Week in Iowa

IOWA SENATE PASSES CHILD LABOR BILL: Iowa Senate Republicans passed a bill that would loosen Iowa's child labor laws last week. Teenagers would be able to work more jobs and more hours under the bill, which supporters said would create more opportunities and shore up workforce issues.

Minority Democrats railed against the bill in floor debate, saying it would put young people at risk in dangerous work environments.

The Republican Senate floor manager refused to answer questions on the bill Monday, citing a recent Supreme Court decision that referenced Senate debate. The refusal led to hours of delay that stretched into Tuesday morning.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AGREE ON BUDGET: Iowa House and Senate leaders settled on a target budget of $8.516 billion for fiscal year 2024, a 3.7 percent increase from this year. It's about $30 million higher than Gov. Kim Reynolds' proposed budget and $60 million lower than House Republicans' proposal.

FENTANYL, OVERDOSE PENALTIES TO RISE: Selling or providing a drug to someone that results in their death would carry stiffer penalties, and fentanyl sale and manufacture penalties would also rise under a bill Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to sign into law.

EDUCATION POLICY CHANGES SENT TO GOVERNOR: Iowa lawmakers sent two education overhauls to Gov. Kim Reynolds to be signed into law. The bills check off several of Reynolds' and Republicans' education priorities.

One bill would prohibit teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten through sixth grade; restrict graphic library books in school libraries; require parents' permission if a student asks to use a different name or pronouns; and enact some transparency measures.

A second bill cuts school regulations, lowering the number of required classes and requirements for teaching and allowing flexibility in subject instruction.

PROPERTY TAX PROPOSALS DIVERGE: The Iowa House and Senate both passed dueling property tax bills near unanimously last week, but the bills must come together on key differences before getting final passage. The bills have different mechanisms to lower Iowans' property tax bills and different rules for schools tax levies and bonds.

SUCCESSION AMENDMENT GOES TO VOTERS: Iowa voters will vote in November 2024 on an amendment to Iowa's Constitution clarifying the state's line of succession if a governor leaves office.

The amendment arose from a constitutional question when Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds because governor after Gov. Terry Branstad resigned to become U.S. ambassador to China. She appointed Adam Gregg as lieutenant governor, but questions arose whether an appointee has the full powers of that position.

The amendment states that when a governor appoints a lieutenant governor to fill a vacancy, the new lieutenant governor gains the office's full authority and can succeed the governor.

They said

"To take an independently elected office that is in the Iowa Constitution and subject its work to the approval of the very same entity that it is attempting to audit, perverts checks and balances, plain and simple.” — Iowa Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand on a bill to limit the auditor's ability to obtain confidential documents.

"This legislation defines parents’ rights in law, requires transparency, and sets boundaries to protect Iowa’s children from woke indoctrination. I will always fight for Iowa’s parents as they know what is best for their children.” — Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on education bill.

Odds and ends

2024 WATCH: Presidential hopefuls Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and others descended on Clive on Saturday for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition's spring kickoff ahead of the 2024 Republican caucuses. Former President Donald Trump spoke to the crowd remotely.

GUILTY PLEAS IN FAIRFIELD MURDER: Two Fairfield, teens pleaded guilty to the 2021 murder of their Spanish teacher, Nohema Graber. Prosecutors will recommend life sentences with eligibility for parole after 25 and 30 years for Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller, respectively.

Water cooler

MISSING MUSCATINE MAN: Police continue to search for 20-year-old Cristian Martinez, a Muscatine resident who went missing in Iowa City last week. Police received a tip that someone possibly saw a person matching his description being dragged into a vehicle, according to his family.

UTILITY BOARD NOMINATIONS: The Iowa Senate confirmed two new appointments to the Iowa Utilities Board, the board that approved three carbon dioxide pipeline projects in the state. Some Democrats opposed Erik Helland, a former Republican state representative, citing his lake of utilities experience.