Week #11 ended with movement on one of the main issues of session, the Area Education Agencies (AEA) bill. One of the major priorities of the Governor, the AEA bill in different forms has passed the Senate once and now the House twice. On Monday, the Senate amended HF 2612, and sent it back to the House with a strike-after amendment. On Thursday, the House amended the Senate amendment by striking the entire amendment and adding new language. The bill, as amended, passed by a vote of 51-43, and now goes back to the Senate for further consideration.
In addition to the AEA changes, the new amendment proposes minimum teacher salaries starting in 2024 of $47,500 for a first-year teacher and $60,000 for a teacher with 12 years of experience. For 2025, the minimum salary increases to $50,000 for a first-year teacher and $62,000 for a teacher with 12 years of experience. The bill appropriates $14 million to education support staff, including paraeducators, and includes a 2.5% for the state supplemental aid (SSA) rate for Iowa schools. The House had previously passed a 3% SSA. Resolution of these issues will signify a huge movement forward for completion of the 2024 legislative session.
SJR 2004 moved out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee this week. It proposes to amend the Constitution to provide for a single individual income tax rate. It prohibits imposition of a tax on a graduated rate. “There shall not be more than one income tax rate above zero imposed by the state for state purposes on an individual at any one time.” As reported two weeks ago, SJR 2003 also proposes to amend the Constitution to require a single rate, but also requires a 2/3 majority legislative vote to raise taxes in the future. HJR 2006, is the House version of SJR 2003.
Next week, we expect both the House and Senate to focus on the state budget and the appropriations process. The Senate filed several proposed Governor appropriations bills this week.
Joint House and Senate Rule 20 governs which bills are eligible for consideration for the remainder of the legislative session. Starting Week 12, the following bills are eligible:
While many lawmakers hold forums in their districts year-round, it’s especially important for them to hear from constituents when they’re making decisions during the legislative session. The events listed below are opportunities to get involved. You can also find these events on BrownWinick’s Iowa Political Events page.
|
Date |
Time |
Title |
Location |
|
3/23/24 |
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
Eldridge Legislative forum |
Tasty Cafe (209 East Le Claire Road, Eldridge, IA 52748) |
|
3/23/24 |
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM |
Rock Rapids Legislative Forum |
Forster Community Center (404 1st Avenue, Rock Rapids, IA 51246) |
|
3/23/24 |
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM |
Oskaloosa Coffee & Conversation |
Smokey Row Coffee (109 South Market Street, Oskaloosa, IA 52577) |
|
3/23/24 |
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM |
Fort Dodge Eggs & Issues Legislative Forum |
Iowa Central Community College - Triton Cafe (One Triton Circle, Fort Dodge, IA 50501) |
|
3/23/24 |
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
Camanche Legislative Coffee |
City of Camanche City Hall (818 7th Avenue, Camanche, IA 52730) |
|
3/23/24 |
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM |
Okoboji Legislative Forum |
Tweeter's Bar & Grill (1027 US-Highway 71, Okoboji, IA 51355) |
|
3/23/24 |
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM |
Spencer Eggs & Issues Legislative Forum |
Spencer City Hall - Council Chambers (101 West 5th Street, Spencer, IA 51301) |
|
3/23/24 |
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
Orient Legislative Forum |
The Dugout Cafe (101 1st Street, Orient, IA 50858) |
|
3/23/24 |
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
Logan Legislative Coffee |
Logan Community Center (108 West 4th Street, Logan, IA 51546) |
|
3/23/24 |
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
Bellevue Legislative Forum |
Bellevue City Hall (106 North Third Street, Bellevue, IA 52031) |
|
3/23/24 |
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
Carroll Legislative Forum |
New Hope (1211 East 18th Street, Carroll, IA 51401) |
|
3/23/24 |
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Webster City Legislative Forum |
Iowa Central Community College (1725 Beach Street, Webster City, IA 50595) |
|
3/23/24 |
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
DeWitt Legislative Coffee |
DeWitt Community Center (512 10th Street, DeWitt, IA 52742) |
|
3/25/24 |
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
Manchester Town Hall with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley |
Manchester County Courthouse (301 East Main Street, Manchester, IA 52057) |
|
3/25/24 |
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
Des Moines Office Hours with Rep. Baeth |
Lua Brewing (1525 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50309) |
|
3/26/24 |
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
Van Horne Town Meeting with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley |
Van Horne Community Center (508 First Avenue, Van Horne, IA 52346) |
|
3/27/24 |
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM |
Montezuma Town Meeting with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley |
Poweshiek County Courthouse (302 East Main Street, Montezuma, IA 50171) |
|
3/29/24 |
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM |
Ankeny Legislative Office Hours |
Main Street Cafe (2510 SW White Birch Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023) |
|
3/29/24 |
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM |
Marshalltown Listening Post |
Iowa Veterans Home (1301 Summit Street, Marshalltown, IA 50158) |
|
3/30/24 |
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM |
Windsor Heights Talk with Officials Forum |
Iowa Realty Office - Aisha R. Syed Board Room (2830 100th Street, Suite 110, Urbandale, IA 50322) and virtual via Zoom |
|
3/30/24 |
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Marion Coffee & Conversations |
Marion Public Library (1101 6th Avenue, Marion, IA 52302) |
|
3/30/24 |
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
Iowa City Legislative Forum |
Iowa City Senior Center - Assembly Room (28 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240), live streamed & recorded on the LWVJC Facebook page and City Channel 4 |
|
3/30/24 |
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Bettendorf Legislative Forum |
Eastern Iowa Community College (500 Belmont Road, Bettendorf, IA 52722) |
|
3/30/24 |
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
Urbandale Talk with Officials Forum |
Urbandale Chamber of Commerce Office (2830 100th Street, Suite 110, Urbandale, IA 50322) and virtual via Zoom |
***
|
January |
February |
March |
April |
|
1/8: First day of session 1/19: Final day for Senator and Representative bill requests |
2/16: First legislative funnel |
3/15: Second legislative funnel |
4/16: 100th calendar day of session (per diem expenses end) |
March 20, 2024: The Community Providers Pack the Statehouse. On Wednesday, hundreds of community provider advocates packed the main staircase for a picture at the Iowa Association of Community Providers Day on the Hill, including Governor Reynolds!!