Week 7 was an eventful week in the Iowa House. In this edition of Freedom Watch, I will go over the highlights of the week, as we moved from committee work in floor debate.
Government Oversight Committee Approves Majority Report on Investigation into Misallocation of Court Debt Funds by the Iowa Judicial Branch –
In 2025, the House Government Oversight Committee conducted a thorough investigation into the approximately $25 million that was misallocated by the Iowa Judicial Branch I was a part of that investigation as a member of the Oversight Committee. This week, the committee approved a Majority Report detailing all that was learned during that investigation.
While the state’s General Fund was overpaid, critical programs were shortchanged, including the Road Use Tax Fund (shorted $10.4 million), the Victim Compensation Fund (shorted $3.7 million), and the Juvenile Detention Home Fund (shorted $3.5 million).
The report details a pattern of financial mismanagement, three years of concealment from the public, and a failure by State Auditor Rob Sand to conduct necessary oversight.
Chairman Charley Thomson’s report highlights the following major conclusions:
· A “Deliberate Pattern of Concealment”: The Judicial Branch was aware of issues in 2021 but did not notify the Legislature until September 2024.
· A “Stunning Abdication” by Rob Sand: The report is particularly critical of the State Auditor’s lack of action. It states, “State Auditor Rob Sand’s office was notified of the issue on October 7, 2022. His Chief of Staff responded that they would ‘take it from here.’ They did nothing of the sort. It goes on to state, “Auditor Sand’s comments to the Committee leave him in no danger of being confused with some fearless crusader for the general welfare of Iowans.”
House File 2488: Targeting DEI Offices at Private Colleges –
This week, I floor-managed HF2488 through the Iowa House to further our efforts to ensure tax dollars are not going to harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts that in fact do the opposite of what their name suggests.
HF2488 mandates that private colleges are not eligible to receive taxpayer-funded Iowa Tuition Grant money if they establish, sustain, support, or staff an office of DEI.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is defined as all of the following:
· Any effort to manipulate or otherwise influence the composition of the faculty or student body with reference to race, sex, color, or ethnicity, apart from ensuring colorblind and sex-neutral admissions and hiring in accordance with state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
· Any effort to promote differential treatment of or provide special benefits to individuals on the basis of race, color, or ethnicity.
· Any effort to promote or promulgate policies and procedures designed or implemented with reference to race, color, or ethnicity.
· Any effort to promote or promulgate training, programming, or activities designed or implemented with reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
It is important that we ensure that taxpayer money supports a fair system based on merit, not immutable characteristics beyond our control.
DEI programs have been found to teach that meritocracy (promotion/selection based on work ethic and proven performance) is a part of white supremacy, and that white people are always oppressors and people of color are always oppressed. These programs teach discrimination and disregard for character in the name of stopping discrimination, and are increasing, not decreasing, racial division and strife.
House File 2242: Five-Year Tuition Freeze at Regent Universities –
The cost of a college education is increasing far beyond the rate of inflation. This college affordability crisis is hurting Iowa students, and constant tuition hikes make it hard for students to plan for their futures.
HF2242 requires Iowa’s regent institutions to freeze tuition and mandatory fees for the next five years.
Democrats have argued the state should allocate more money to address the problem. However, Iowa taxpayers already provide over $600 million every year to our regent universities. It doesn’t matter how much money the state provides; the bureaucracy continues to grow at an alarming rate and must be brought under control. It is time for the universities to learn how to control costs, cut administrative bloat and give students the predictability they deserve.
House File 2514: Expanding Access to Quality Affordable Child Care –
We often hear from our constituents about the need to expand access to quality, affordable childcare. We have passed many pieces of legislation to address this issue in past years, and we are continuing to do so. HF2514 makes children of childcare workers in this state eligible for the state childcare assistance program. Giving childcare workers this benefit will help recruit and retain the staff needed to keep childcare centers open and operating at full capacity. This, in turn, will create greater access.
House File 2254: Prohibiting Physician Noncompete Clauses –
Iowa is facing a healthcare workforce shortage. Noncompete clauses in healthcare professional contracts only make the situation worse. HF2254 bans noncompete clauses in employment contracts between the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and physicians.
Noncompete clauses prevent physicians from practicing within a certain distance or for a period of time after they are no longer employed with UIHC. This results in physicians being unable to practice, having to leave the state to do so. By ensuring physicians can continue to practice immediately upon leaving their position at UIHC, this bill will help keep specialized doctors in Iowa ready to see the patients who need them.
House File 2226: Prioritizing Iowans for Iowa Nursing School –
Iowa needs more nurses, as do many other states. While our schools are excellent, we are not retaining enough graduates to meet our state’s needs. Data shows that out-of-state students with no ties to Iowa are far more likely to leave the state immediately after graduation. HF2226 requires 70% of students accepted into the University of Iowa Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to be residents of Iowa.
House File 2519: Supporting Single Mothers –
HF2519 makes it easier for parents and children, particularly single mothers, to get the child support payments they deserve. It requires unpaid child support to collect interest automatically. Current law already sets the interest rate for child support debts at 10% but requires a court order for the parent to receive it. By making interest collection automatic, we are holding individuals accountable and removing an unnecessary barrier preventing Iowa mothers from getting the interest payment they deserve.
House File 2253: Replacing “Pregnant Person” with “Pregnant Female” in Code –
Biological truth matters. Only biological females can get pregnant, yet Iowa House Democrats voted against basic biology and common sense when they voted against HF2253 on the House floor. This legislation simply changes references in Iowa code from “pregnant person” to “pregnant female,” ensuring Iowa code reflects common sense and biological reality. Inscribed in the wall of the Iowa Capitol is this quote from Blackstone: “Law is the embodiment of the moral sentiment of the people.” Our laws need to reflect truth, not ideology.
House File 2296: Prohibiting City and County IDs –
HF2296 is a straightforward bill that creates clarity and consistency regarding forms of identification. It prohibits cities and counties from issuing their own forms of identification. Only two counties that we know of had begun down this path, creating confusion for law enforcement and other entities and opening the door for fraud in our election and social services systems.
House File 2565: Human Trafficking Task Force –
Representative Mark Thompson has worked for years to bring this comprehensive bill to the floor, which creates a human trafficking task force to coordinate our efforts to stop human trafficking once and for all in Iowa. This is of profound importance. If this legislation becomes law, Iowa would be the first state in the nation to have this complete approach, bringing everyone together to combat human trafficking, ensuring traffickers of human beings pick somewhere else to engage in their evil acts.
