Week in Iowa, April 15, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Legislative session wrapping up: Iowa lawmakers were in the final stretch of the 2024 legislative session Friday, hoping to pass the necessary bills to adjourn for the year by Saturday. Lawmakers were considering bills funding the state government and cutting income taxes by $1 billion.

The four-month legislative session was dominated by debate over a proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds to overhaul the area education agencies that provide special education support to Iowa schools. The Legislature also looked at school safety, passing bills to beef up security infrastructure at schools and create a permitting process for school staff to carry guns.

RFK Jr. tries for ballot access: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, held a convention in Iowa last weekend as he seeks ballot access for his independent presidential run. The candidate, who lodged an unsuccessful Democratic primary challenge to President Joe Biden, said he believes he can be a viable third-party candidate for president.

Lawmakers advance pay raise: Iowa House lawmakers passed a bill last week to increase their pay by $10,000, bringing their base pay to $35,000, but it had not advanced in the Senate by Friday. Supporters of the bill said it would encourage more Iowans to run for seats in the Legislature. The bill also would increase salaries for statewide officials, including the governor.

DEI ban in education budget: Iowa Republicans moved to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Iowa's public universities for any reason other than to comply with federal or state law or accreditation standards. The proposal was added to lawmakers' education budget in the last days of the legislative session.

Republicans have long attacked diversity efforts as a left-wing political ideology that increases unnecessary administrative costs. Democrats, though, have argued that they promote student success and help students from different backgrounds feel welcome.

AG to administer assault services: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced funding to set up a sexual assault support center in southeast Iowa after the University of Iowa announced it would close its Rape Victim Advocacy Center. The office is seeking applications for up to $400,000 a year to provide medical and shelter care for victims.

They said ...

“By combining Iowa’s 32 mental health and substance use regions into seven unified behavioral health districts, we can provide consistent services, coordinate care system wide, and, most importantly, improve outcomes for Iowans.” -- Gov. Kim Reynolds on behavioral health bill

"This allegation that universities are indoctrinating students, or that there’s something nefarious happening, it’s just not true. And it’s wrong because it really undermines the work of a lot of hardworking Iowans." -- Rep. Adam Zabner, D-Iowa City, on bill to ban diversity, equity and inclusion offices at universities

Odds and ends

Caitlin Clark fever: Iowa Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark was selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft this past week by the Indiana Fever. Clark finished her record-breaking college career this year and led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA championship game. Hawkeye Kate Martin also was selected No. 18 overall by the Las Vegas Aces.

Raise for judges: Iowa judges would get a 5 percent raise under the judicial system budget lawmakers passed this year. The bill also changes the required contribution rate for the judges' retirement system. Judicial advocates said this year that Iowa has a hard time attracting judges because of their low pay.

Water cooler

Boy Scout abuse bill: Iowa lawmakers were set to pass an eleventh-hour bill to allow victims of sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts of America organization to recover more money in a bankruptcy lawsuit with the organization. The bill would extend the statute of limitations for victims to sue, meeting an April 19 deadline in the case.

Conservative school curriculum passes: A bill that would impose certain curriculum standards on Iowa schools, inspired by the work of a conservative political group, was sent to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for a signature this past week. Republican supporters said the bill will instill patriotism in Iowa students, while Democrats said it presented a one-sided view of history.