This Week at the Statehouse – Week 9
This week saw long floor debates in the House and Senate. Bills the Regents are monitoring that were debated are as follows:
HF 135 UNIVERSITY GRADUATE INFORMATION. Requires the Board of Regents to publish on its website the average student debt and graduate wage information report. The bill was amended to direct the Board of Regents to adopt procedures that require the universities to provide students who are in the process of completing the first year of a baccalaureate program with a link to the report and require the students to provide a written notice to the university indicating that the student has been provided with the link to the report and if the student has declared an academic major, the student understands the employment and wage prospects associated with the student’s academic major. The House amended and passed the bill by a vote of 94-4. The bill is now in the Senate Education Committee for consideration.
HF 255 ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS TO TEACHING LICENSES AND ONLINE ONLY COURSE TO LICENSURE. Puts in the Iowa Code the alternative pathway to licensure (RAPIL program) that is currently in Iowa Department of Education rules. The bill also allows an out of state company to provide an online only course for those with a bachelor degree to pass and then can get their temporary teaching license (no student teaching required). The House amended and passed the bill by a vote of 61-36. The bill is now in the Senate Education Committee for consideration.
HF 614 OUT-OF-STATE TEACHER LICENSING. Spells out the requirements for out-of-state teachers’ licensure. The House passed the bill 96-0. The bill is now in the Senate Education Committee for consideration.
HF 626 NON-MEDICAL SWITCHING. Relates to health plans coverage of prescription drugs for a covered person. The House amended and passed the bill by a vote of 96-0. The bill is now in the Senate Commerce Committee for consideration.
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). The Senate passed the bill this week by a vote of 33-16. The House amended the bill and changed the two to three years of a world language. The House vote was 62-34. The bill goes back to the Senate to discuss the House amendment.
SF 507 – GOVERNOR BILL BANNING PUBLIC FUND INVESTMENT IN ESG COMPANIES. Restricts the Regents and other public retirement funds from contracting with certain companies engaged in non-pecuniary social investment or a boycott of certain companies (limiting investments in the fossil fuel, timber, mining, production agriculture, firearms, firearm parts, firearm accessories, or ammunition companies). Non-pecuniary social investment is defined as investment or commitment of public funds to further environmental, social, governance, political, or ideological interests without a reasonable business purpose. Requires the maintenance of a list of scrutinized companies involved in investments. Includes reporting requirements. The Senate passed the bill 33-16. It is now ready for debate by the full House and attached to their companion bill, HF 653.
Upcoming Dates
March 31 – 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 28 – 110th Calendar Day (lawmaker per diem expenses end)
If you have any questions, please email me at mary.braun@uni.edu.