This Week at the Statehouse – Week 9

This is the first week post funnel. The major debate this week was that the Senate passed their free speech bill to the House, SF 478. Details of the bill can be found in Week 7 of This Week at the Statehouse. The two bills House bills are on the House’s Monday debate calendar (HF 744 and HF 802).

The Senate Ways and Means subcommittee also passed SF 571, which provides penalties if big tech social media companies censure speech. The bill has contract language that would affect the Regents institutions allowing us sever their contracts but are not required to do so. The bill is on the Senate Ways and Means committee agenda for Monday afternoon, with an amendment.

Other bills we’re tracking that had action this week:

HF 675 An Act relating to rules adopted by the board of educational examiners establishing standards for substitute teacher authorizations. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee

HF 722 An Act relating to the transfer, deposit, and appropriation of moneys to the teach Iowa scholar fund from the teacher shortage forgivable loan repayment fund and the teacher shortage loan forgiveness repayment fund. Passed House, in Senate Appropriations Committee

HF 770 An Act relating to licensure renewal requirements adopted by rule by the board of educational examiners. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee

HF 795 An Act relating to seizure disorders and establishing certain requirements for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and the department of education. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee

SF 534 An Act relating to law enforcement and certain criminal offenses, and providing penalties. Passed Senate, in House Public Safety Committee

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