Week in Iowa, Feb. 13, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Mike Pence rails against school gender policy: Former Vice President Mike Pence touched down in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, slamming a local school policy intended to protect transgender students that he said erodes parental rights.

Pence criticized what he called a “left-wing culture war” that has "invaded our schools, colleges and workplaces." Pence has not officially announced a run for president in 2024, but he has hinted at his intentions to seek the White House and has made several trips to the first-in-the-nation caucus state since 2020.

Reynolds signs medical malpractice limitations: Iowa now will have caps on non-economic damages from medical malpractice lawsuits of $2 million for a hospital and $1 million for a doctor or clinic. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law Thursday, saying it would stabilize health care and ensure access in the state. Opponents of the bill said it takes away the ability for juries to decide proper compensation for medical injury.

Reynolds health care bill takes different forms: A wide-ranging health care bill proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds is moving through the Legislature, but the Senate version does not include a provision that would allow pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription. Both versions lawmakers are considering would expand funding to crisis pregnancy centers that discourage abortion and give state employees paid parental leave, among other provisions.

Property tax fix close to becoming law: Iowa's local governments are bracing for a shortfall in their projected budgets as a bill to fix a state oversight in property tax assessments is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk.

The bill would let Iowa property owners off the hook for about $130 million they would have otherwise paid, but local governments will lose that much from the budgets they are in the process of planning. Government officials asked lawmakers to make up the difference with reserve funds, but that was not included in the final bill.

Pipeline proposal could limit projects: A bill backed by the Iowa House speaker would require carbon pipeline companies to obtain 90 percent of their route through voluntary easements before using eminent domain. It would also block the projects entirely for a year or more as a federal regulator works on new regulations for carbon pipelines.

Death penalty bill returns: A bill that would bring back the death penalty in Iowa passed its first legislative hurdle last week, but its chances of becoming law are unclear. The bill, which has been introduced in the past, would allow the death penalty as punishment for a person who kidnaps, rapes and murders a minor.

They said …

“No one should have a greater role over what our children are learning or the values they're being taught than their parents." — Former Vice President Mike Pence at rally opposing Linn-Mar gender policy

“I have an issue with other people’s property being taken for what is an economic development project, and I think that’s where we confuse public use for public benefit." — Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, on carbon pipeline limitations.

Odds and ends

Blind Iowans question reorganization: Blind Iowans said at a hearing last week they were concerned about a proposal to make the director of the Iowa Department of the Blind governor-appointed rather than elected by a board. They said the change could weaken services provided by the department.

UI to sell Mayflower: The University of Iowa announced its plans to sell 55-year-old Mayflower Residence Hall in order to build a new residence hall for returning students.

Water cooler

HPV vaccine changes: Iowa schools would no longer be required to teach about the availability of an HPV vaccine under a proposal lawmakers advanced last week. The common sexually transmitted infection can lead to cervical cancer and other cancers, and public health advocates said the vaccine is key to preventing cancer and saving lives.

COVID cases back up: Iowa's COVID-19 hospitalizations are up for the first time in a month, and cases also rose in the week ending Wednesday. The state reported 1,626 new cases, up from 1,517 the week before. There were 135 Iowans hospitalized with the virus compared to 122 last week.