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Legislators continue to work long days at the State Capitol to get bills out of committee before February 18. That's a lot of work to cram into eight work days. Senators got their tax cut bill out of committee this week; it will get a new number soon. Representatives also moved their their version of tax cuts out of subcommittee, and it will be ready for committee action next week. The House and Senate have different plans for cutting taxes, so getting them out of committee is the first step in getting the two sides together to work out a compromise.
As a reminder, the House and Governor both want a 4% flat income tax as well as ending taxes on retirement income and earnings retired farmers get from renting out farmland. The Governor included cuts to business income (corporate tax), and the Senate included making the local option sales tax that almost every city and county in Iowa has already and making it statewide. That helps pay for water quality, trails, and other environmental programs.
Legislators did make progress on some of their education priorities this week:
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The House and Senate are ready to debate school funding increases next week. The House plans 2.5% increase ($155 million) and the Senate wants a smaller 2.25% ($150 million) increase. House and Senate Democrats want to double that and add more than $300 million to our public education system.
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A bill from last year (Senate File 168) came out of committee this week. This bill requires Area Education Agencies (AEAs) to provide special education services and supports to students in private schools. This was supported by parents whose children go to private school with their siblings, but were unable to access special education services at the school. Parents had to go to court to get the services, so they wanted to make it easier for others by making it clear that the services follow the child.
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The Senate Education Committee also passed Senate File 2197 this week. This bill creates a Special Education Task Force that will meet over the Summer and Fall to make recommendations on how to better service private school students needing special education services. The task force will include two parents of children receiving special education services in private school settings (one rural, one urban) and one attorney who has experience in advocating for students needing special education services.
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A Senate subcommittee voted to move the Governor's Education Reform bill (Senate Study Bill 3080) on to committee. The committee will probably vote on the bill sometime in the next week. This bill includes a new Student First Scholarship that can be used by students who have an IEP (individualized education plan) to attend private school. Up to 5,000 students needing special education services could receive this scholarship.
All of these bills are (or will be) safe from the February 18 funnel deadline. But do not expect smooth sailing for these bills - they are very controversial. Some of you may not want to see public education dollars spent in private schools. Some of you may want that option for your children.
What Can You Do?
- If you have an opinion about these bills, let your legislators know!
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Go to our Action Center. Put in your name and address, and it will show you your legislators. You can send a note to your legislators and the Governor, and explain why you want them to pass (or vote against) these bills.
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You can also host an in-person or virtual local Capitol Day with the help of the Iowa DD Council. Find out more here.
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