From the Desk of Senator Blake

It was a quieter week at the Capitol, with the Senate spending most of its time in debate. Many of the bills that were passed are considered noncontroversial legislation that ensures our state agencies continue to run operate efficiently or makes fixes to other pieces of law. While these bills may not make headlines, they play a critical role in making sure our government runs smoothly.

The bigger issue this week is the state’s reduced revenue, which will significantly impact our budget discussions during the rest of session. The Revenue Estimating Conference confirmed this week that Iowa will spend more than it takes in, requiring the state to draw from its reserves. The estimate for Fiscal Year 25 is a $621.2 million decrease from Fiscal Year 24 (-6.4%). Republicans are planning on running a structural deficit. They are going to use one-time funds to cover up their financial mismanagement of our budget. This budget shortfall can jeopardize essential services that Iowans rely on, including school funding. I will continue to speak out on these deficits, and make sure Republicans are held accountable for failing to have common sense in spending Iowa's Taxpayers money.

Funnel Week Update: Bills That Survived and Failed

Last week’s funnel deadline determined which bills will continue moving forward this session. While some exceptions exist—such as tax and budget bills—most legislation had to clear this hurdle to stay alive.

Unfortunately, many of the bills my colleagues and I proposed did not advance, as the majority party refused to even grant them a hearing. However, a few good bipartisan bills remain in play. While some harmful bills are still moving, many failed to advance. Here's a brief rundown of where things stand (this list is not comprehensive):

Bipartisan Bills Moving Ahead

Ban cell phone usage in schools (SF 370/HF 782)
Helping individuals with disabilities to work and keep their healthcare (HSB 241)
Expanding parental leave for adoptive parents & state employees (HSB 78)
Child sexual abuse prevention (Erin’s Law) (SF 172)
Expanded cancer and health care coverage for firefighters (HSB 266)
Hands free driving (HF 827)
Prohibiting use of bots for ticket purchases (SF 146)
Lead service lines disclosed at selling (SF 425/HF 442)
Ability to combat bird flu outbreaks/animal disease faster (SF 522)
Radon protections and free radon tests (HF 82, HF 700, HF 707)
Increased privacy protections for victims of domestic assault (HF 397/SF 457)
Expand services available in Veterans Trust Fund (SF 252/HF 534)
Whistleblower protections for private sector employees (SF 308)
Stopping corporations from silencing whistleblowers (HF 472)

Bad Bills Still Alive

Low public school funding that reduces opportunities (SF 167)
Stripped Civil Rights from Iowans (SF 418)
Immunity for pesticide companies giving people cancer (SF 394)
Requires public schools to provide false information to kids on pregnancy (SF 175/HF 391)
Allow school and public librarians to be put in jail (HF 521)
State encouragement for elective high school course on bible (SF 510/HF 448)
Restricting STI vaccines from Iowa’s youth (SF 304/HF 384)
More red tape for public union recertification elections (SF 472)
Taking away unemployment benefits for short-term workers (SF 466)
$1 billion in new tax breaks for corporations at the expense of workers (SF 504)
Conspiracy theory on chemicals in the air (HF 191)

Good News: These Bills Are Dead

Prohibition of mRNA vaccines - almost all COVID vaccines (SF 360)
Prohibition on state use of contact tracing, ordering isolation, quarantine, or treatment for infected persons, and expanding exemptions to school vaccinations (SF 406)
Make it harder to access vaccines (HF 712)
Disqualification from unemployment upon receiving severance (SSB 1110)
Expands the sexual orientation instruction and survey ban to K-12 (HSB 84)
Expands the ability to carry a gun into a school (HF 621)
Repeals the voter approved Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund (SJR 6)
Criminalizing homelessness (SSB 1195/ HSB 286)

Where is school funding?

In Iowa, the Legislature is required by law to set and pass a basic public school funding rate (SSA) within 30 days of the governor’s budget release. This year, that date was February 13. Today is March 14 and the Legislature has still not done its job for Iowa’s public schools, which creates budget uncertainty for local school districts.

SF 167 set a 2% SSA rate and was passed by the Senate last month. The House set a slightly higher 2.25% SSA rate and also included several other investments. Republican majorities in the House and Senate should prioritize finding a compromise between their two positions and give our local schools the time they need to submit their budgets in March and finalize their budgets by April 15. Delays create uncertainty and can force schools to make conservative estimates or last-minute adjustments.

Districts must issue teacher contracts by April 30. Without a set SSA, schools may be unsure about hiring, salary adjustments, or potential layoffs. Without timely SSA, districts may need to make cuts, increase property taxes, or use reserves to cover costs, impacting the quality of education.

Quick Updates

National School Breakfast Week: In Iowa, an estimated 19.6 million school breakfast meals were served during the 2023-24 school year. Access to a healthy breakfast is necessary for Iowa students to start their school day, ready to learn. This week’s National School Breakfast Week highlighted the importance of these first-of-the-day school meals and how they fuel students for success each day. Senate Democrats introduced a bill this session, SF 58, that would have required schools to provide free breakfast and lunch for students.
Erin’s Law advances in the Senate: SF 172 requires schools to teach age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention education. It was named after Erin Merryn, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, who has advocated for the law across the country. Currently, 38 states have adopted this law that mandates schools educate students about recognizing, avoiding, and reporting abuse, as well as empowering them with tools to protect themselves. More information about this law and other resources is found at https://www.erinslaw.org/erins-law/.
State Plan for Aging: Iowa Health and Human Service’s Division of Aging & Disability Services in inviting public review and comment on their draft State Plan on Aging. The plan outlines key aging issues, goals, and strategies to enhance quality of life, support caregivers, and promote age-friendly communities. It addresses critical concerns such as elder abuse prevention, caregiver support, food insecurity, social isolation, and access to essential services. The plan is intended to ensure that resources remain accessible, effective, and sustainable for those in greatest need. You can attend the virtual public comment session on March 26 at 10:00 a.m. or visit the HHS website to review the draft plan and share your feedback.
DMPS is Restructuring: To address declining enrollment and budget constraints, Des Moines Public Schools announced a plan to reduce the number of schools over the next decade, repurpose buildings for specialized programs, and expand preschool offerings. People are invited to offer feedback on the plan.
Congratulations to Lua Brewing for being voted as the No. 1 brewpub in the country in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. Nominees were submitted by a panel of experts and 10Best editors narrowed the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards.
Go Bulldogs! Congratulations to the Drake Men’s Basketball Team for finishing the season as both regular season and tournament champions in the Missouri Valley Conference! The Bulldogs finished the season an impressive 30-3 and are currently the only 30-win team in the country.
Iowa Kids Garden Day: Staff with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development are launching the first Iowa Kids Garden Day on May 21 celebrating and encouraging community efforts to grow, eat, and learn in on-site gardens. K-12 school district staff, early care and education providers, families, and community groups are invited to participate anytime throughout the month of May. Registration is now open.
Farm to Table at Iowa’s Schools: The Iowa Dept. of Agriculture has launched the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Program for Schools, aiming to connect Iowa schools with Choose Iowa members to encourage school food service programs to buy more ingredients and serve more products sourced from local farmers and small businesses. Applications will be accepted through the Choose Iowa website.
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving: The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with Iowa law enforcement March 13-21 to remind drivers: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Through the Decide to Ride program, Doll Distributing is offering a $10 Uber voucher to encourage Iowans to plan ahead and make safe choices. GTSB supports the effort by raising awareness. In March 2024, 26 people died in traffic crashes on Iowa roads; 38% of those involved impaired driving.
100 Years and Counting: The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting in the Hawkeye State. The first season was held Oct. 20-22, 1925, when 13 counties in north central Iowa were opened to pheasant hunting. Hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit, for a half-day of hunting. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated. Hunters can commemorate the 100th anniversary by purchasing a hard card featuring Iowa Pheasants Forever Print of the Year when they purchase their 2025 hunting and fishing licenses. Information on places to hunt, the annual roadside survey results, and more is available online by clicking the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting graphic at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey.

This Week in the Capitol

Monday, I met with UNI Student Ali Webster who is from Urbandale during UNI Day on the Hill!

Tuesday morning, I met with leaders from the Iowa Head Start Association and the Iowa Community Action Association at their legislative breakfast.

Tuesday Afternoon, I spoke at One Iowa’s LGBTQ Day on the hill. Thank you to everyone who showed up this week and over the past few weeks. I won’t stop fighting for you. You can watch my speech here.

Wednesday, I had a chance to chat with Johnston and Grimes Area firefighters about the importance of expanding cancer presumption for first responders in our state!

Wednesday, I met with leaders from ChildServe during Hospital Day on the Hill.

Contact Senator Matt Blake at [email protected] or follow him on social media.
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