Week 6 of the 2025 session is on the books with our first legislative deadline “funnel” looming two weeks away. The schedule is getting hectic, with a focus on getting bills through committee to remain viable for future debate and passage by both chambers. We had a number of visitors to the capitol this week, to include Second Amendment supporters, community college students (including students and faculty from WITCC), health care professionals and many more.
I am happy to report the language of my Fetal Development School Curriculum bill passed the Senate as SF175 this week (on a vote of 31-13) and is headed to the Iowa House for their consideration. This bill requires that Iowa schools use technology like high-definition ultrasound and high quality and accurate computer generated animations to teach students about human development from conception through birth. I believe using these simple but effective training aids while teaching the topic of human development will foster respect for life and am excited to potentially see it signed into law.
There has been much discussion about the use of cellphones in school and science has shown they have detrimental effects on learning and their excessive use leads to distraction and other negative outcomes (including self-harm and suicide). The Senate Education committee passed SSB1065, a bill that requires school boards to adopt policies regarding student use of electronic devices during school hours and restrict their use during classroom instructional time. I do believe most schools in my district already comply. I expect this bill will be debated on the floor of the Senate sometime soon.
I continue to read articles, science papers and hear testimonies of people that after being forced to take an mRNA vaccine for covid-19, experienced adverse reactions, some very serious, including death. I personally know people that have experienced serious adverse reactions and was very frustrated by the vaccine mandates that were imposed on the military, healthcare workers, government employees and more. The infuriating part was when the mandates were imposed, the mandated vaccines were Emergency Use Authorized, with a printed clause that the “long term effects were unknown”. A bill I introduced, SF180, would ensure that all Iowans have the “right to refuse” EUA or PREP Act medical counter measures - last week it had a subcommittee and should be debated in committee before the next deadline.
As we watch the Trump administration finish the confirmation process, and the DOGE team uncovers radical fraud, waste and abuse throughout our government, I wonder how we ever got to this level of corruption and malfeasance. I have had grave concerns about the lack of fiscal discipline by our federal government, the evidence for my concerns grows by the hour and begs the question – how does it end (not badly)? When you look at when and how the debt level has skyrocketed, it seems undeniable that departing the gold standard was a terrible idea.
I am so thankful an exceptional team has been dispatched by President Trump and they are each using their skills and passion to find the truth in all sectors of government, to include financial, medical, climate, energy, education and more. But I must be honest – I believe if we are to succeed in actually changing course towards sanity and reason (common sense), we must shift the balance of power away from national government back to the state (or below). SF112 is a bill that creates a STATE gold/silver transactional currency that provides a way for Iowa citizens to optionally participate in the gold standard and is assigned to the Senate State Government committee.
Thank you for sending me to Des Moines to represent NW Iowa values and Senate district #7.
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