Latest news with #LynnEvans
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Sen. Lynn Evans launches exploratory committee as he considers run for Congress
Iowa Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, has launched an exploratory committee as he considers a run for Congress in Iowa's 4th District. Evans, who is the chair of the Senate Education Committee, announced in a news release Saturday, May 17, he's considering a campaign for the state's most conservative district. Evans is serving his first term in the Iowa Senate representing District 3, which includes Buena Vista, Osceola, and O'Brien and portions of Cherokee and Clay counties. 'After prayerful consideration and thoughtful conversations with family and constituents, I'm launching this exploratory committee to assess a run for Congress,' Evans said in a statement. 'Iowans deserve true conservative representation—someone who understands rural values, works hard, and puts people ahead of politics.' The seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who has filed paperwork and formed an exploratory committee to run for Iowa governor in 2026. Feenstra is in his third term representing Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Evans, who works as adjunct professor at Buena Vista University, asserted that one of the reasons he is considering a run for Congress is because Washington is 'out of touch' with Iowans. 'I'm exploring this race because I believe in common-sense, conservative solutions—and I know how to bring people together to get things done,' Evans said in the statement. Democrat Ryan Melton also has announced his campaign for the seat. José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@ or follow him on X @mendiola_news. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Sen. Lynn Evans explores run for 4th Congressional District
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa lawmakers change ‘bullying' definition for schools
DES MOINES, Iowa — What Iowa Republicans are calling a 'cleanup' to Iowa code is now eligible to be signed into law. 'Every child, not just because they match up some certain traits that we decided, the laundry list a number of years ago in Iowa code,' said State Senator Lynn Evans (R), District 3 from Aurelia. 'The bill before us cleans up Iowa code and makes it very clear.' The bill changes Iowa code 280.28 subsection 2 to define 'bullying' and 'harassment' to 'shall be construed to mean any repeated and targeted electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student that creates an objectively hostile school environment.' It removes the language 'which is based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student'. The bill also strikes out the 17 traits in the 'perceived trait or characteristic definition'. That definition reads 'includes but is not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party reference, political belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status.' Iowa bill requiring districts share immunization exemption information with families sent to governor Senate Republicans argued that by removing the traits listed in Iowa code, the definition of bullying is expanded. Several senators on the floor said that school districts have asked for that change. Senate Democrats warned of the opposite, that by removing these traits it will make it more difficult for reporting bullying against a targeted group. 'It helps students, it helps schools, it helps families be able to identify what counts as bullying, but it also helps us to track what kind of bullying is happening in our schools,' said State Senator Sarah Trone Garriot (D), District 14, from Waukee. 'I think the real intent might be to make it harder for folks on this list to get the support they need.' Trone Garriot also pointed out that the current definition in Iowa code says that those traits on the list are not limited to that list, when Senate Republicans said this makes it easier to report bullying. The bill is now sent off to Governor Reynolds to be signed into law. Iowa News: Iowa lawmakers change 'bullying' definition for schools Iowa bill requiring districts share immunization exemption information with families sent to governor Forecast: Rain chances round out the week; beautiful weekend The countdown is on: 100 days until the 2025 Iowa State Fair; see what's new Iowans share stories to help others on National Fentanyl Awareness Day Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa House sends school funding bill to Gov. Kim Reynolds
Iowa K-12 schools will receive a 2% per-pupil increase in state aid as part of a funding package approved Tuesday. (Photo by) The Iowa House on Tuesday passed the state K-12 school funding package for the 2025-2026 school year and sent it to the governor's desk. Senate File 167, passed 59-36, sets the State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate at 2%, increasing the per-pupil funding for K-12 students by $157 from the current year. The amended bill also includes a proposed $5 bump to the State Cost Per Pupil (SCPP) to address disparities in some school districts with the District Cost Per Pupil (DCPP), and a 5% increase to the rate of funding per pupil to the transportation equity fund. Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, said during Senate debate Monday that the bill will provide 'responsible and sustainable funding' for Iowa schools, with the package providing $238.1 million in increased funding for Iowa's K-12 education system from the previous year — when including funding for public K-12 schools, charter schools and the state's Education Savings Account program — as a part of a total $4.2 billion in K-12 education spending. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The House approval comes after lengthy negotiations between the Republicans in the two chambers over education spending. Senate Republicans initially proposed a 2% SSA rate with no additional funding components, in line with Gov. Kim Reynolds' recommendation at the beginning of the 2025 legislative session. But House Republicans proposed a slightly higher 2.25% SSA rate, alongside other funding components — some of which made it into the final bill with some changes. The House GOP proposal included a $10 SCPP raise and an unlimited appropriation for transportation equity aid payment to address existing inequities, components that were altered but included in the Senate amendment. Other funding aspects, like a $22.6 million one-time appropriation to supplement school funding in fiscal year 2026, were not included. House Democrats criticized Republicans, who control both chambers, for not reaching an agreement on school funding earlier. Lawmakers have a self-imposed deadline to pass school funding for the next year within 30 days of the governor's budget being released. That deadline passed in February — and school districts' deadlines to release a budget proposal for the upcoming year passed in March. Rep. Larry McBurney, D-Urbandale, said the 2% SSA rate will not provide adequate funding to Iowa schools, and will lead to property tax increases in many Iowa communities. Under the proposal, Democrats said 159 Iowa school districts will be on the budget guarantee, a process increasing property taxes that is triggered when school districts' funding obligations cannot be met by SSA. McBurney said House Republicans 'ultimately caved' to the Senate's lower school funding proposal, and called for his GOP colleagues in the House to not support the amended bill. 'If we're going to do it, let's do it right,' McBurney said. 'Heck, you guys have already missed the timeline by two months. What's another few weeks to get it right for our public schools?' Rep. Dan Gehlbach, R-Urbandale, the bill's floor manager, pushed back against Democrats' criticisms, saying 'House Republicans didn't just accept the first offer on the table, we fought for more.' 'This plan isn't everything we initially voted on, but it's a hard-fought victory that moves us forward, and I'm proud of the work our leadership did to get this across the finish line,' Gehlbach said. Gehlbach also said there will be more school funding discussions in the future, saying he hopes to run a measure in 2025 that would provide a $14 million standing appropriation for paying paraeducators in Iowa's K-12 school system. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Senate approves 2% increase in school funding, other funding provisions
DES MOINES, Iowa — Two months after the governor released her proposal for next year's public school funding, it appears there is an agreement between the republican trifecta. The Iowa Senate advanced the bill by a vote of 32 to 15, along party lines. The bill calls for an increase of 2% in per-pupil funding, a total increase of $157 per student. It also includes an increase in per-pupil equity by $5, $2.9 million overall, increasing school transportation equity by $1 million, and increases operational sharing budget from 21 to 25 pupils. The increase is north of $240 million compared to last fiscal year. This amendment was portions of the Senate Republican original plan mixed with House Republican proposals. 'Republicans have increased funding to public schools and K-12 students, every year since 2017, and every year we have kept that promise,' said State Senator Lynn Evans (R), District 3 from Aurelia. 1 dog killed in Ankeny house fire Monday Senate Democrats said that the state is behind in hundreds of millions of dollars since 2017 to keep public school funding up with the rates of inflation. 'Too little too late,' said State Senator Herman Quirmbach (D), District 25 from Ames. 'There a lot of different ways to measure how short this bill falls, $440 million short of keeping up with inflation.' A lot of Senate Democrats also listed school districts cutting jobs in their districts, arguing that this budget proposal will increase these cuts. 'Marion Independent School District's budget cuts have forced a reduction of three sections of elementary school. That means larger class sizes, fewer resources and less individual attention for the youngest learners,' said State Senator Molly Donahue (D), District 37 from Cedar Rapids. 'In Cedar Rapids they are facing even more drastic cuts … approximately 25 administrative staff, 60 teachers and 20 paraeducators.' April 15 is the deadline for public school districts to certify Fiscal Year 2026 budget, with an April 30 deadline to file the budget with the Iowa Department of Education. The Iowa House is scheduled to debate this bill which looks to be an agreement between the majority party. Iowa News: Iowa Senate approves 2% increase in school funding, other funding provisions Madison County Auditor takes legal action against Board of Supervisors Cooper DeJean, teammates to compete in charity softball game at Principal Park WHO 13 Farm Report: Monday, April 7th Scholastic Spotlight: Atomic Narwhals and a Coca-Cola Scholar Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Senate passes 2% per-pupil increase for K-12 public schools
Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, spoke April 7, 2025 as the floor manager for the legislation setting Iowa's State Supplemental Aid rate for the upcoming school year. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa K-12 public schools would receive a 2% increase in state per-pupil funding next year under legislation the Iowa Senate approved Monday on 32-15 vote. Senate File 167 sets the State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate for the upcoming fiscal year. SSA is the growth rate for public K-12 school funding, allocated to schools on a per-pupil basis. The Senate, and Gov. Kim Reynolds, had put forward the 2% SSA rate. But in February, the Iowa House returned the legislation to the Senate after increasing the SSA rate from 2% to 2.25%. The House amendment also added other funding components like a $10 increase to the state cost per pupil, changes to transportation equity aid payment and weighting for school districts with shared operational costs, as well as a one-time allocation of $22.6 million to help school districts with rising costs and the impacts of inflation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Since the House vote Feb. 18, the measure did not seen public discussion again before Monday, April 7. Lawmakers had already failed to meet their self-imposed deadline to pass school funding within 30 days of the governor's budget release, in addition to failing to pass the measure before school districts' budget proposals were due in early March. However, there are still a few weeks before the school districts' final budgets must be submitted to the state by April 30. House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters in several news conferences that House Republicans were committed to providing some additional funding supports for Iowa K-12 schools, components that were part of the hold-up in passing this year's SSA rate. 'We understand that we may not get all of those things that we include in our bill, but we'd be hopeful that there'd be at least some consideration,' Grassley told reporters in late March. 'Whether it's operational sharing, whether it's some one-time, inflationary factors — we continue to be hopeful that at some point in time enough Iowans engaging in this conversation will at least put some of those things on the table.' The gridlock ended Monday as Senate Republicans returned with an amendment that set the SSA rate at 2%, but included some components of the House amendment. The $22.6 million appropriation was removed, and the proposed raise to the state cost per pupil was lowered from $10 to $5. While the House language gave a standing unlimited appropriation for transportation equity aid payment beginning in fiscal year 2026 to make sure the statewide adjusted transportation cost per pupil was not lower than the statewide average cost, the Senate language set a 5% rate for payments to the transportation equity fund per pupil. Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, said that with the amendment, the spending package represents a $238.1 million increase for K-12 schools compared to FY 2025. Of that increase, $126.8 million will go to public schools, $96.8 million to the state's Education Savings Account (ESA) program, providing public funds for private school costs, and $14.5 million for charter schools. Evans said that the proposal provides 'responsible and sustainable funding for local school districts.' He emphasized that Republicans have steadily increased school funding in Iowa, and that K-12 spending will make up 44.7% of the state's budget in FY 2026 at $4.2 billion. 'This bill makes a promise to local school districts that can be kept,' Evans said. During debate on the SSA rate, Democrats have repeatedly called for their GOP colleagues — who control both chambers — to set a higher rate in 2025. The minority party argued that the 2% rate will put more than 150 Iowa school districts on the budget guarantee process, which will trigger property tax increases to meet funding obligations that the SSA rate does not cover. Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said Republicans' SSA proposal was 'shameful' and that the proposal will result in either higher property taxes or school staff cuts. 'This is really personal to me,' Trone Garriott said. 'My kids go to one of these schools where we are going to see cuts. My school is on this list. Property taxes are going to have to go up just to scrape by. Meanwhile, parents like me get to see up close and personal, the people who are going to lose their job, the great teachers that are going to go elsewhere, the programs that are getting cut, the class sizes that are getting larger, the opportunities that are getting missed because this body and the state Legislature won't invest in the majority of Iowa's kids through our public schools.' Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, criticized the measure as a part of legislative Republicans' and Reynolds' larger budgeting strategy which she said prioritizes private school students through the Education Savings Account (ESA) program over the majority of Iowa students who attend public K-12 schools. The ESA program, which provides students with public funds equal to the SSA per-pupil funding rate for private school tuition and associated costs, will be open to all Iowa students with no family income limits beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Petersen said the governor's five-year projections for the state's finances show repeated dips into the state's Taxpayer Relief Fund that she said directly align with spending on the ESA program, championed by Reynolds in 2023. 'When you look at this budget … 92% of our school-age children that go to public schools are going to get an measly increase, because you have invested millions and millions of dollars for very small number of families to receive private school vouchers and corporate tax cuts,' Petersen said. 'There is still time to address that, where we could put millions more into our public school districts instead of handing them over to wealthy families who are already sending their kids to private schools, I would encourage a no vote on this legislation. It is not enough.' Evans said the amended bill is an increased investment in Iowa's K-12 system, and also represents a focus on keeping educational funding with K-12 students rather than with school districts. 'We believe it's important to be honest with our school districts about the state's finances and not overpromise,' Evans said. 'This bill continues our focus of funding students over systems. This proposal continues to demonstrate our commitment to education, dedicated funding to help students in the educational setting that is best for them and will prepare them for future success.' The legislation returns to the Iowa House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
