May 04, 2023

This Week at the Statehouse - 2023 Session Adjourns

The 2023 Iowa Legislature adjourned on Thursday, May 4. From this date, Governor Reynolds has 30 days to sign, veto or item-veto pending legislation. This is the last government relations post on this website for this year. If you have any questions about this legislative session, please email mary.braun@uni.edu.

Budget Bills Affecting Board of Regents Institutions:

Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Bill – FY 2024

SF 558 funds the Regents universities budget line items as follows:

  • Requires $500,000 or one-third of the moneys appropriated to the Iowa Nutrient Research Center (INRC) Fund, whichever is higher, to be transferred into the Water Quality Initiative Fund
  • Strikes language requiring the INRC to work with all three regent universities
  • Increase of $120,000 to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for operations from the INRC Fund
  • Increase of $21,000 to the Iowa Livestock Health Advisory Council
  • The remaining budget line items are funded at status quo

Economic Development Budget Bill – FY 2024

SF 559 funds the Regents universities budget line items as follows:

  • Increase of $340,514 to ISU for their three biosciences platforms ($36,000 below the Board’s requested amount) and an increase of $125,506 to SUI for its one biosciences platform (at the Board’s requested level)
  • Increase of $400,000 to UNI for the Family Business Center and the Institute for Decision Making (at the Board’s requested level)
  • The remaining budget line items are funded at status quo

Education Budget Bill – FY 2024

SF 560 funds the Regents universities budget line items as follows, and includes DEI policy language:

  • No increase in general aid for SUI/ISU/UNI. Increases SUI by $2.8 million for the college of nursing; increases ISU by $2.8 million for preparing Iowa’s Future Ready Workforce and Fostering Innovation; and increases UNI by $1.5 million for Educators for Iowa teacher incentive program.
  • For FY 2024, prohibits the three universities from increasing the budgeted amounts for DEI efforts.
  • Requires the Board to conduct a comprehensive DEI study and review. Requires the Board to prepare a report with findings and recommendations during its November 2023 meeting and a final report containing findings and recommendation to the governor and general assembly by December 1, 2023. 
  • For FY 2024, requires the regent institutions to cease all hiring related to the institutions’ DEI efforts.
  • Provides $6.5 million for a new Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program, within Iowa College Student Aid, for Regents students in high-wage and high-demand jobs and corresponding academic majors, as determined by Iowa Workforce Development and the Board of Regents, including future teachers through the RAPIL program
  • Provides $125,000 to SUI/ISU/UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers, divided equally to the three universities for their JPEC offices
  • Provides $1.5 million to the Iowa Reading Research Center at SUI, an increase of $900,000
  • Eliminates the $172,768 appropriation to UNI for their recycling and reuse center
  • Eliminates the $150,000 appropriation to the Iowa Agricultural Extension Association conference
  • The remaining budget line items are funded at status quo

Health and Human Services Budget Bill – FY 2024

SF 561 funds University of Iowa budget line items and programs as follows:

  • Provides $200,000 increase for the rural psychiatric residency program, program funds two University of Iowa rural psychiatric residency positions, program funding is now $800,000
  • Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospice services and acute psychiatric hospitals rates, rates are to be increased in accordance with increases under the federal Medicare Program
  • Provides status quo funding to an array of health and public health programs operated by University of Iowa Health Care and University of Iowa Health Colleges

Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Budget Bill

SF 577 funds the Regents universities budget line items as follows:

  • Provides $27.9 million for Tuition Replacement (Board’s requested level)
  • Provides $18 million for Phase 2 of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory ($4.5 million below the Board’s requested level)
  • Of the FY 23 money to UNI for the Applied Engineering Building (formerly known as the Industrial Technology Center), the Board is authorized to expend such amount as the board determines for purposes of steam tunnel repairs at UNI (this is effective upon enactment)

Policy bills of interest that were adopted:

HF 135 UNIVERSITY GRADUATE INFORMATION. Requires the Board of Regents to publish on its website the average student debt and graduate wage information report. 

HF 143 RANSOMWARE. Creates a criminal penalty for the possessing or distributing of ransomware.

HF 256 TEACHING LICENSURE AGE. Strikes the requirement that an applicant for a teaching license must be 21 years old. SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR MAY 3, 2023.

HF 274 PSYCHIATRIC FELLOWSHIP & RESIDENCY EXPANSION PROGRAM. Changes the program to allow for funding of 9 psychiatric residency positions and 2 community psychiatric fellowship positions. SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 28, 2023.

HF 614 OUT-OF-STATE TEACHER LICENSING. Spells out the requirements for out-of-state and international applicants to get teachers’ licensure. 

HF 631 BRADY GIGLIO LIST. Strikes the repeal of the current Brady-Giglio list policies which was set to be repealed on July 1, 2023. Adds a requirement that prosecutors keep confidential and not release information to the public the file of an officer or statements, recordings or complaints. The bill is effective upon enactment.

HF 670 VETERINARY CARE. Updates the veterinary scope of practice provisions in the Iowa Code and establishes the practices for Veterinary Technicians. 

HF 671 PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS LICENSURE COMPACT. Establishes this compact that would provide access to counseling that would benefit our students and it establishes a commission to administer the compact.

HF 672 TEACHER BACKGROUND CHECKS; NO LICENSE RENEWAL FOR VETERAN TEACHERS. Repeals the license renewal requirement for teachers employed for at least 10 years and who possesses a master’s or doctoral degree and requires continuing background checks every five years for teachers who are not subject to these renewal requirements. 

SF 315 RAW MILK. Allows the sale of raw milk directly to consumers.

SF 418 PROHIBITS PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN CERTAIN CHINA COMPANIES. Prohibits all public funds, including Board of Regents, from being invested in companies that are owned or controlled by Chinese military or government services and has been designated by the U.S. government as a company that U.S. citizens are restricted or prohibited from entering into transactions with, limited to companies on any of the lists as outlined in the bill. SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR MAY 3, 2023.

SF 473 ILHAC. Makes changes to the Iowa Livestock Health Advisory Council (ILHAC) to add a turkey producer to the council. Clarifies that the council’s recommendations deal specifically with funds contained in the ILHAC Fund. SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 28, 2023.

SF 514 STATE GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION. Reorganizes state government. Reduces the number of agencies from 37-16. Moves the STEM Council from UNI to the Department of Education and moves the Schools for the Deaf and Blind to the Department of Education. SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 4, 2023.

Policy bills of interest that died:

HF 182 REGENTS SHALL DEFINE CERTAIN COURSE TERMINOLOGY. Requires the three Regents universities to define certain course terminology in teacher preparation programs and establishes a legislative interim committee on teacher preparation programs.

SF 252 UNIVERSITY PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS. Puts in state law what the universities already do to accommodate pregnant students based on federal law. Requires the state universities and community colleges to make reasonable accommodations to students who are pregnant or who have recently given birth, including to allow the student to complete a course of study or research.

HF 255 ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS TO TEACHING LICENSES AND ONLINE ONLY COURSE TO LICENSURE. Puts in the Iowa Code the alternative pathway to licensure (RAPIL program) that is currently in Iowa Department of Education rules. The bill also allows an out of state company to provide an online only course for those with a bachelor degree to pass and then can get their temporary teaching license (no student teaching required).

HF 323 PAYING STUDENT TEACHERS. Allows school districts to pay a student teacher; it is left up to each school district.

HF 350/SF 202 PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS. Upon receipt of a public records request, the lawful custodian must promptly provide the lawful custodian’s contact information, approximate date of the records release, and an estimate of any reasonable fees associated with the records request. 

HF 615 HOMESCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS. Requires Regents universities, community colleges and private colleges and universities to accept homeschool transcripts from Iowa students for admissions. It does not preclude the universities from asking for additional information, the same as when asked from school counselors.

HF 616 PROHIBITING REGENTS DEI OFFICES. Prohibits diversity, equity or inclusion offices at the Regents universities.

HF 654 GUNS IN VEHICLES. The bill would have allowed dangerous weapons to be kept in personal vehicles on campus grounds if they are out of sight and the vehicle is locked. This includes the three Regents universities, all community colleges and all K-12 public schools.

HF 667 ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT CLAIMS. Requires the Regents universities’ athletic departments to reimburse the state general fund for an award or judgment on a claim relating to the conduct or actions of an employee of an athletic department. The bill applies retroactively to January 1, 2023.

SF 507 GOVERNOR BILL BANNING PUBLIC FUND INVESTMENT IN ESG COMPANIES. Restricts the Regents and other public retirement funds from contracting with certain companies engaged in non-pecuniary social investment or a boycott of certain companies (limiting investments in the fossil fuel, timber, mining, production agriculture, firearms, firearm parts, firearm accessories, or ammunition companies).