Week in Iowa, Jan. 9, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Reynolds proposes “school choice” bill: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ key proposal for the Iowa legislative session would allow parents to take advantage of state funding to send their children to a private school. The bill would devote $7,598 to an education savings account that can be used for tuition, supplies and other expenses. The bill passed a Senate subcommittee Thursday.

The program will be open to any student in public school, and by the third year it will be available to any student in private school as well, regardless of income. Schools would retain $1,250 in categorical funding from the state for each child attending private school. The bill also allows schools to use state funds previously devoted to specific purposes to increase teacher salaries.

LGBTQ education restrictions floated: Iowa House Republicans proposed bills that would prohibit schools from teaching topics related to gender identity and sexual orientation in grades one through three, drawing comparisons to Florida's so-called “don't say gay” law. Another bill would prohibit schools from affirming a student's preferred gender identity in school without written consent from their parents.

Proponents of the bills say they're meant to give parents more say over how and when LGBTQ topics are brought up in schools. Republicans say it's part of a broader mission of empowering parents in education. Opponents say the measures put LGBTQ students in harm's way and censor teachers.

Judiciary faces worker shortages: The Iowa court system is strained by a shortage of court reporters that has been growing for years. Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen said in this year's Condition of the Judiciary address that the judicial branch has established a committee to study the issue, and she hopes to bring recommendations by next year. Another occupation facing strains includes contract lawyers who fill gaps to represent Iowans who cannot afford a lawyer.

Christensen said contract lawyers should receive higher pay and be reimbursed for travel when they represent clients in multiple counties. A lawmaker on the state's judicial budget committee said his goal is to boost contract lawyers’ pay to $100 per hour, phased in over four years, and introduce travel reimbursement.

Brenna Bird to focus on crime: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who assumed office this month, said she would bring a new focus on crime and victims to the office as she begins her four-year term. The first Republican to hold the office since 1979, Bird said she would conduct an audit of the victim services division and find out what accommodations the office could be providing to victims. She also plans to build new cold case and special victims units, as well as advocate for harsh sentences for drug dealers when the sale of a drug results in a death.

Bird also signed onto lawsuits against President Joe Biden's administration, challenging Biden's student loan forgiveness plan and vaccine mandates, among other things. She is now representing the state in Gov. Kim Reynolds' bid to reinstate a law that would ban abortion except in the earliest weeks of pregnancy.

They said …

"Our first priority in this legislative session — and what I will be focusing on over the next four years — is making sure that every child is provided with a quality education that fits their needs." — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on her plans for a private school tuition assistance bill.

“Iowans didn’t like the plan when there were income limits on it. They’re certainly not going to like it when it means that a rich family in Des Moines can put their money in savings and take taxpayer dollars to their private school while public schools across the state crumble.” — Iowa House Speaker Jennifer Konfrst on Reynolds' private school assistance proposal.

Odds and ends

National Guard wants recruits: The Iowa National Guard is facing a recruiting problem, the guard's top general told the Iowa Legislature in his Condition of the Guard address this past week. He said the Legislature should provide more funds to a scholarship program to help recruit young Iowans.

Grassley breaks hip: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, underwent surgery this past week after fracturing his hip. The 89-year-old senator said in a tweet Wednesday that he was recovering well from the surgery, and a spokesman said his office would provide more information as it became available.

Water cooler

COVID cases dip: Iowa reported 2,201 new COVID-19 cases in the week ending Wednesday, a slight decrease from the previous week. Fewer people were hospitalized with the virus in the same period, with 222 hospitalized compared with 248 the previous week.

Reynolds to streamline government: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced a plan to merge the state's 37 executive cabinet agencies into 16. She said the plan was an effort to streamline state government and save costs, while retaining and strengthening government services. Reynolds also issued an executive order pausing new administrative rulemaking and directing agencies to review administrative rules and evaluate if there are less restrictive alternatives.