Another exciting and busy week at the Capitol has come and gone, and the approach of our second legislative deadline for this year’s session is right around the corner. During the eighth week, our attention was primarily on debate and consideration of the bills that have been sent to us from the House of Representatives.
Agriculture in the Senate
This week, the Senate took a significant step to bolster Iowa’s agricultural sector by passing a bill aimed at safeguarding the interests of the state’s livestock farmers. Senate File 2391 has been introduced to ensure food products derived from cell-cultivated proteins, plants, or insects are not mislabeled as traditional meats such as beef, chicken, goat, pork, lamb, sheep, or turkey. This legislative action emphasizes Iowa’s prominence as the leading producer of pork, corn, and eggs in the nation, along with being the second-highest producer of soybeans. The passage of this bill represents a crucial measure to support Iowa’s farmers by protecting the integrity of their work from lab-created food products pretending to be real meat.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of cell-cultivated protein due to the early stage of research in this area. By requiring these products to be marketed with honesty, the bill aims to prevent any confusion with the high-quality meats that local farmers across Iowa are known for, thereby ensuring that these new types of proteins are presented to consumers with clarity and integrity. I am proud to say that the bill passed unanimously.
SF 2324
This week, the Senate approved SF 2324, aiming to protect opportunities for future generations. The legislation bars the state government from competing with farmers in land purchases at auction. While landowners retain the right to sell their property to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) if desired, the bill prohibits the state government from participating in land auctions and using farmers’ tax contributions to bid against them for property acquisition. I am in support of this bill as it gives our sons and daughters the opportunity to continue their family legacy in farming, Iowa’s biggest economic driver.
Filed for Re-election
I am thrilled to share the news that I have officially submitted my signatures and filed for re-election to represent Senate District 46. My journey in the Iowa Senate began with a clear purpose: to champion the causes of our hard-working farmers. As their advocate, we have successfully enacted important legislation, including the recent passage of SF 2391 as I mentioned above. I extend my deepest gratitude to my family, whose support has been such an important part of my tenure, and their support remains as I embark on another re-election campaign. My heartfelt thanks also go out to the people in District 46, whose trust has granted me the honor and responsibility of serving in this capacity. Our mission together is far from over, and I am eager to continue our advocacy and make further strides for our community at the Iowa Capitol.
Day in the District
Our recent visit within District 46 was a day filled with engaging conversations across various sectors, highlighting our communities. The day started with an enlightening visit to Guidelink, a center dedicated to providing urgent mental health and substance use care in a welcoming environment. It is designed to offer immediate, onsite assessment and stabilization for individuals over 18 without the need for hospitalization. The progress and impact of Guidelink’s work in addressing mental health crises are truly commendable, showcasing their significant contributions to our community’s well-being.
Following the visit to Guidelink, the focus shifted to discussions with the Farmers Electric Cooperative and T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative regarding the contentious issue of the Right of First Refusal, or SF 2372. These meetings were spurred by feedback from constituents, prompting a need to delve deeper into the concerns with local power companies and discussing how we can ensure affordable utility costs for consumers.
I would like to thank everyone at GuideLink, Farmers Electric Cooperative, and T.I.P Rural Electric Cooperative for taking the time out of their busy schedules to meet with me and discuss these important issues.
It’s an honor to serve as the voice Senate District 46 and advocate for our community. As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Senator Driscoll serves as the chair of the Agriculture Committee, and also serve on the Local Government, Natural Resources and Environment, State Government, Ways and Means, and Workforce committees.