Week three was busy in the Iowa Senate as it was our first full week of subcommittee and committee work. In the second year of the 90th General Assembly, our timeline is a little shorter and deadlines will be coming up on us quicker. We covered a lot of topics in subcommittees this week, ranging from education standards to window tint.
The week started with the Iowa Prayer Rally for Life on Monday to celebrate the successes of the pro-life movement and the achievements we have had in Iowa in protecting life. If you’ll remember, last summer we had a special legislative session just to address this important issue because of a curious opinion by the Iowa Supreme Court. We passed the Heartbeat Bill once again to make clear our support for the start of life at the sound of a heartbeat. Governor Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird also spoke at the rally, discussing their commitment to life and protecting it.
Thursday was IJAG Legislative Day at the Capitol. Iowa Jobs for American Graduates (IJAG) dedicates itself to help thousands of students across the state prepare for careers and be successful in their jobs. I had the opportunity to meet with the IJAG class from Marshalltown this week. It was very rewarding to see and hear first-hand from the students. They explained to me how IJAG had helped them in their own situations to overcome obstacles they faced. This program has had a great impact on Iowa students to help them become successful in building career pathways. Thank you to all of the IJAG teachers and students for your perseverance!
This week I want to touch briefly on a bill I have filed nearly every year I have been in the Senate. The window tint bill. This bill was derived solely by my constituents in an effort to bring Iowa’s window tint laws into conformity with our surrounding states. Currently the front side-wing windows are at a 70% light pass through standard. I am simply asking to bring Iowa in line with the majority of our border states. The bill was set at 25% pass through and upon listening to concerns in the subcommittee the amendment was made to move up to a 35% pass through standard. This would get us in line with the majority of our border states while still allowing for safety concerns to be addressed. The bill is able to move to a full committee vote. My main point is: if other states can do it safely at 35%, why can’t Iowa also allow the same standard.
This week I had a subcommittee on a very intriguing bill. SF431 is policy language that would tell health providers they would need to post a cash only price for services. It would also allow an individual to reap the benefit for shopping around for health care services. In short, if you were able to find a provider whose cash price was less than your insurances negotiated price, you get the cash difference once your deductible had been met. While this bill is in the early stages of discussion, it warrants taking a deeper look to see if it fits the mold of helping to keep Iowa’s health care costs competitive.
This week was National School Choice Week, meant to celebrate educational choice and a quality education for all students. While this is a time we can discuss all the options available to students to ensure the best education for them, it is also a reminder of our accomplishments as a state. One year ago, Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law House File 68, the school choice bill passed by the Iowa Senate and House.
In Iowa we want to have the fullest educational opportunities for all students, not just what their economic status or zip code allows. The ESA program in Iowa allows for opportunities to exist for parents and students to utilize more than just traditional education methods. Education is not a one fits all system. While teachers can work tirelessly to promote student growth in a certain setting, sometimes it just can’t be maximized in that setting. I will continue to support Iowa student achievement in all settings, public and private.
