Mar 04, 2022

This Week at the Statehouse – Week 8

The following bills had floor action this week:

HF 2081 PRAXIS TEST. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee

  • Eliminates the Praxis test requirements for teacher candidates to get their teaching license at the end of their teacher preparation program.

HF 2398 TEACHING LICENSE RENEWALS. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee

  • No renewal requirement for a practitioner who has been employed as a practitioner for at least ten years and who possesses a master’s or doctoral degree, unless the practitioner holds an evaluator approval endorsement, which must be renewed at least once every ten years.
  • Requires continuing background checks every five years for practitioners who are not subject to these renewal requirements. Allows the BOEE to charge a reasonable fee for these background checks.
  • Adds charter schools and private schools to background checks.

HF 2495 POSTSECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS. Passed House, in Senate Education Committee

  • If moneys are appropriated, the college student aid commission shall develop and administer a scholarship program to provide scholarships to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities who are at least eighteen years of age and who are enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program that has been approved by the United States department of education, to help offset the cost associated with the tuition and fees (i.e. UI REACH).

HF 2416 TRANSGENDER ATHLETES. Sent to Governor

  • Prohibits transgender girls from participating in female, women’s or girls’ sports in K-12, community colleges and all higher education institutions.

HF 2461 RANSOMWARE. Passed House, in Senate Commerce Committee

  • Allows some recourse in the case of a ransomware attack.

HF 2298 NO COVID IMMUNIZATIONS. Passed House, in Senate Judiciary Committee

  • Immunization against COVID-19 cannot be required for enrollment in any licensed child care center, elementary or secondary school, or postsecondary school in Iowa.

SF 2325 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. Sent to the Governor

  • Moves the repeal of the Iowa Energy Center to 2027 and contains other minor changes requested from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Upcoming Dates

March 7 – UNI Day at the Capitol

March 10 – Revenue Estimating Conference meeting

March 18 – 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 19 – 100th Calendar Day (lawmaker per diem expenses end)

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