The Evans Edition Week 7

A big congratulations to the schools representing Senate District 3 in Des Moines this week and next, Cherokee, Newell-Fonda girls' basketball teams, as well as the Storm Lake boys' basketball team, for qualifying for their respective Iowa State Basketball Tournaments. This is no small feat. Your hard work and determination throughout the season have paid off! Also, a shout out to all of the Northwest Iowa schools earning a berth to the tournaments. Our part of the state is very well represented.

With our first legislative deadline on Friday, the Senate was busy with subcommittees and committees, working to get our bills through. Every day was filled with a wide range of topics, and some committees would even have to take a break and come back later in the day. With such a busy week, legislation was advanced on a number of important issues.

The Senate Agriculture Committee passed SSB 1158 on nutrition education. This bill modifies the K-12 curriculum to include instruction on the nutritional benefits of animal-based protein, and the role of real meat, dairy, vegetables and fruit in a balanced diet. Integrating healthy foods into the curriculum of Iowa’s schools not only promotes a healthy lifestyle with quality food alternatives but is also another long-term investment in the academic success of Iowa students. A healthy diet leads to improved cognitive ability, physical fitness, and overall well-being.

The Senate Local Government Committee continued its work on SSB 1188, Governor Reynolds’ disaster recovery and housing assistance proposal. This bill would provide funding for disaster aid programs and would provide up to $2 million in assistance for short-term housing and address damages to city properties and commercial buildings.

My Senate district has faced several major natural disasters this past spring and summer, as have other parts of our state. The impacts still linger with those affected. In the last few years, Iowa has had to endure severe flooding, destructive tornados, and a derecho, leaving Iowa farms and towns ravaged. This plan will help ensure we are well prepared in times of disaster and prioritize safeguarding our citizens from the devastation of unexpected severe weather.

There has been much discussion about the governor’s bill on cell phone use in the classroom. On Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee unanimously approved SF 237 to help study the effects technology is having on kids in their daily lives.

The bill directs the Department of Education, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, to put together a working group to review research regarding the impact of school-provided technology on students’ cognitive function. This review would include recommendations on best practices for the use of school-provided technology in educational contexts and a focus on how to mitigate its negative impacts on social and behavioral development, attention span, mental concentration, and learning ability.

While technology has made for a more efficient learning environment and been a useful tool in many instances, we will continue to look for ways to improve the quality of our education system and ensure students are in an academic environment beneficial to their success.

Historic property tax relief proposal for Iowa homeowners

In 2023, the legislature passed House File 718 in response to concerns from constituents all across the state amid rising assessments. We worked to control the growth of property taxes, increase transparency about local government spending, and urged local governments to budget responsibly and focus on priorities.

House File 718 was an important step in reforming our property tax system, bringing to light a number of other issues to be evaluated and addressed. It set the stage for changes to prioritize Iowa property taxpayers, continue limiting the growth of local spending, and provide more certainty and transparency.

This week, Senate Republicans released the next step in reforming property taxes in Iowa and making the system simpler and fairer. It builds on the successes we saw from the 2023 reforms to bring real relief to Iowa property taxpayers, reform to the property tax system, and make property taxes more predictable for businesses and local governments. This proposal is the biggest overhaul in property taxes in decades. At this time, it is estimated to provide a $426 million cut in property taxes for Iowans, implement a revenue restriction to ensure relief, and deliver additional relief for Iowa’s veterans and senior citizens.

The bill phases out the antiquated rollback system for residential, commercial, and industrial property over five years. This system was put in years ago but has now only made property taxes unpredictable and complicated. By eliminating the rollback, along with lowering levy rates, limiting revenue increases and moving from tax credits to exemptions, the bill provides more stability for local governments and businesses and makes property taxes simpler and more for everyone.

When I talk to my constituents, property tax relief is nearly always brought up as a major concern. This bill is a major step forward in providing real relief for Iowans and making sure our state is a great place for those looking to call Iowa home.

This bill will not move quickly. We are hoping to hear from interested parties as this bill moves forward to gather feedback from constituents, local government officials and school districts. I am looking forward to the conversations on how we can ensure property taxpayers are being prioritized.