An effort led by Gov. Kim Reynolds to trim the size of the state’s government has advanced out of the House State Government Committee. Currently, the governor’s cabinet consists of 37 department heads. Reynolds hopes to cut that number by more than half to 15 by combining redundant agencies and identifying potential efficiencies. District 6 Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig is leading that legislation in the upper chamber and discussed it briefly during last week’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forum. Schultz says SSB 1123, more commonly referred to as the Government Alignment Bill, makes more sense than a 1,600-page bill should.
Schultz says he is confident that three of those five issues will be easily solved, but the remaining two pose more of a challenge. SSB 1123 would consolidate many aspects of the state’s correctional system and programs. He says there are valid concerns this would impact local control concerning community-based sentences.
Schultz says the other major issue is the Iowa Child Advocacy Board (ICAB). Currently, that board falls under the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), but the bill would shift them to Health and Human Services (HHS).
Gov. Reynolds issued a statement following Thursday’s House State Government Committee approval. She says, “State government should be efficient and effective to best serve the needs of Iowans. Right now, we have a state government that is difficult to navigate and bloated—hindering Iowans’ and our state’s growth. This legislation will streamline services, create a clearer path to new opportunities, and save hundreds of millions of dollars for taxpayers. I look forward to seeing this bill pass both chambers soon.”
