Barring any unexpected delays, local legislators anticipate the 2023 legislative session will likely finish on schedule or potentially earlier. District 11 Representative Brian Best of Glidden says the Iowa House and Senate have already hit their major targets for the year.
Best, who is now in his fifth term in office, adds that this has only happened a handful of times during his time as a representative. Best has championed the passage of a hands-free driving bill for several years, and he was hopeful this would be the session it passed.
District 6 Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig says property tax reform is one bill they hope to get across the finish line yet this year. The Senate version of the bill was largely bipartisan, and Schultz says the system is long overdue for change.
The two chambers still need to find an agreement between their respective versions, and it is not clear how quickly that may happen. While the session is likely ending soon, that does not reflect how busy the session was with significant bills. From implementing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for private school students and open season on overpopulated raccoons to outlawing gender transition procedures for children and consolidating state government to about half as many agencies, legislators have been working at a rapid pace all session long. Schultz says welfare reform was one bill he was pleased to see make it through.
Saturday’s event marked the last of the scheduled Carroll Chamber of Commerce and Carroll County Growth Partnership’s Legislative Forums. Full audio from the forum is included below.
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FULL FORUM AUDIO:
