Iowa Gov., Kim Reynolds, called the 2019 Legislative Session that came to a close this past Saturday, nearly a week ahead of schedule, a win for Iowans. During her Condition of the State Address in January, Reynolds said it was time to deliver on promises made. In aspiring to that goal, she pointed to the biggest winners of the session, Iowa students, families, farmers, small business owners and rural communities. “We have made historic investments in preK-12 education and put money into community colleges and our public universities,” Reynolds said. “We protected job creators who hire individuals with past criminal offenses and funded the Future Ready Iowa initiative so that Iowans can get the skills they need for cutting-edge careers.” The judicial nominating system was changed to give residents a greater voice and Reynolds was proud to announce the first-of-its-kind Children’s Mental Health System. “While a lot was accomplished,” Reynolds added, “we’re not finished yet. Next year I will push again for a constitutional amendment to restore felon voting rights and work to expand access to contraception.” There will also be a continued focus on growing the economy and creating opportunities that attract top talent to the state. A listing of the Governor’s top priorities for 2019 and the associated bills can be found below.
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Gov. Reynolds’ top legislative priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session:
Budget
- A conservative budget that is balanced and leaves our cash reserves full
Education
- $98 million in new money for preK-12, including including:
- $2.1 million to assist schools in addressing children’s mental health issues
- $2.9 million for per pupil equity
- $7.8 for transportation equity
- $6.4 million for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
- $12 million in new money for the Regents’ universities
- $6 million in new money for community colleges
- 20 year extension of SAVE, 1 percent sales tax to invest in schools and provide property tax relief at the local level
Workforce
- Nearly $16 million in new money to fund last-dollar scholarships, grants and the Employer Innovation Fund as part of the Future Ready Iowa Initiative
Criminal Justice
- HF 650: protects job creators who hire individuals with past criminal offenses
Mental Health
- HF 690 creates a first of its kind Children’s Mental Health System
- $1.2 million for home and community-based children’s mental health services to eliminate the waiting list that currently exists
- Established a children’s mental health hotline
- Increased reimbursement for Assertive Community Treatment to treat individuals facing a mental health crisis in their own homes and communities
- Increased funding for the State’s mental health institutions for additional staff
Child Welfare
- Nearly $6 million for additional staff to ensure the safety of Iowa’s children
Flood Recovery
- $15 million for flood recovery efforts.
- $10 million for the workforce housing tax credit
Ag Protection
- SF 519 protects Iowa farmers from safety threats or biosecurity risks that untrained people on their property may cause
Judicial Nominating
- We reformed our judicial nominating system to give Iowans a greater voice in the process
Property Tax Reform
- SF 634 provides taxpayers with more transparency and information about how property taxes are collected at the local level
Rural Iowa
- HF 772, The Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative. This initiative serves as a connector to existing programs and resources which provide our communities with a roadmap for continued success
- $25 million for the workforce housing tax credit
- $5 million for broadband connectivity
