This Week at the Statehouse – Week 8
We’re #1! According to U.S. News & World Report, the State of Iowa is ranked as the best state in the nation. Minnesota, Utah, North Dakota and New Hampshire round out the top five states, respectfully. The Best States rankings show how each of the 50 U.S. states rank in 77 metrics across eight categories. Within the education category, Higher Education in Iowa ranks #8 overall. You can read all their statistics and methodology here.
Bills of interest that received floor action this week:
SF 2344: By a vote of 29-20, the Senate amended and passed this bill, which defines free speech on campus. The bill states that: It is not the proper role of an institution of higher education to shield individuals from speech protected by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which may include ideas and opinions the individual finds unwelcome, disagreeable, or even offensive. It is the proper role of an institution of higher education to encourage diversity of thoughts, ideas, and opinions and to encourage, within the bounds of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the peaceful, respectful, and safe exercise of first amendment rights. Before passage, the Senate amended the bill and struck this language: A public institution of higher education may prohibit student organizations from discriminating against members or prospective members on the basis of any protected status recognized by federal or state law. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee.
SF 2341: By a vote of 38-12, the Senate amended and passed this bill, which requires passage (at least 60% correct) of the civics exam currently administered by the U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, in order to receive a high school diploma. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee.
SF 2171: By a vote of 46-3, the Senate amended and passed this bill, which provides a one-year waiver for new teachers to pass the Praxis test. School districts must make a good faith effort in hiring and if they are unable to fill the position, then they may seek this one-year waiver. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee.
SF 2131: By a vote of 60-39, the House amended and passed this bill, which allows home-schooled children to take classes from Iowa Learning Online, at their own expense. The House amended the bill to add an Area Education Agency Online Learning Working Group where the AEAs, in collaboration with the community colleges and the department of education, identify effective means by which students may access educational instruction and content online and identify partnerships between existing providers of rigorous and high-quality online coursework. They are to report their findings to the General Assembly by October 15, 2018. The bill is now on the Senate calendar with the House amendment.
HF 2354: By a vote of 95-0, the House passed this bill, which restricts third parties who receive K-12 student data from using it for targeted advertising. The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
On March 9th, the Revenue Estimating Conference will meet and set a new estimate for state revenue for FY 18 and FY 19. It is uncertain if the Legislature will debate the deappropriations, mid-year budget cut bill before this March 9th meeting. For next year’s budget, FY 19, if the March revenue estimate is greater than the December estimate, the law requires the Legislature use the December estimate. If the March estimate is less than the December estimate, the Legislature is required to use the March estimate and the Governor is to propose a new budget recommendation based on the lower March estimate.
Finally, the self-imposed second funnel date is March 16 when bills need to pass one chamber and out of the other chamber’s committee to remain eligible for debate this session. This funnel date does not apply to appropriations and tax bills.