Iowa Library Association
Legislative Update | Issue #5 | March 12, 2022
We have reached the end of the ninth week of the 2022 Regular Session of the 89th General Assembly. Monday, March 14th, will mark Session Day 64 of the scheduled 100-day session. 
 
Inside the Capitol, it is beginning to feel like the pieces are coming together for them to complete the session on time (or perhaps even early) depending on what priorities they decide to throw overboard. With many legislators getting to know newly drawn districts and some legislators facing primary elections against fellow colleagues, you get the sense that legislators would like to wrap up the session and get home to their districts sooner rather than later. 
 
Second Funnel
The Legislature will spend this week moving some bills through the second funnel, while many other bills will die for the year. Any policy bill that does not emerge from committee by Friday of this week will die for the year and need to be re-introduced in the next General Assembly. 
 
Other than the Appropriations, Ways & Means, and Oversight Committees, the second funnel deadline also marks the end of the year for committee work. After this week, all legislative action now shifts to tax and spending bills and debating policy bills in the full chambers.
 
REC
The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met Thursday to revise budget projections for Iowa for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and 2023. You can view the one pager HERE or watch a recording of the meeting HERE. As expected, the REC’s FY 2022 was revised upward, in this case by $110.5 million over the December estimate. This estimate reflects an overall increase in FY 2022 revenues of $370.5 million, or 4.2%, over FY 2021. 
 
This March REC estimate accounts for the tax relief bill recently enacted by the Governor and Legislature. The REC predicts that FY 2023 revenues, on the other hand, will actually fall by 0.2 percent or roughly $14.8 million over FY 2022. 
 
Budget
Since the Legislature must use the lower of the December and March estimates, that means that work behind the scenes over the past several weeks to set a budget based on the December REC numbers can continue as planned. The House rolled out four budget bills on Thursday – Agriculture & Natural Resources, Judiciary, Justice, and Transportation. 
 
Before they can lock down final versions of the projected ten budget bills, they’ll need to come to agreement on total overall numbers. Right now, the House and Senate stand an estimated $72 million apart. The House’s overall budget rings in at $8.2738 billion while the Senate would prefer to allocate $8.2107 billion. 
 
Filing Deadlines
In addition to March 18th being the second funnel deadline, it is also the deadline for filing paperwork for the June primary. As such, we are monitoring dozens of announcements about legislative retirements, matchups, and new candidates. 
 
We will have more on this later, but we anticipate this election will usher in the largest number of new Senate and House members we have seen in quite a long time. This means it’s a great time for you to get out there this summer and fall and meet your local candidates! Offer to knock on some doors and make a few phone calls!
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IASL President Michelle Kruse testifies about teacher librarian Masters degree credentials language contained in the Governor's Education Policy Bill, HSB 672, at a crowded subcommittee on March 8th.
Your Advocacy for Libraries is Vital
As we enter the final one-third of the legislative session, it's more important than ever that you continue to make your voice heard and keep advocating for libraries and librarians. Remember that many legislators from both parties want to help you. Otherwise, the bills we have been trying to change would have passed weeks ago.

Iowa legislators are citizen legislators, people just like yourself. They are teachers, farmers, bankers, insurance agents, and many other everyday professions. They attend the same grocery stores, churches, and school events that you do. Many legislators from both parties have ties to their library. Keep telling your story! If you don't know who represents your area, you can go HERE and put in your home address. Always remember to conduct your advocacy from your personal phone or email.

For ILA, the two biggest challenges remaining deal with the Governor's proposed addition of language to the Iowa Code specifying that a teacher librarian license shall not require a Master's Degree and legislation adding a definition for "hard core pornography" to the Iowa Code along with penalties for teachers and librarians that provides those materials to students.

Teacher Librarian Masters degree language
On the Teacher Librarian Master's degree issue, there are bills in both chambers (SF 2369, HSB 672, and HF 2498) that contain this language. The Governor's Office really wants to see this language enacted, but many legislators have indicated they have heard your concerns and would like to explore alternative language. Your calls and emails can tip the balance! In addition to contacting your legislators, you can also weigh in with the Governor's Office HERE. IASL has some talking points on this issue HERE.
Hard Core Pornography bill
Legislation (SF 2364) that would create a new definition of "hard core pornography" in the Iowa Code and establish penalties for teachers that provide such materials to students is still on the Senate calendar awaiting debate by the full Senate. In order to stay alive, it needs to pass the Senate AND be passed by a committee in the House before close of business Friday the 18th.

ILA and IASL are opposed to this bill because safeguards already exist in the Iowa Code and we believe the existing system of local control works. If you need ideas for your advocacy, you can view comments that were submitted on the bill HERE and a helpful opinion editorial by Chelsea Sims can be viewed HERE.
ILA Bills of Interest - Bill List
Broadband & Technology
Prohibits the state or political subdivisions from entering into contracts with, or providing tax incentives or other benefits to, certain companies that censor online content.

Education
Allows school districts to prohibit connecting to social media sites using school servers.

Allows a private school student needing special education courses to be placed in those courses without prior approval by the AEA and removes requirement that the holder of a teacher librarian endorsement have a master's degree.

Requires school district to publish course syllabi and requires high school government classes to test students using the US citizenship test.

Reduces the number of AEAs to four and increases the state teacher salary supplement.

Makes provision for rights of parents and guardians of students.

Requires schools to designate an administrator to ensure that no obscene material or hard-core pornography is available in school libraries.

Makes several provisions related to education.

First Amendment/Free Speech
Requires schools to designate an administrator to ensure that no obscene material or hard-core pornography is available in school libraries.

Local Government
Defines protecting information from cyber-attacks as an essential county/corporate purpose.

Other
Places requirements for local government lobbying and contracts.

Tax
The House, Senate and Governor's compromise tax reform bill.
Your Bill Tracker
Click above to see status of important bills, or create your own report with our custom download.
Town Halls & Public Forums
Find a local event with your state or federal elected officials here. Three weeks are shown at a time on this website.
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