Week in Iowa, Jan. 29, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Gender identity protections remain: Iowa Republican lawmakers spiked a bill that would have removed gender identity from the state's civil rights act, taking away discrimination protections from transgender people. Republicans on a subcommittee said the bill was dead after it was voted down 3-0.

Hundreds of demonstrators packed the Iowa Capitol hallway Wednesday, chanting and urging lawmakers to vote against the bill. Transgender Iowans said the bill was insulting and an attack on their rights. Rep. Jeff Shipley, a Republican who introduced the bill, said it was intended to clear up what he saw as a poor definition of gender in Iowa code.

Income tax cuts floated: Iowa GOP lawmakers filed legislation this past week that would put Iowa on a path to eliminate the individual income tax over several years. The tax policy committee chairs in both chambers suggested the bill was "the beginning" and may not be passed this year. Republicans said in the near term they will focus on increasing and speeding up the existing flat tax cut.

Man charged with hate crime for Satanic Temple vandalism: A former congressional candidate from Mississippi who admitted to destroying a statue as part of a display at the Iowa Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa has been charged with a hate crime. Michael Cassidy, 36, from Lauderdale, Miss., faces a third-degree mischief charge for destroying the statue, which the group estimated to cost $3,000.

Governor's AEA bill falters: A bill proposed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to overhaul the state's area education agencies that provide special education to students across the state hit its first roadblock to becoming law when House Republican lawmakers declined to advance it out of a subcommittee Wednesday. They said they wanted "further conversations" before taking more action.

Senate Republicans, meanwhile, moved the bill onto the Education Committee, but they said they it will see more changes moving forward. Parents of children with disabilities said during the meetings that they were concerned the proposal would weaken special education opportunities in the state.

Reynolds goes to Texas border: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is visiting the U.S. border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sunday with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, along with a slew of other GOP governors. The visit comes as Abbott remains in a standoff with President Joe Biden over border and immigration enforcement.

They said ...

"We need to just step back and start to ask some of those questions with the overall objective of making sure that we're doing everything we can to get these kids with disabilities the education that they deserve and hopefully see better outcomes." -- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on bill to overhaul area education agencies

"There is no flexibility in this bill. It takes local control away from our schools and our districts 133 times ... If you're unhappy with the administrative costs, then deal with the administrative costs. Don't throw the whole baby out with the bathwater." -- Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, on Reynolds' AEA bill

Odds and ends

Iowa football reports: Iowa football will self-report an NCAA violation after a Hawkeye staffer texted former Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor during the 2023 season. Proctor transferred from Alabama to Iowa this year after Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban announced his retirement.

Gender-balanced boards: A bill in the Iowa Legislature would remove the requirement that Iowa boards and commissions have an equal number of men and women. Supporters of the bill say the requirement is no longer necessary, while opponents say the bill would take women out of positions of power.

Water cooler

Death penalty: Iowa Republican lawmakers advanced a bill Monday to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa for someone who kills a police officer. The crime would need to meet a number of criteria before a person is eligible to be sentenced to death.

Immigration bills: Republican lawmakers are considering bills that would revoke in-state tuition from undocumented immigrants and make them ineligible for public assistance. One bill would also introduce the crime of "smuggling of persons," making it illegal to transport or harbor undocumented immigrants and conceal them from police.

  Buy Photo