Capitol Letters: The Sitzmann Scoop Week 14

The week in a recap:

This week was a very productive week of debate!  We passed 26 bills this week.  The highlight bills include disaster assistance, Fetal Development, and requiring students in Iowa to pass a civics test to graduate.  Please see below for more details.  

Monday:

Monday morning I traveled to Des Moines.   We gaveled in at 1pm.  I spent time meeting with and talking to fellow legislators about the bills we were going to vote on during the week.  

Tuesday:

Tuesday morning  we gaveled in at 8:30AM and we (house republicans immediately caucused).  After Caucus we went to the house floor and voted on and passed the following bills:

-         HF 979 Excessive Size or Weight Fees

-         HF 876 Lead Service Lines Disclosure

-         HF 805 Dental Assistant Licensing

-         HF 427 Land Surveyor Licensure

-         SF 574 Fees Public Improvement Contract

-         HF 806 Peer Review Committee

-         HF 919 Specialty Hospital Designation

-         HF 969 411 Retirement System

Wednesday:

Wednesday morning I attended a meeting with Senate President Amy Sinclair, Senator Lynn Evans, Senator Kevin Alons, and members of the Cherokee County Leadership.

Thanks to our colleagues in the Senate for unanimously passing HF 623, on Wednesday.  This is  the reimbursement for county jails who house CCUSO patients. Special shout out to Senator Lynn Evans for his work on this. Senator Evans and I both had companion bills.  This is the bill that we passed in the house weeks ago that I proposed on my side of the building.  It is now  Off to the Governor’s desk to become law!! Thank you Sheriff Derek Scott and Cherokee County Supervisor Shane Bellefy for advocating for this!

Thursday

Thursday morning  we gaveled in at 8:30AM and we (house republicans immediately caucused).  After Caucus we went to the house floor and voted on and passed the following bills:

-         HF 994 Beer / Wine Tax Quarterly Report

-         HF 1000 Veteran Service Grant Program

-         HF 165 / SF 16 Civics Test

-         SF 277 Chronic Absenteeism

-         HF 1008 Land Redevelopment Trust

-         HF 512 / SF 512 Mortgage Lending Fees

-         HJR 9 / SJR 9 Constitutional Amendment

-         HF 641 / SF 331 City Civil Services Employees

-         HF 996 Sales Tax Exemption

-         HF 901 Law Enforcement Academy – H-1232 (Senate Amendment)

-         HF 990 Cannabidiol Dispensary Licenses  

-         HF 992 International Fuel Tax Agreement

-         HF 995 Non-Residence Medical Card

-         HF 989 On Farm Anaerobic Farm Digesters

-         HF 391 / SF 175 Fetal Development

-         SF 148 Landowner Turkey Hunting

-         HF 841/ SF 423 Deer Youth Tags

-         HF 1012 / SF 619 Natural Hazard Mitigation

We were in debate until 5:30 Thursday.  Thursday night I traveled home.  

Where will I be This Weekend:

This weekend I will be spending time with my family celebrating Easter!  I am wishing all of you a very happy and blessed Easter weekend!  Mass on Easter  Sunday is being said for my late Grandmother.  I know she will be smiling down on us Sunday (as always)!

Looking Ahead:

This coming week (week 15) will be fairly similar to week 14.  Budget proposals are getting completed and we will be spending a lot of time on the house floor voting on budgets.  We have a full debate schedule this coming Monday after gaveling in at 1pm.  

Week 14 Legislative Update:

Economic Relief for Iowans

•      Iowans are feeling the pain of higher costs.  Inflation served as one of the top motivating issues this election cycle.
•      One of the biggest things we can do to directly help Iowans weather the storm of inflation is cut taxes, which we have done by lowering all taxpaying Iowans’ income tax rate to 3.8%.

o  Democrats often talk about wanting to help Iowans with high costs, but they really don’t have a leg to stand on. They voted against every income tax cut we’ve passed over the last few years.

o  Their claims that these tax cuts only benefit the wealthy don’t hold any water. All taxpaying Iowans have had their tax rate lowered by Iowa Republicans.

•      This session, we are looking for additional ways to lower costs for Iowans. This was a big week for this topic as the Ways and Means Committee moved many of our ideas forward.

o  House File 110 would eliminate income tax on overtime pay, putting more money in the pockets of some of Iowa’s hardest workers.

o  House File 268 would eliminate income tax on cash tips, providing direct relief to Iowans in the service industry.

This bill would apply to up to $25,000 worth of tips for Iowans with an annual income under $155,000.

o  House File 963 would eliminate the sales tax on laundry detergent, House File 964 would eliminate the sales tax on toilet paper and House File 966 would eliminate the sales tax on dietary supplements. These are common household items that aren’t already exempt from the sales tax. Our goal is that these would provide relief to Iowa families. 

o  House File 965 increases the adoption tax credit from $5,000 to $20,000.

The heartbreaking reality is that the ridiculously high cost of adoption can prevent a child from a loving family who wants to give them a home.

This legislation is needed to encourage more strong families and set kids born into tough situations up for a successful, happy life.

o  House File 962 eliminates the income maximum threshold to qualify for the Iowa child and dependent care tax credit.

•      All of these bills passed the House Ways and Means Committee this week and will soon be eligible for debate on the House floor. They are designed to provide direct relief to Iowans and put more moneyback in your pocket.

House File 969: Cancer Coverage and Screening for First Responders

•      After years of work, we officially sent House File 969 to the governor’s desk to become law.
•      This bill expands the definition of cancer for the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System and the Special Services Members of IPERS. Current code outlines 14 types of cancers that are covered for disabilities and death benefits. In listing certain cancers that are covered, code inevitably leaves out additional cancers that should certainly be covered.
•      Firefighters and family members who have lost friends, coworkers, and loved ones to cancers that are not covered by current code, were in attendance to support the passage of this bill.
•      These people have our backs every day as they risk their lives and go to work. With this bill, we do what we can to return the favor and have their backs as well.

House File 165: Civics Test for All High School Graduates

•      This bill requires high school students to pass a civics test based on the U.S. citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test in order to graduate.
•      Under this bill, students would need to answer at least 60% of the questions correctly to pass and could retake the exam as many times as needed. It also explicitly states that no fee will be associated with this test.
•      Last year, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill to reprioritize history and civics in education by requiring the State Board of Education to include minimum standards related to US History, western civilization, civics and Iowa history.
•      It’s clear when you talk to young people today that history and civics has become somewhat of a second-class subject.
•      Our goal is to ensure that Iowa graduates leave high school with a fundamental understanding of our government, our freedoms, and the importance of civic engagement.
•      Passing a test built off the same test required to become a U.S. Citizen is a great bar to set for all Iowa students. 

House File 1012: Governor’s Disaster Relief Bill

•      Iowa is no stranger to natural disasters. There are too many communities that have been devastated by storms over the last few years, like the flooding in Northwest Iowa, the tornado in Greenfield, and the Derecho in 2020.
•      House File 1012 does a number of things to make sure the state is better prepared to provide relief to Iowans facing similar crises in the future based on the lessons we have learned.
•      This bill aims to allow Iowa’s executive branch to more easily utilize the state’s Economic Emergency Fund for disaster recovery by giving the Department of Management access to 10% of the fund each year.
•      Additionally, this bill:

o   Establishes the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing Program, created to provide loans for projects to reduce the impact of natural hazards in the future.

o   Expands the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program, which specifies the availability of assistance for homeowners and renters affected by disasters.

o   Removes the requirement for homeowners and renters to register for the disaster case advocacy program to receive assistance.

o  Approves an additional $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund to tear down disaster-damaged buildings.

•      These changes will help communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters and free up additional funding to be put to use after an emergency.

Senate File 277: Chronic Absenteeism Fixes

•      Last session, we passed a bill to address the growing issue of chronic absenteeism in K-12 schools.
•      Last year’s bill did the following:

o  It required schools to adopt a policy related to absenteeism and truancy including interventions and penalties.

o  When a child becomes chronically absent the school official shall send notice to the county attorney and the parent/guardian.

o  When the child is absent from school 15% or more, they shall initiate a school engagement meeting.

o  If an open-enrolled student is truant, the receiving district may prohibit them from enrolling and the child goes back to the sending district.

•      During the interim we received feedback from schools and parents on some changes that were necessary to this policy.
•      Senate File 277 makes the following changes:

o  It adds new exceptions for absences including military service and attending funerals.

o  Notification procedures are adjusted to allow email, regular mail or in-person delivery instead of requiring certified mail.

o  The engagement meetings outlined in last year’s bill are only required if the absences are negatively affecting academic progress.

Verse of the Week:   Matthew 28: 5-7

An angel at the tomb tells the woman that Jesus is not there, but he has risen as promised.

Wednesday I met with Senate President Amy Sinclair, Senator Evans, Senator Alons, and members of Cherokee County Leadership.  We even let a reporter in the room! It is always great talking to Erin Rydgren who works for the Cherokee Chronicle Times