Week in Iowa, April 28, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

3.8 percent tax rate coming next year: All Iowa taxpayers will pay a 3.8 percent income tax next year under a law Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed last week. The law builds on a 2022 tax code overhaul Republicans passed, creating a flat income tax sooner, and lower than initially planned.

The law is expected to save Iowa taxpayers — and reduce state revenue — about $1 billion over the next three years. Reynolds lauded the "transformation" of Iowa's tax system under Republican leadership. Democrats have argued the deep tax cuts disproportionately benefit the wealthy and will lead lawmakers to cut funding for services and programs.

Insurance coverage for cancer tests: Insurance companies will be required to cover more exams meant to detect cancer under a pair of laws Gov. Kim Reynolds signed this past week. The laws require providers to cover tests for biomarker testing and for breast cancer exams. Iowa's cancer rate is the second-highest in the nation.

Weekend pro-Palestinian protests planned: Students at the University of Iowa were planning a series of demonstrations over the weekend in opposition to Israel's military conduct in Gaza and in solidarity with students protesting at universities across the country. A similar protest took place at Iowa State University this past week, urging the university to divest from companies that benefit from the war.

Activists protest immigration law: People from Iowa's immigrant communities around the state protested a state law that allows state officials to arrest and deport immigrants in the country illegally. The law grants powers generally reserved to federal officials to state law enforcement, similar to a Texas law that has been blocked in court.

Opponents of the law marched in Iowa City, Davenport, Des Moines and Waterloo last week, warning the law would break up and harm immigrant communities. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed the law last month, said the U.S. is a "country of laws" and said the state had to respond to record border crossings under President Joe Biden.

Guaranteed income programs banned: Local governments now are banned from setting up guaranteed income programs under a law Gov. Kim Reynolds signed last week. The law bans cities from devoting money to unrestricted cash payments to individuals. UpLift Iowa, a program involving four central Iowa governments and local businesses and nonprofits, is the only such program in the state.

They said ...

“We are working families. We are immigrants. We are the same as everybody. … We came to this country because we want a better future." -- Manny Galvez, Escucha Mi Voz leader, on new law targeting immigrants without legal status

“Simply put, we’ve comprehensively transformed our tax code and dramatically increased our competitiveness within a few short years. At the same time, conservative budgeting practices have kept us living within our means and allowed us to continue making historic investments in key priorities of Iowans.” -- Gov. Kim Reynolds on new tax law

Odds and ends

Pleasant Valley warnings: The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board issued admonishments against some Pleasant Valley school staff and board members because of their use of school emails for campaign purposes during the 2023 school board election. The admonishment is not a discipline and carries no fine, but it is a notice of a minor infraction.

State job listings: State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, issued a report last week suggesting 28 state job titles could eliminate the requirement for a four-year degree in an effort to encourage more applicants and attract people skilled through training outside a traditional degree. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, said the state already reviewed its job listings in 2022 and removed some degree requirements then.

Water cooler

Traer killing: A second person has been arrested in connection with the 2021 death of a Traer resident at his home. Police arrested and charged Huston Danker, 26, with first-degree murder in the death of Ryan Cooper. Police say Danker conspired with the victim's wife, Karina Sue Cooper, in a plot to kill him.

Lead pipe funds: Iowa will receive more than $30 million to identify and replace lead service pipes, the Environmental Protection Committee announced last week. The federal funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law that President Joe Biden signed in 2021.