DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, L released the following statement after the conclusion of 2019’s legislative session on Friday:
“Earlier this year in my Condition of the State Address, I said now is the time to deliver on the promises we made to Iowans looking for a way up. Through collaboration and compromise, those Iowans will be better off today than they were before. The biggest winners of this legislative session were Iowa students, families, farmers, small business owners, and our rural communities.
“We made historic investments into preK-12 Education and put more money into community colleges and our public universities. We protected job creators who hire individuals with past criminal offenses and funded the Future Ready Iowa Initiative, so that Iowans can get the skills they need for cutting-edge careers. Our judicial nominating system was reformed to give Iowans a greater voice. Iowa will also have a first of its kind Children’s Mental Health System. And with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, Iowa is one step closer to seeing growth and prosperity in every single corner of our state.
“While a lot was accomplished, we’re not finished yet. Next year, I will push again for a constitutional amendment to restore felon voting rights and work to expand access to contraception. We will also continue our focus on growing the economy as well as create opportunities to attract top talent to Iowa by sharing our story as a vibrant, affordable, and welcoming state.”
Gov. Reynolds’ top legislative priorities for the 2019 legislative session:
Budget
A conservative budget that is balanced and leaves our cash reserves full
Education
$98 million in new money for preK-12, including including:
$2.1 million to assist schools in addressing children’s mental health issues
$2.9 million for per pupil equity
$7.8 for transportation equity
$6.4 million for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
$12 million in new money for the Regents’ universities
$6 million in new money for community colleges
20 year extension of SAVE, 1 percent sales tax to invest in schools and provide property tax relief at the local level
Workforce
Nearly $16 million in new money to fund last-dollar scholarships, grants and the Employer Innovation Fund as part of the Future Ready Iowa Initiative
Criminal justice
HF 650: protects job creators who hire individuals with past criminal offenses
Mental health
HF 690 creates a first of its kind Children’s Mental Health System
$1.2 million for home and community-based children’s mental health services to eliminate the waiting list that currently exists
Established a children’s mental health hotline
Increased reimbursement for Assertive Community Treatment to treat individuals facing a mental health crisis in their own homes and communities
Increased funding for the State’s mental health institutions for additional staff
Child welfare
Nearly $6 million for additional staff to ensure the safety of Iowa’s children
Flood recovery
$15 million for flood recovery efforts.
$10 million for the workforce housing tax credit
Ag protection
SF 519 protects Iowa farmers from safety threats or biosecurity risks that untrained people on their property may cause
Judicial nominating
We reformed our judicial nominating system to give Iowans a greater voice in the process
Property tax reform
SF 634 provides taxpayers with more transparency and information about how property taxes are collected at the local level
Rural Iowa
HF 772, The Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative. This initiative serves as a connector to existing programs and resources which provide our communities with a roadmap for continued success
$25 million for the workforce housing tax credit
$5 million for broadband connectivity
