This Week at the Statehouse – Week 11
This week saw more floor debates and committee debates in anticipation of next Friday’s second funnel day. By March 31, 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 appropriations, ways and means or oversight bills). However, even though the bills may be dead for the year, the issues could always come up as amendments on other bills.
The Senate has decided their overall fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget target of $8.49 billion, the same as the Governor. The House released their overall budget target at $8.58 billion. The House and Senate do not have joint budget targets. We are waiting to see the details on how much money they will assign to each of the budget subcommittees. Speaker Pat Grassley has been quoted in the news as saying their target still maintains their principles of being around 89% ongoing revenue and not using one-time money in the budget.
Next week I’ll have a more complete list of bills that remain alive or have died.
Bills the Regents are monitoring that had action this week include:
HF 256 TEACHING LICENSURE AGE. Passed out of the Senate Education Committee by a vote of 15-0; the bill has already passed the House so it’s a live bill. The bill strikes the requirement that an applicant for a teaching license must be 21 years old.
HF 614 OUT-OF-STATE TEACHER LICENSING. Passed out of the Senate Education Committee by a vote of 15-0; the bill has already passed the House so it’s a live bill. The bill spells out the requirements for out-of-state and international applicants to get teachers’ licensure.
HF 615 HOMESCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS. The House amended and passed the bill by a vote of 62-32; it now goes to the Senate Education Committee for consideration. The bill requires Regents universities, community colleges and private colleges and universities to accept homeschool transcripts from Iowa students for admissions. It does not preclude the universities from asking for additional information, the same as when asked from school counselors.
SF 252 UNIVERSITY PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS. Passed the Senate unanimously and is in House Education Committee for consideration. The bill basically puts in state law what the universities already do to accommodate pregnant students. It requires the state universities and community colleges to make reasonable accommodations to students who are pregnant or who have recently given birth, including to allow the student to complete a course of study or research.
SF 418 PROHIBITS PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN CERTAIN CHINA COMPANIES. Passed the Senate by a vote of 49-1; it is attached to HF 181 on the House Calendar. SF 418 prohibits all public funds from being invested in companies that are owned or controlled by Chinese military or government services and has been designated by the U.S. government as a company that U.S. citizens are restricted or prohibited from entering into transactions with, limited to companies on any of the lists as outlined in the bill. The current House version, HF 181, only prohibits the Board of Regents public funds from being invested in companies that are owned or controlled by Chinese military or government services.
SF 496 GOVERNORS EDUCATION BILL – TEACHING GENDER IDENTITY AND PARENTS RIGHTS. The Senate amended and passed the bill by a vote of 34-16; it now goes to the House Education Committee for consideration. Among other things, the bill requires 70% or higher approval of the U.S. citizenship test taken in high school civics courses to graduate and prohibits surveys on emotional learning or on physical health that are not required under law, unless the parent or guardian agrees. Also includes the language on library books in K-12 and not teaching gender identity or sexual orientation in grades K-6. The House bill is HF 597; it is not a companion bill but has similar provisions on library books and prohibiting instruction of gender identity in grades K-6. That bill has passed the House and is in the Senate Education Committee.
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.