Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics Podcast: No-name plates, campaign fundraising, the only sure things – ethanol and tax cuts, and checking in on the kids.

Eight Iowa school districts are violating a judicial order by not reinstating face mask requirements, says a letter sent Friday from the ACLU’s state chapter to those district.

Current federal law prohibits states from enacting daylight saving time permanently, but “who know how long it will be before Congress decides to allow us to do it?” Iowa Rep. Sexton wondered.

“It’s the wild, wild west out there,” lawmaker says.

Against the backdrop of debates over billions of dollars being planned for tax cuts for Iowa workers and businesses, state lawmakers are now beginning their work on setting state funding for K-12 public schools for the next school year.

Requiring fuel retailers to sell ethanol-blended products will not only spur demand for Iowa corn-based ethanol and produce savings for motorists, but promote its use beyond the state’s borders, backers said during debate in the Iowa House.

K-12 education policy was front and center via myriad proposals that were considered Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol.

Under a proposal approved by the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, a person could be compelled to testify against a spouse who allegedly threatened them or a third party or if communications were disclosed to a third party.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that “everything is on the table” when it comes to three competing tax plans that will ultimately have to become one.

The feedback from various business groups, conservative tax policy organizations, and water quality and environmental advocates was not unanimous, but certainly largely in support of Republican state legislators’ varied proposals to lower the state tax on income to a single rate; reduce the state tax on businesses; and create a shift in taxes that provides funding for the long-starved state fund for conservation and water quality projects.

In line with a new state law and Board of Regents policy, Iowa’s public universities are rolling out a mandatory free speech training program Wednesday that all students, faculty and staff must complete by the end of the spring semester.

Individuals with a bachelor’s degree and three years of work experience would have a faster route to a teacher’s license under a proposal introduced by Republicans in the Iowa House.

The Iowa-based gasoline and convenience store company has proposed legislation that would make it legal for 16- and 17-year-old workers to operate dough rollers.

Sen. Jack Whitver said he thinks the topic of books some consider vulgar should be addressed through transparency and having review process.

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics Podcast, fair and flat, fly the bird, and the Supreme Court.