Iowa's Legislative Session So Far

This session has been a roller-coaster. We certainly didn't start the year thinking that State Government Reorganization would be a topic that we'd spend so much time on! We came very close on Eviction Expungement and fought a valiant battle on SNAP Asset Testing. Things have taken an interesting turn with Child Care Assistance Eligibility, and the budget isn't even done yet! Here is where the scoreboard wound up with our legislative priorities.

State Government Reorganization: SF 514 was signed into law by Governor Reynolds on April 4. The impact of the legislation has effectively dismantled the Department of Human Rights and reconfigured that programming under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Community Action Programming (LIHEAP, LIHWAP, Weatherization, CSBG, and FaDSS) remain together in a subunit under the Community Access Unit being led by Erin Drinnin. Please see the below Org Chart for the most recent iteration of the organization of HHS.

Eviction Expungement: HF 548 did not advance out of the Second Funnel to be considered by the full house, despite strong support in Committee from both the Senate and the House. We had good bipartisan support. We hope to take a stab at this again next year.

SNAP Asset Test: At the time of this writing, this bill was awaiting the Governor's Signature after having passed the House 58-41. Despite testimony from impacted individuals and families, countless emails and call from the Network, and a Fiscal Note showing that this would increase costs to the state, the Legislature passed a bill that we believe will make it harder for families to qualify for SNAP and Medicaid Benefits and will results in several thousand families being kicked off of this benefit.

Childcare Assistance Eligibility: DHHS announced that they were going to raise the eligibility from 145% to 155% through a rule-making process, but the House felt that they needed to take Legislative action.  HF 707 Passed the House Appropriations Committee and passed the House Chamber 99-0.

Early Childhood Staff Job Search Requirement: ICAA is hoping to ask the legislature to Sunset Reemployment Case Management Program that affects Temporarily laid-off Community Action Early Childhood Employees. We believe these workers should be exempt from the new Reemployment Case Management Program which includes job search requirements for 13 weeks.

Successful Congressional Visits

MICA (4/5) and New Opportunities (4/11) were excited to host Sen. Grassley and Congressman Nunn (IA-3) respectively this spring to showcase their programming and staff and to hear from customers with lived experience.