Latest news with #SenateFile167
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs 25 bills, including fireworks and school funding measures
Gov. Kim Reynolds, shown here delivering the Condition of the State message on Jan. 14, 2025, signed bills including school funding, fireworks rules and lawsuit protections in First Amendment cases. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Gov. Kim Reynolds signed 25 bills into law Monday, including measures related to fireworks, school funding and First Amendment rights. The slate of bills signed is the first action on legislation Reynolds has taken since the 2025 legislative session adjourned Thursday. However, these are not the first bills she has signed this year — the governor has already signed into law several measures, including high-profile laws like the ban on using cellphones while driving outside of handsfree or voice-activated modes, and the removal of gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. There are still many other measures awaiting Reynolds' signature that passed this session. The governor has until June 14 — 30 days from the end of session — to sign bills passed this year into law. Measures she does not sign during this period are considered a 'pocket veto' and do not become law. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Here are some of the bills Reynolds signed Monday: Iowa lawmakers sent Reynolds Senate File 167, the State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate for the 2025-2026 school year, in April. The legislation came to the governor much later than in many previous years — the Legislature has a self-imposed deadline to pass the SSA rate for the upcoming school year within 30 days of the governor's budget being released in January, though there is no penalty for failing to meet this target. This year, House and Senate Republicans reached an agreement setting the SSA rate for the upcoming school year at 2%, an increase of $157 per K-12 student for the per-pupil funding mechanism for Iowa schools. The bill also included some funding components for Iowa schools that Republicans said will help address inequities with rural school district funding, including a $5 bump to the State Cost Per Pupil (SCPP) and a 5% increase to the rate of funding per pupil to the transportation equity fund. Democrats said the 2% rate will not provide enough funding for schools, saying that 159 Iowa school districts will be on the budget guarantee for the upcoming school year — a process that increases local property taxes when school districts' funding needs are not met by state aid. The governor also signed House File 472 into law, a measure targeting 'strategic lawsuits against public participation,' also known as SLAPP lawsuits. SLAPP cases are civil lawsuits filed by businesses, individuals or organizations against news organizations and activists that are typically a means to try to silence these entities from publishing stories or making public statements about a specific topic. The lawsuits are not filed necessarily with the intention to win in court, but as a means to draw down time and money from the people being sued to prevent them from continuing to report or talk about a subject. The law is a way to provide protections for defendants in these cases by giving courts the ability to grant expedited relief in cases involving First Amendment rights, like the freedoms of speech and press. This is a bill that has come up in multiple previous legislative sessions, but did not receive Senate approval until this year. Discussions in Iowa started on SLAPP lawsuits after a 2018 case in which a Carroll police officer sued the Carroll Times Herald when the newspaper reported he had sexual relationships with teenagers — information the officer confirmed was true. The judge had dismissed the lawsuit, but the Carroll Times Herald accrued more than $100,000 in legal fees, nearly putting the paper out of business. Senate File 303 prevents Iowa cities and counties from prohibiting or limiting the use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31. Iowans must still follow state laws regulating the use of fireworks, like a ban on fireworks sales to minors or the use of 'display' fireworks without local permission, during these three days. However, other further restrictions could not be set by local jurisdictions. Several cities in Iowa, like Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City, have more restrictions or total bans on the use of fireworks that would no longer be enforceable on these three days. Local rules could still be enforced during other periods when fireworks are permitted for legal use by the state — from June 1 through July 8 and Dec. 10 through Jan. 3 of each year. During floor debate on the bill, Republican lawmakers supporting the measure said this change was necessary to allow Iowans to fully participate in the the country's 250th anniversary, referring to President Donald Trump's idea to begin celebrations at the Iowa State Fair for the 'Great American State Fair' from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2% proposed increase for Iowa public schools proceeds
A plan to pay for public schools in Iowa has been approved in the House. The measure, Senate File 167, would allow K-12 public schools to receive a 2% increase in State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate, the growth rate for public school funding, allocated to schools on a per-student basis. The increase is $157 for every student and a total $240 million increase. The increase in per-pupil equity translates to $2.9 million. There would also be a $1 million increase in transportation equity. The bill is now headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds's desk. For more information, click here. 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 Senate passes 2% per-student increase for public schools
Iowa senators passed a state supplemental aid package by a 32-15 vote. The measure, Senate File 167, would allow K-12 public schools to receive a 2% increase in State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate, the growth rate for public school funding, allocated to schools on a per-student basis. The increase is $157 for every student and a total $240 million increase. The increase in per-pupil equity translates to $2.9 million. There would also be a $1 million increase in transportation equity. The House adopted an increase of 2.25%. Senate Republicans say it's a responsible move, but Democrats say it would force school districts to make deeper cuts. The House debates the bill April 8. If passed, it will head to Gov. Kim Reynolds's desk. For more information, click here. 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
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa House passes public school funding with 2.25% per-pupil spending increase
Rep. Dan Gehlbach, R-Urbandale, spoke on funding Iowa's public K-12 schools on the House floor Feb. 13, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday with a 2.25% per-pupil funding increase alongside other funding changes for Iowa's public K-12 schools. The move sends the legislation back to the Senate, which proposed a 2% rate. The House voted 58-35 to pass an amended version of Senate File 167, reflecting the House Republicans' State Supplemental Aid proposal introduced earlier in February. It includes a 2.25% SSA rate and other funding components like increasing transportation equity payments and adding a one-time boost of $22.6 million for per-pupil costs. The Iowa Senate passed the legislation Tuesday with a 2% SSA rate that did not include the other funding components in a 29-18 vote. Rep. Dan Gehlbach, R-Urbandale, the bill's floor manager, said the measure was a 'responsible and a sustainable increase' for Iowa's public school funding. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'We believe in funding students and not systems, and this is a year-over-year increase that we continue to see,' in addition to addressing rural school districts' needs through measures like transportation equity and incentivizing operational sharing of administrative staff between school districts, Gehlbach said. Democrats and school advocates argued the House's funding proposal, though better than the Senate's, will not provide adequate funding for Iowa's public K-12 system. House lawmakers held a public hearing before voting on the measure Thursday. While more than 900 public comments were submitted online with a vast majority opposing the legislation and calling for higher funding for Iowa's public K-12 system, only two speakers came to address members of the House Education Committee in person at the Capitol. Anne Crosse, president of the the Des Moines Education Association and Ruth Henderson, a retired teacher representing the Iowa State Education Association, both asked lawmakers at the public hearing to provide a 5% SSA increase to give schools the ability to keep up with rising costs. Crosse said many schools have outdated materials and overcrowded classes, and that a higher rate was needed to ensure students have access to quality education throughout the state. She also criticized the state's funding of the Education Savings Account program, providing public funds for private school tuition and associated costs, while not providing higher funding for public education. 'The rising cost of running our schools has not been adequately addressed,' Crosse said. 'Further, the private school voucher program in Iowa is exasperating the problem. With the state focusing on spending millions of dollars for just 40,000 students in private schools, the 480,000 students in our public schools are being shortchanged.' Henderson and others with the ISEA have called for a 'minimum' 5% SSA rate, saying higher funding of the state's public K-12 system is needed to help school districts across the state that are facing budget cuts, leading to reductions in staff and fewer resources for students from individualized attention in classrooms to extracurricular activities. 'Setting SSA lower than 5% shortchanges our students, education professionals, and communities across the state that depend on their public schools,' ISEA President Joshua Brown said in a statement. 'We implore the Iowa House to do everything they can so our public schools are best positioned to ensure our more than 480,000 students thrive.' House Democrats proposed an amendment raising the SSA rate to 5%, alongside the other funding changes proposed by House Republicans. Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, said this change was needed because Iowa public schools are in 'survival mode' due to years of lawmakers underfunding the state's public education system. 'Let's make a commitment today to support our public schools in the way we know they need, the way they have to told us they need, not just to survive, but get on a path to thriving,' Matson said. Some speakers said the 2024 law making changes to the state's Area Education Agencies has raised costs for schools, alongside other unfunded mandates proposed or enacted by state lawmakers, are adding costs to Iowa school districts while not providing resources needed for schools to implement these policies. Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport said for legislation being discussed this session requiring computer science classes for students in grades 9 through 12, and the governor's proposal on math and civics education, a 5% SSA increase is needed to make these changes 'actually achievable.' 'If school districts are mandated to make major curriculum changes, or add expensive classes like computer science, or mandated to improve scores, they must receive additional funding to make these things happen,' Kurth said. 'Funding that falls below the current prediction of inflation, which is expected to be well over 3% in the coming year, does not allow for the time and money to make these things happen.' Democrats in the Senate also proposed increasing the SSA rate to 5%. The Democrats' amendments failed in both chambers. Minority party members spoke in opposition to House Republicans' proposed 2.25% per-pupil funding rate, saying the measure will increase property taxes in many Iowa communities — an impact at odds with GOP lawmakers' stated goal of cutting property taxes this session. Matson said the House GOP funding proposal would put 146 of Iowa's public school districts on budget guarantee, meaning that needed costs will be financed through increased property taxes when supplemental state aid does not meet funding obligations. 'Six billion dollars, that is the size of Iowa's budget surplus,' Matson said. 'When I say we can do better with school funding, I mean quite literally, we have the capacity in our budget to do better. It's not a platitude, our amendment will increase school funding by $401 per student, rather than $186. Our amendment would significantly decrease the number of school districts that will need to raise local property taxes just to make ends meet.' House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters after floor debate that while Iowa school districts are all impacted by the Legislature's appropriations, he noted that organizations including the School Administrators of Iowa, Iowa Association of School Boards and Rural School Advocates of Iowa were registered in support of the House proposal — a 'strong sign' that the measure reflects the needs of Iowa school districts. 'That's why we brought this bill forward, because it fits the needs of the schools … all across different school districts in Iowa,' Grassley said. The amended legislation returns to the Senate for consideration. Grassley said that he has had conversations with members of the Senate about the House proposal about the additional funding components included in the legislation. 'I think we were in a position where we wanted to take firm action so that we could show, as a House, we supported this plan,' he said. '… I'm hopeful, as this bill now goes back to the Senate, they will take a look at what some of those other things are (on top of) the SSA.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
