This Week at the Statehouse – Week 15
BUDGET UPDATE
House Republican budget proposals for UNI were announced this past week.
Education: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/SD/1371748.pdf
- UNI - General: $100,908,923, which is -$985,223 below Governor and $1,500,000 above FY 2023
- UNI - Recycling and Reuse Center : $0, which is a cut of -$172,768 from Governor and FY 2023
- UNI - Real Estate Education Program: $123,523, same as Governor and FY 2023
- Iowa/ISU/UNI JPEC (John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers): $125,000. This is new from the Governor and FY 2023 and would we divided equally to the three universities for their JPEC offices.
Economic Development: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/SD/1371743.pdf
no change in our general fund appropriation for additive manufacturing; we have not seen their "other funds" spreadsheet for our base economic development appropriation
This is the first step. We have not seen any numbers from the Senate.
BOARD OF REGENTS CONFIRMATIONS
The Board of Regents members were confirmed by the Senate:
Sherry Bates, State Board of Regents, confirmed, 48-2
Robert Cramer, State Board of Regents, confirmed, 34-16
Nancy Dunkel, State Board of Regents, confirmed, 49-1
James Risewick, State Board of Regents, confirmed, 48-2
BILLS THAT HAD ACTION THIS WEEK
HF 135 UNIVERSITY GRADUATE INFORMATION. Requires the Board of Regents to publish on its website the average student debt and graduate wage information report. Senate amended the bill with suggestions requested from the Board of Regents to 1) make it explicit that the universities will comply with FERPA when numbers of enrolled students are very low; 2) make the data reporting regarding student loans cover just those who are taking out loans and exclude those who don’t take out loans as that would skew the data; and 3) get rid of the student signature requirement. The bill is on the House calendar to consider the Senate amendment.
HF 143 RANSOMEWARE. Relates to ransomware and cybersecurity attacks. The Senate passed the bill 50-0; it now goes to the Governor.
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. The House passed the bill 95-0; it now goes to the Governor.
SF 391 GOVERNOR EDUCATION BILL – TEACHER LIBRARIANS AND WORLD LANGUAGE. Among other things, removes the requirement that teacher librarians have a master’s degree and allows someone who is a public librarian to work in the school without additional training. Also, reduced the requirement that all K-12 districts are required to offer four years of a world language (e.g. Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4), to two sequential units (e.g. Spanish 1, 2 only). House concurred with the Senate amendment to the House amendment by vote of 60-35; it now goes to the Governor.
SF 496 GOVERNORS EDUCATION BILL – TEACHING GENDER IDENTITY AND PARENTS RIGHTS. Among other things, prohibits surveys on emotional learning or on physical health that are not required under law, unless the parent or guardian agree. The House concurred with the Senate amendment by vote of 57-38; it now goes to the Governor.
Upcoming Dates
April 28 – 110th Calendar Day (lawmaker per diem expenses end)
If you have any questions, please email me at mary.braun@uni.edu.