Government & Politics

City of Cedar Rapids officials anticipate they’ll have to be more “targeted” as they set future priorities and spending plans to fund new initiatives as they cope with the budget impacts of state tax reform.

Senate goes with governor’s plan, House offers more modest cuts

Low- to moderate-income households primarily affected by the 2020 derecho may apply to buy one of 76 soon-to-be built single-family homes around Cedar Rapids. The city’s revived ROOTs program will use $15 million in federal disaster recovery funds to expand affordable housing.

An Iowa government agency or official could hire a private accountant to perform its annual audit under legislation advanced Wednesday. It’s the second year GOP lawmakers have tried to limit powers of the Democratic state auditor.

Also, a bill that combines a ban on automated traffic enforcement cameras with a requirement for only hands-free use of mobile devices while driving advanced.

The bill introduced this week would have allowed cities and counties to use state funds to establish homeless encampments on public property, and would prohibit sleeping, camping or erecting a shelter on public property outside of official sites. The legislation was ultimately tabled on Tuesday.

Iowa House Republicans and Iowa Senate Democrats introduced their respective legislative proposals Tuesday to ensure safety, support and accountability in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The bill, which advanced out of a Senate subcommittee on Monday, would apply to people on state-regulated health insurance plans, including people with private health insurance and state-provided Medicaid. Uninsured Iowans would not be covered by the bill.