The week in a recap:
This entire week was spent on the floor of the House of Representatives voting on numerous bills. We passed 52 bills out of the house this week! Every morning after gaveling in, we as a Republican party went to caucus to discuss the bills being voted on that day and then went to the floor to vote!
Sunday:
Sunday I attended mass and visited with family and friends!
Monday:
Monday morning I drove to Des Moines.
We gaveled in at 1pm and the Republican Party Immediately Caucused. After Caucus we went to the house floor and voted on (AND PASSED) the following bills:
- HF 181 - Open Container THC Beverages
- HF 248 Adoptive Parental Leave
-HF 297 Emergency Services Provided by Cities
-HF 703 Increasing Student Financial Aid Awareness
-HF 298 Supervised Apartment Living for Juveniles
-HF 299 Vaccine Exemption Notification
-HF 306 Obscene Material to Children - Penalty Increase
-HF 300 Physician Assistant Compact
-HF 314 Adoption Home Study Waiver
-HF 307 Allowing EMS fund to pay staff salaries
-HF 316 Industry Recognized seals and certificates
-HF 315 Budget Adjustments for schools affected by natural disasters.
Tuesday:
Tuesday morning all Republican House members caucused before debate. After Caucus we went to the house floor and voted on (AND PASSED)the following bills:
-HF 363 Disposition of Remains
-HF 367 CINA Family Interaction
-HF 381 Code Editor Bill
-HF 380 Acquisition of Vehicles as general county purpose
-HF 393 Impact of Dropout students on school performance profiles
- HF 396 Secretary of State Bank Filing Utilization
- HF 397 Secretary of State safe at home program.
-HF 472 Freedom of Speech & Press Special motion for release.
-HSB 111 Department of Corrections Department Bill
- HF 111 DAS State Library
-HF 513 High School Athletic participation for 8th graders.
- HF 189 Non Public School Extracurricular Participation
Wednesday
Wednesday morning all Republican House members caucused before debate. After Caucus we went to the house floor and voted on (AND PASSED) the following bills:
- HF515 Shared School Resource Officers
- HF516 Residency Enrollment Requirements
- HF390 Childcare Employees
- HF546 Minimum Initial Bond
- SF153 Hazardous Materials Transport
- HF530 Professional Permit to Carry
- HF548 Requirements for Recycling EV Batteries
- HF547 Respiratory care licensure Compact
- HF399 DAS State Library
- HF533 Passenger Rail Compact
- HF523 Protective Orders
- HF549 Review of officer involved shootings
- HF573 Civil Commitment Petition Filing
- HF578 Civil Commitment Petition Filing
- HF579 Dropout Prevention Monies
- HF602 Testimony by minors
Wednesday night I attended the Iowa State Association of Counties Legislative Reception
Thursday
Thursday morning all Republican House members caucused before debate. After Caucus we went to the house floor and voted on (AND PASSED)the following bills:
- HF615 Intentional Misrepresentation of Service Animals
- HF643 CCUSO Reimbursement – A bill I proposed.
- HF644 Foster Parent Consent
- HF647 Place of Trial
- HF648 Dental Sedation
- HF415 Boards of Adjustment Variance Power
- HF698 Motor Carrier Safety Improvements
- HF710 Enclosed Docks on Public Waters and Insurance
- HF317 Indigent Defense – Appointment of Counsel
- HF441/ HSB 18 DIAL clean up bill.
- HSB176 DIAL Department Bill
- HF783 Iowa High School Athletics Conference Realignment
Thursday Evening I drove home.
Friday:
This morning I spent time catching up on emails, writing this newsletter, and having breakfast with my good friends Austin Sitzmann, Jordan Sitzmann, and Kyle Schmidt back home in Kingsley.
Where will I be this Weekend:
I am taking the weekend off! I will be spending time with friends and family.
Looking Ahead:
Next week will be very similar to this past week. We will caucus and debate all week! I have been invited to 2 different forums on 3/22 at the same time. I still have not decided which one to go to but will keep you posted!
Week 9 Legislative Update:
Supporting Iowa Families
This session, our caucus set out to prioritize supporting Iowa families and particularly making sure we are supporting kids born into tough situations.
This week we passed two bills relating to adoption that we believe are common sense policies to improve the lives and ease the burden on adopting families.
House File 248 requires employers to treat employees who have adopted a child 6 years old or younger the same way as those who have had a biological child in regards to their parental leave policies.
o New parents who have adopted their child deserve to be treated the same as parents who have had a biological child.
o This legislation ensures all new parents are treated the same by their employers.
House File 314 allows the court to waive a home study requirement in an adoption case if the person applying is the current legal guardian for the adoptee, has been the legal guardian for the proceeding 3 years, and has complied with the duties and responsibilities of a guardian for those 3 years.
o Waiving the adoption home study in cases where it makes sense and is deemed safe to do so can speed up delays in the process and lower costs for prospective adoptive parents. An adoption home study can range anywhere from $1,000 – $3,000.
On a similar note, we also passed House File 367 this week through the full Iowa House.
o This bill says that during a Child in Need of Assistance proceeding, the family interaction shall continue unless it poses harm to the child.
o Specifically, family interaction shall continue in a CINA case, unless the court finds that substantial evidence exists that the family interaction would pose a serious risk of physical or emotional harm to the child.
o The purpose of maintaining family interactions is to support the child's emotional well-being and familial bonds. We want to support family connections while ensuring the safety of the child.
o This bill passed unanimously through the Iowa House.
Expanding Health Care Access in Iowa
Like every state in the nation, Iowa is dealing with a shortage of doctors and healthcare staff, rising costs of care, and the need to ensure access to quality services in rural and underserved areas of our state.
This week, we passed three pieces of legislation related to health care workforce challenges that address the many different sides of this issue.
House File 516 aims to make it more likely that the health care professionals who are educated and trained in Iowa stay in Iowa to provide care.
o This bill will do that in the following ways:
o This bill focuses our state-funded medical school on making intentional efforts to address the workforce needs of Iowa. Right now, not enough of these graduates are staying here in Iowa to practice.
House File 386 requires the University of Iowa and Des Moines University to study the feasibility of transitioning their programs to three-year programs.
o I recognize that a three-year program may not make sense for every medical degree. However, there may be some that can be done over three years, saving the student money and getting that provider into the workforce providing care sooner.
Currently in code, there are enhanced penalties for assaulting a person engaged in certain occupations, including “health care providers.” House File 310 expands the definition of health care providers to include anyone working, volunteering, or participating in an educational course in a hospital or nursing home.
o Unfortunately, this is a bill that has become increasingly necessary as we’ve heard from providers about more assaults happening on the health care workforce. This is just one thing we can do in the Iowa Legislature to try and ensure the safety of those who are trying to provide care.
Verse of the Week: Ephesians 6:10-11
“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes.”
This week we had a lot of visitors! Tuesday I met with Sharyl Bruning, with the Iowa Farm Bureau. I met with Michelle Skaff, Woodbury county auditor at the capitol on Wednesday along with Rep. Bob Henderson! Wednesday afternoon I also met with Jessi Bergin FaDSS Coordinator. Wednesday night I met with Plymouth County Recorder Jolynn Goodchild, Cherokee County Recorder Samantha Boothby, Senator Evans, and President of the Senate Amy Sinclair. Thursday morning I met with Scott Schroeder and NW Iowa Community Bankers!
Quote of the Week:
“The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.”
Ronald Reagan
Thank you for your support!
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