (Bouncer) – Suicide Prevention Information

HF 724 – HHS Budget

SF 576 – Transpo Budget

SF 557 – Admin and Reg budget

SF 558 – Ag and DNR budget

HF 647 – Youth Employment

HF 699 – Juvenile Justice

HF 604 (Bouncer) – Teacher Empowerment

SF 513 – MVE to DPS

HF 617 (Bouncer) – Rate Studies

HF 709 (Bouncer) – FY 24 and 25 Federal Block Grant Appropriations

HF 432 (Bouncer) – HOA Records and Documents

HF 135 – Student Right to Know

HF 424 (Bouncer) – PA supervision

HF 648 (Bouncer) – Investment Advisors - Expungement

HF 679 – Iowa Economic Development authority bill

HF 634 (Bouncer) – Time of Transfer Inspection Fraud and Penalties

HF 111 (Bouncer) – Real Estate Transfer Tax Exemption

HF 652 (Bouncer) – Cosmetology Bill

HF 644 (Bouncer) – Criminal Procedure Rules

HF 603 (Bouncer) – Volunteer Emergency Services Providers Tires

HF 720 – Birth Certificates Biological Parents

HF 583 (Bouncer) – Odometer Bill

HF 664 – Affiliate Rentals and Leases

HF 715 – Department of Revenue Technical Bill

HF 685 – Medicaid Lien and MCO Tax

HF 719 – Unfair or Deceptive Acts – Rental Vehicles

HF 714 (Bouncer) – Transmission Lines

HF 716 – Caucus Integrity

HF 718 - Property Tax Reform Agreement

HF 707 Bouncer - Child care Assistance

HF 708 Bouncer – Medicaid Reimbursement

HF 711 Bouncer – Levee Safety and Improvement

HF 270 Bouncer – Informal Review in Disaster Areas

HF 430 Bouncer – BOEE

HF 666 Bouncer – Dept of Ag bill

HF 232 Bouncer – Probate

HF 265 Bouncer – Midwives

HF 538 – Statement for Crossbow Hunting

HF 728 – Judicial Branch Budget

HF 727 – Justice Systems Budget

HF 729 – Standings

HF 731 – Ed Approps

HF 725 - Economic Development Budget

HF 730 - RIIF Budget

Highlights in this edition:

• How House Republicans Created the Taxpayer Relief Fund
  • At the behest of House Republicans, the Fund was created in 2011
• Parent Empowerment, Teacher Empowerment Bills Receive Approval
  • Led by House Republicans, the Legislature has made clear where the lines of control exist when it comes to parental responsibility and a school district’s responsibility
• HHS Budget Provides Increase for Mental Health, Nursing Homes
  • This budget provides $13 million in increased state funding towards mental health
• House Budget Provides Increase to Veterans Home Ownership
  • This program provides a $5,000 grant to service members for a down payment and closing costs toward the purchase of a new home in Iowa