This Week at the Statehouse – Week 13

There are more signs we are nearing the end of the legislative session. However, there are still major pieces of legislation that need to be adopted, including the FY 2023 state budget. But debate is slowing down as they work behind the scenes negotiating. It’s more than likely they will go past the 100th day of the 2022 General Assembly, which is April 19 and the last day they receive per diem pay.

This week the House passed their final two budget bills and sent them to the Senate. The House’s Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund bill moves the last year (FY 2024) funding for the modernization of the Industrial Technology Center building to next fiscal year (FY 2023) in the total amount of $26.5 million.

It is my understanding that the majority party will now negotiate the budget bills behind the scenes and when there is an agreement, the Senate will amend the budget bill and send it back to the House to concur. We do not know how long this will take.

Here’s the list of the nine budget bills:

HF 2560 AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES

HF 2565 ADMINISTRATION & REGULATION

HF 2564 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HF 2575 EDUCATION

HF 2578 HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

HF 2558 JUDICIAL BRANCH

HF 2559 JUSTICE SYSTEMS

HF 2579 REBUILD IOWA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (RIIF)

HF 2557 ROAD USE TAX FUND (DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION)

There may be a tenth budget bill that is called the standings and miscellaneous appropriations bill, which can make changes to many things. We have not seen this bill yet from either chamber.

There was no additional movement on policy bills affecting UNI this week. Please look at my previous posts to find any bills you’re interested in.

If you have any questions, please email me at mary.braun@uni.edu.