The seventh week of the 2022 legislative session marks the halfway point of the scheduled 100-day legislative session. More than 80 bills were debated, though only a handful relate to education policy, the lion share of which were solidly bipartisan.
Gov. Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address next week, scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022. This is an incredible honor for the governor and, as such, she asked the Legislature to immediately consider one of her legislative priorities so that she could include its passage in her remarks next week.
To that end, HF 2317 (ISEA Against), the House tax plan was debated and amended in the Senate before returning to the House for final passage late last night on a vote of 61-34. While one can certainly appreciate efforts to allow Iowans to retain more of their earnings, ISEA has serious concerns that the permanent flat income tax of 3.9% will have long-term negative impacts on state revenues. Additionally, this bill further expands corporate tax cuts and will disproportionately benefit high-earners, not working- and middle-class Iowans. Our allies at Common Good Iowa further detail the implications of this bill’s passage here. Reynolds is expected to sign the bill in the next couple of days.
Bad Bills
HF 2416- (ISEA-Against) This bill prohibits transgender girls from participating in athletics, including extracurricular sports, in public and nonpublic K-12 schools as well as community colleges and regents institutions. ISEA opposes this bill for several reasons, including that it requires state-sanctioned discrimination that is in direct conflict with federal law. Additionally, we fear this bill will lead to further discrimination, bullying and reduced inclusivity for our students. This bill now heads to the Senate where it is likely to pass.
Hell with this I don't want my daughter competing against boys and sometimes men!
SF 2349- (ISEA-Against) This bill is the re-numbered version of the Governor’s Education Omnibus bill, Division II Vouchers. While this division continues to stall in the House, the Senate continues to move the legislation forward including referring the bill to the Appropriations Committee.
A subcommittee was held on Wednesday afternoon, where despite comments from ISEA and other education stakeholders’ groups about the incredible expense to the state, the bill was advanced. The bill now moves to the full committee and while we continue to hear that the governor is interested in exploring creative options to appeal to rural lawmakers who she believes are in opposition to the legislation, no additional details are available at this time. Please continue to reach out to your senator and encourage them to support public schools that provide quality education to nearly 500,000 students statewide, not the less-than 40,000 students who attend unaccountable private schools.
*Next week is likely to see much floor debate as bills passed out of committee are now eligible for consideration in the full chambers. Please follow ISEA social media to keep up with the latest news and opportunities for advocacy!
Gov. Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address next week, scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022. This is an incredible honor for the governor and, as such, she asked the Legislature to immediately consider one of her legislative priorities so that she could include its passage in her remarks next week.
To that end, HF 2317 (ISEA Against), the House tax plan was debated and amended in the Senate before returning to the House for final passage late last night on a vote of 61-34. While one can certainly appreciate efforts to allow Iowans to retain more of their earnings, ISEA has serious concerns that the permanent flat income tax of 3.9% will have long-term negative impacts on state revenues. Additionally, this bill further expands corporate tax cuts and will disproportionately benefit high-earners, not working- and middle-class Iowans. Our allies at Common Good Iowa further detail the implications of this bill’s passage here. Reynolds is expected to sign the bill in the next couple of days.
Bad Bills
HF 2416- (ISEA-Against) This bill prohibits transgender girls from participating in athletics, including extracurricular sports, in public and nonpublic K-12 schools as well as community colleges and regents institutions. ISEA opposes this bill for several reasons, including that it requires state-sanctioned discrimination that is in direct conflict with federal law. Additionally, we fear this bill will lead to further discrimination, bullying and reduced inclusivity for our students. This bill now heads to the Senate where it is likely to pass.
Hell with this I don't want my daughter competing against boys and sometimes men!
SF 2349- (ISEA-Against) This bill is the re-numbered version of the Governor’s Education Omnibus bill, Division II Vouchers. While this division continues to stall in the House, the Senate continues to move the legislation forward including referring the bill to the Appropriations Committee.
A subcommittee was held on Wednesday afternoon, where despite comments from ISEA and other education stakeholders’ groups about the incredible expense to the state, the bill was advanced. The bill now moves to the full committee and while we continue to hear that the governor is interested in exploring creative options to appeal to rural lawmakers who she believes are in opposition to the legislation, no additional details are available at this time. Please continue to reach out to your senator and encourage them to support public schools that provide quality education to nearly 500,000 students statewide, not the less-than 40,000 students who attend unaccountable private schools.
*Next week is likely to see much floor debate as bills passed out of committee are now eligible for consideration in the full chambers. Please follow ISEA social media to keep up with the latest news and opportunities for advocacy!
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