It was another busy debate-filled week in the Senate (last week), and notably, amidst the more than 30 bills that we passed out of the chamber, there was a commo theme to these pieces of legislation: putting Iowans first. From making it harder to raise taxes, to keeping Iowa doctors in Iowa, to protecting Iowans’ votes, it was evident that prioritizing the people of Iowa was on the agenda for the week. I want to use this week’s newsletter to highlight three bills that embraced this theme wholeheartedly.
Protecting Iowans on Tax Day: SJR 11
This week, Tuesday, April 15, was the due date for federal income taxes, otherwise known as “Tax Day.” On this day, Senate Republicans passed a constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 11, to protect Iowa taxpayers. Specifically, SJR 11 requires a 2/3 majority vote in order to raise the income tax in Iowa or create a new tax, making it more difficult to raise Iowans’ taxes. As a side note, constitutional amendments are slightly different from the bills that we normally pass out of the Senate. Constitutional amendments must pass two consecutive General Assemblies before going to Iowans for a vote. Tuesday was the second time this legislation passed the Senate. This means that if it passes the House of Representatives, you will be seeing the proposal on the ballot in the fall of 2026.
It is common sense to make it harder to raise taxes on Iowans, and it is common sense to make taking money from Iowans and their families more difficult. However, I can’t express this sentiment better than my colleague, Senator Rocky De Witt, who was the floor manager for the bill. In his closing comments, he said, “The Iowa state constitution does not belong to this chamber, it doesn’t belong to the House, it doesn’t belong to the governor, it doesn’t even belong to the State of Iowa. It belongs to the people of this state. It belongs to the citizens of this state, and they have entrusted us to protect that Constitution. Why? It is a barrier between the citizens and government. It’s not a guardrail, not a little lowly speed bump, it’s a barrier that guarantees those folks that voted us in their freedoms, and freedom from excessive taxation is real.” I was proud to vote yes on SJR 11.
Keeping Iowans in Iowa: HF 516
It has been an ongoing challenge to staff the health care workforce across rural Iowa. The importance of keeping Iowa’s future doctors in Iowa cannot be overstated, and that is ultimately why the Senate passed House File 516 earlier this week. HF 516 establishes a minimum threshold of 80% of accepted students into the medical and dentistry programs at the University of Iowa and the residency and fellowships at the UIHC are residents of Iowa. This bill also targets the rural health care crisis by providing the opportunity for primary care residencies to participate in a rural rotation. This bill ensures priority is given to the next generation of Iowans and focuses taxpayer-supported institutions on the changing needs of our state.
Ensuring Confidence in Our Elections: HF 928
Elections are critical components of a republic, which means that the integrity and security of our elections are paramount in making sure the American republic is truly “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Even more, not only do elections need to be safe and secure, recounts of elections must be, too. After all, recounts ensure the actual result of voters’ choices are reflected. This week, the Senate took steps to establish these protections through the passage of House File 928. HF 928 establishes thresholds for the total vote margin that warrants a recount, how a recount can be requested, and who oversees the process of a recount to ensure accuracy