This Week at the Statehouse – Week 9
UNI Day at the Capitol! Monday was such a great day with everyone from UNI coming together to showcase who we are and what we do. Below are some photos from the very successful day.
Thursday, the Revenue Estimating Conference met and lowered the state’s FY 2023 revenue estimate by $54 million from the December estimate, which is a decrease of $15 million from FY 2022. The Governor and the Legislature are required to abide by this March estimate for FY 2023 since the estimate is lower than the December estimate. The REC took a first look at FY 2024 and estimated a decrease of $196.4 million or -2.1% as compared to estimated FY 2023. This estimate includes the tax changes passed earlier this year. The REC was established as a way to arrive at consensus on the state General Fund revenue estimates to be used by both the Governor and Legislature for the budget process.
The following bills had floor or committee action this week:
HF 2493 PARA-EDUCATORS TO SUBSTITUTE TEACH. Sent to Governor
- Codifies current allowance under the Governor’s emergency Covid proclamation to allow para-educators to continue to substitute teach through the 2021-2022 K-12 school year.
HF 2081 PRAXIS TEST. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee (Senate subcommittee recommends passage)
- Eliminates the Praxis test requirements for teacher candidates to get their teaching license at the end of their teacher preparation program.
HF 2495 POSTSECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee (Senate subcommittee recommends passage)
- If moneys are appropriated, the college student aid commission shall develop and administer a scholarship program to provide scholarships to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities who are at least eighteen years of age and who are enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program that has been approved by the United States department of education, to help offset the cost associated with the tuition and fees (i.e. UI REACH).
HF 2461 RANSOMWARE. Passed House, in Senate Commerce Committee (Senate subcommittee recommends amendment and passage)
- Allows some recourse in the case of a ransomware attack.
Next week Friday, March 18, is the legislature’s second self-imposed deadline for policy bills to remain eligible this session. Senate files must pass the Senate and out of a House Committee and House files must pass the House and out of a Senate committee for them to remain eligible this year. This date does not apply to tax, spending and government oversight bills.
Upcoming Dates
March 18 – Second Funnel – House bills not passed out of Senate committees and Senate bills not passed out of House committees are no longer eligible for consideration (does not apply to budget, tax or oversight bills)
April 19 – 100th Calendar Day (lawmaker per diem expenses end)
If you have any questions, please email me at mary.braun@uni.edu.
