This week's Policy Watch comes during a slower stretch for committee work, with most activity centered on subcommittee meetings and continued floor debate. I was at the Capitol on Tuesday to stay connected and monitor discussions firsthand. As of now, we're still waiting to hear any updates on appropriations targets.
BILLS THAT MOVED THIS WEEK:
House File 175 provides that surviving spouses and children of qualified veterans are considered residents of Iowa for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at community colleges; a subcommittee meeting was held yesterday at 11am. House File 271 requires CSAC, in consultation with IVRS, to establish criteria to be used when evaluating applications for scholarships submitted under a newly created comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program; a subcommittee meeting was held yesterday at 8am. House File 295 provides that a public institution of higher education that is negatively affected by adverse action taken against the institution by an accrediting agency in this manner may bring a civil action against the accrediting agency in this state if authorized by the attorney general; as of Wednesday, it has been assigned a subcommittee. House File 401 requires the board of regents to adopt a policy to ensure that courses that satisfy the general education requirements do not distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa; as of Wednesday, it has been assigned a subcommittee. House File 703 requires the bureau, upon receiving the required information for student loan programs, to determine if the information included in the chart is accurate and notify the corporation of any inaccuracies; on Tuesday, the subcommittee recommended passage. House File 706 requires the Iowa public information board to ensure training on open meetings is made available; on Monday, a clean-up amendment was adopted, and the House passed the bill 95-0. The bill has now been referred to the Senate State Government Committee and a subcommittee was assigned. House File 782 includes a state mandate on cell phone use in classrooms; on Monday, the bill was substituted for SF 370, a clean-up amendment was filed and adopted, and the Senate passed the bill 49-0. The bill has now been sent back over to the House, to accept the amended version. House File 805 allows a person to practice as a dental assistant without being registered by the dental board if the person completes a term of practical training under the supervision of a dentist; on Monday, it was referred to the State Government Committee and a subcommittee has been assigned. House File 856 prohibits state entities, defined to include local government entities, from expending moneys to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or to hire individuals to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion officers; on Wednesday, a subcommittee was assigned. House File 888 relates to education, including by modifying provisions related to private instruction, world language instruction, dual enrollment, and the tuition and textbook tax credit; a strike-after amendment was filed Wednesday. House Study Bill 313 relates to local government property taxes, financial authority, and budgets; a subcommittee was held on this bill on Wednesday.
Senate File 137 relates to short course law enforcement training requirements; on Tuesday, the committee recommended passage 23-0 and it has now been placed on the House calendar. Senate File 574 relates to retention fees for public improvement contracts; on Tuesday, an amendment was filed and adopted that will reduce the retainage fee from 5% to 3%. The bill then passed the Senate 45-4 and has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Senate Study Bill 1205 relates to Economic Development Programs and Credits; yesterday, there was a subcommittee meeting on the bill. Senate Study Bill 1208 relates to property taxes; on Wednesday, a subcommittee meeting was held.
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