State Government

The proposal will reduce Iowans’ state income tax burden — and limit future state revenue growth — by $1 billion over the first two years.

Several Iowa city and school boards have recently received public criticism, and some have been penalized, for holding private meetings on matters that should have been discussed publicly.

Any funds that would otherwise have been directed to DEI offices at the end of fiscal 2025 would be directed to the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program under the bill.

Also, lawmakers advanced a bill that would require 3 of Iowa’s largest counties to change the way they elect county supervisors.

Critics argue accelerated cuts hurt schools, public services

A plan to overhaul and combine Iowa’s delivery system for mental and behavioral health services is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds to be signed into law.

The proposal also would add $10,00 to the pay of each statewide elected official.

The bill is a streamlined version of a proposal made earlier this year by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

According to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 14 percent of Iowa’s 422 nursing facilities were cited for insufficient staffing in fiscal 2023.

A bill requiring Iowa schools to adopt new social studies and civics education standards with a focus on Western civilization, U.S. and Iowa history is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds to be signed into law.

Iowa’s majority Republican lawmakers are angling for a quick wrap-up to this year’s legislative session, as they look toward funding the state government and cutting taxes, along with the last remaining policy items on their agenda.

The sprawling bill, which spans more than 250 pages, eliminates a number of boards that are no longer meeting or serve a function that is no longer needed, while other eliminations called for in the bill have caused concern among some lawmakers and advocacy groups.