This week in Policy Watch: Community College Edition, we spotlight the latest bills filed at the statehouse that could impact our community colleges. Stay informed as we break down the key legislative developments shaping education and workforce training in Iowa.
Pre-filed bills are continuing to come in at a rapidly increasing pace! This week, 5 pre-filed bills came through my email that could impact how our colleges run. The first is 1337DP, which covers governmental subdivision audits and income tax exemptions. This bill would exempt from state income tax income received by a certified public accountant performing an audit or examination of a governmental subdivision. The second is 1402DP, which covers Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Regulations (IECDB). This will would require a political committee and a candidate's committee to provide an email address along with the other required fields when filing a statement of organization with the board. It also extends the deadline for required filings to be submitted from 4:30pm to 11:59pm on the day the filings are due. This bill would prohibit all candidates from establishing, directing, or maintaining a political committee, and adds radio and internet advertising to the definition of "published material". The third is 1396XD, which covers the National Guard Service Scholarship Program. The fourth is 1412XD, which covers the prohibition of ranked choice voting. This bill would prohibit ranked choice and instant runoff voting from being used to cast or tabulate ballots in any election in Iowa, including elections for local government offices. Finally, the fifth bill is 1454XD, which covers charter schools, concurrent enrollment, and board members. This bill allows students from charter schools and students from innovation zone schools to access the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program through the school district in which the charter school or innovation zone school is located.
Newsletters will be weekly from now until the end of session, excluding winter break, and legislative session begins January 13th so stay tuned for a special issue January 16th regarding the Governor's State of the State and Budget Proposal Address.
For more information or to stay up-to-date, on our bill watch, click here!