This Week at the Statehouse – Week 6
Monday was UNI Day at the Capitol. Thank you to all the faculty, staff and students who drove to Des Moines to help showcase and advocate fo UNI. At the bottom is a gallery of photos with the legislators who stopped by.
The House release their budget targets this week. The Senate should be releasing theirs soon. The education budget target is $48.4 million higher than last year. While the chairs may be working on the budget bills to get them ready to go, it is highly unlikely we will have specific numbers until after the March Revenue Estimating Committee Meeting scheduled on March 15.
| HOUSE TARGETS | FY2020 HOUSE | DIFF FROM FY2019 |
| Administration & Regulation | $52,420,985 | $3,954,092 |
| Ag & Natural Resources | $41,107,522 | $1,750,000 |
| Economic Development | $41,028,345 | $812,000 |
| Education | $961,044,271 | $48,368,784 |
| Health & Human Services | $1,941,888,698 | ($21,006,122) |
| Justice Systems | $770,370,901 | $18,838,265 |
| State Aid to Schools & other standing appropriations | $3,860,115,038 | ($4,073,220) |
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $7,667,975,760 | $48,643,799 |
Both the House and Senate worked on sports betting bills this week. The Senate State Government Committee voting out SSB 1168 on an 8-6 vote. The bill will go to the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The Senate bill currently does not include a tax rate or licensing fees. The House subcommittee on HSB 198 moved the bill forward on a 5-0 vote. The House bill does include licensing fees and rates (6.75% on revenues and annual fees of $15,000). The House bill comes before the House State Government Committee next.
This link is where you can find the complete list of bills the Board of Regents is registered on (in the box marked as lobbyist, type in Mary Braun).
March 8 is the Legislature’s first funnel date (Senate policy bills need to come out of a Senate committee and House policy bills need to come out of a House committee to remain eligible for debate this legislative session).