In the legislature
February 14, 2019
As we moved into the fifth week of the legislative session, subcommittee work remained the primary focus.
One of these subcommittee bills is Senate Study Bill 1128, which allows driverless vehicles to operate on public highways. The bill requires the vehicle to meet a series of criteria and requires the owner of the vehicle to submit proof of insurance to the Department of Transportation.
Another bill under discussion is Senate File 88. This bill creates a new specialty license plate, a blackout plate, which has a black background with white lettering. The fee for this would be $25 and would go towards each county’s mental health and disabilities services. Additionally, the bill makes some changes to the minimum standard of transparency on vehicle windows and aligns us more closely with the standards of our neighboring states.
Senate File 76 concerns a recurring topic for the last few years at the Capitol. During the last General Assembly, the Legislature passed a bill making it illegal to text and drive. This bill completely prohibits any use of phones or any other electronic communication device unless it is in hands-free mode. This bill does not prohibit the use of GPS or navigation systems. We have all seen cars weaving around us as the driver stares at their phone. Distracted driving will continue to be a topic until drivers exhibit more self-control.
Wednesday was STEM Day at the Capitol. A number of students, schools, and organizations came together to celebrate the strides made in this field and discuss its importance as our state moves forward. It was exciting to meet with students and talk with them about what they are eager to learn in the STEM field. STEM education grows more vital as technology becomes a bigger and bigger part of our lives and it was delightful to see Iowa’s students so enthusiastic about it.
Education budget goes to governor – This week also included some of the first floor debate of the 88th General Assembly. We voted this week on an education funding package to allocate more than $89 million in new spending for K-12 education. These bills are the first to be sent to Gov. Reynolds this legislative session.
This package includes new money for schools and additional money to address transportation and per pupil inequities across the state. Our primary goal was finding an amount the state can guarantee our schools to allow them to plan their budgets and their school year, while also taking into account the number of things our budget also has to fund. The sustainable funding increase continues a nine-year trend of growth in new spending for K-12 education. Over those years, the legislature has increased K-12 funding by nearly $845 million.
When you look at all the taxpayer money that goes into K-12 education, the annual investment is $7.1 billion or $14,600 per student. Without a doubt, this is a strong investment into the education of students all across the state.
Years from now, Iowa’s students will be the leaders of our state, and their education and success is vital. These bills passed in the Senate affirm our commitment to passing an education budget in a timely manner for Iowa schools, and affirm our commitment to schools as teachers prepare our students to grow and succeed.
Reforming welfare and building the workforce – A number of policies this session are focused on improving and expanding the workforce. After the success of policies implemented in the last two years to bring Iowa’s unemployment rate to the lowest in the country, nearly every sector of the economy is looking for workers. A number of bills have begun to work through the legislative process to move people from welfare programs to the workforce, crack down on fraud, and ensure those individuals most in need of assistance are receiving it.
A subcommittee was held on Senate Study Bill (SSB) 1134 this week. This bill would require able-bodied adults without young children to work or volunteer 20 hours per week in order to receive taxpayer-funded health care. Another bill, SSB 1131 requires the Iowa Department of Human Services to verify every quarter that individuals receiving Medicaid and other state-level welfare benefits are residents of Iowa, and in the United States legally. These bills are common-sense reforms and I look forward to seeing them advance through the legislative process.
As Ronald Reagan said, “I think the best social program is a job.” No state program can replace the dignity and purpose of work. The goal of these reforms is to ensure the programs are helping those who need help, eliminating fraud, and encouraging able-bodied adults to join the workforce, where they are so badly needed as our state continues to grow.
Another topic that has been in the news is the neglect of farm animals. This begs the question, “Who do I call if I see something?” The best place to start is Iowa Farm Animal Care (IFAC). You can visit them on the web at: wwww.iowafarmanimalcare.org or call toll free at 800-252-0577. You will be able to speak to the executive director who will determine the most appropriate course of action. This organization is funded with NO tax dollars and has been a big help in many issues.
As always, I want to hear from you. My Senate number is 515-281-3371 and my home number is 515-432-7327 or write me at: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319 or at my home address: 1313 Quill Avenue, Boone, IA 50036 or email me at jerry.behn@legis.iowa.gov.
