Governor Reynolds signs budget bills into law

DES MOINES - Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed legislation increasing the budget for the Judicial Branch by $3.6 million to $184 million.

Nearly all of the funds in Senate File 616 are for Judicial Branch operations, with the remaining $3.1 million going to the Jury and Witness Revolving Loan Fund, according to the Legislative Services Agency.

The governor also signed Senate File 608, which includes $42 million for the Departments of Cultural Affairs, Workforce Development, Economic Development, Iowa Finance Authority, Public Employment Relations Board, College Student Aid Commission and the Board of Regents. That's an increase of $1.7 million from the state general fund.

The bill also appropriates $28.1 million, an increase of $1.3 million, from other funds for fiscal 2020.

Reynolds also signed:

l House File 634 that establishes the Justice Advisory Board and eliminates the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Advisory Council, the Public Safety Advisory Board and the Sex Offender Research Council in the Department of Human Rights.

l House File 685, relating to the payment of required medical aid provided to prisoners of county jails.

l Senate File 377, which extends immunity from tort liability to certain nonprofit corporations providing emergency response services.

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com