I have been seeing information about a bill before our Iowa legislators that suggests that the Bible, a collection of literature unique to one religious practice, could be taught in our public schools. The implication is not written but seems obvious: the Bible should be taught in public schools. more

This week I am excited to share with you progress on three important topics many of you have been asking me about: access to healthcare, help for veterans, and addressing mental health needs.  These three important topics are a high priority for me. more

The Iowa Senate passed a few bills on the floor last week. One of them was Senate File 278. This bill supports students on robotics teams by providing more resources and technical assistance to school districts starting student organizations related to robotics. This allows them to access federal funding for their teams. Senate File 278 is another great step in ensuring Iowa students are given every opportunity to pursue their passion in the classroom. Programs, such as robotics teams, give students real-world knowledge and skills that are needed in the workplace. Senate Republicans are proud to support our students interested in robotics and we look forward to the success they will have in the future. more

A few weeks ago, in her Condition of the State address, Iowa’s governor told us how she was going to Illinois this spring to convince businesses to come to Iowa. more

Fiscal Year 2025 has not been the best for state casino wagering tax receipts, as the first six months have produced flat or declining revenue.  But with the change in the calendar, maybe things have turned for the better as the state has the first month of solid gaming tax revenue growth this fiscal year. more

I have been enjoying my interaction with all of you at my Listening Posts. With the exception of the usual handful of people trying to make the meetings a political event and bringing negativity into the room, I am continuing with a full schedule and will have at least eight more across the district. more

The Public Safety Committee continued to stay busy last week. So far we have moved nine bills to out of committee. I have greatly enjoyed this new role as committee chairman, and appreciate our committee members, all focused on what matters to Iowans. more

Just like home mortgages, payments on bonds issued by the state seem to go on forever. While the state of Iowa has a significantly lower amount of outstanding bond debt when compared to other states, the cost of these bonds still has a big impact on what can be done to address state infrastructure needs of today and tomorrow. more

Last week was also National School Choice Week, providing an opportunity to recognize Iowa’s progress in expanding educational options for families. Since the passage of the Students First Act in 2022, there has been large interest in school choice initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance academic outcomes across all educational settings—public, private, and charter schools—ensuring families have access to the best learning environment for their children. more

Session is in full gear and many of the major pieces of legislation you may be hearing about are in their formulation and public input stage.  As bills begin to have clarity, I will write about those topics in future columns.  For this week, I will give you some highlights of bills that have passed a subcommittee and are up for consideration.  more

Stubbornly high prices for heavy equipment, supplies, and technology continue to impact the budget of the Department of Transportation.  This was the Department’s message as it presented its Fiscal Year 2026 spending proposal to the House Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals budget subcommittee Jan. 27. more

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, the state’s largest grassroots farm organization, will address key priorities including the modernization of the state’s Grain Indemnity Fund, protecting property taxpayers and other important policies impacting Iowa’s farmers and rural communities during the 2025 legislative session. more

Iowa Capital Dispatch this month marked the fifth anniversary of its launch on Jan. 7, 2020. more

In this year’s tax bill I do intend to pursue the option for counties (including Scott County) that have already declared Emergency Medical Service as an essential service, as well as any new counties who have not yet done so, to have access to a higher levy rate and new money.  I want to be clear: Cedar County voters would still have to vote and adopt this option.  The difference is that counties who already have voted and are adopting the EMS infrastructure would not have to start that process from scratch. more

Last week, I chaired the subcommittee on Senate File 49, which relates to bots and the purchase of event tickets on the internet. These bots ruin the chances of people obtaining tickets by flooding websites selling tickets, clogging up the servers, and taking all of the tickets. These tickets are then usually re-sold with a huge price markup. Senate File 49 works to prohibit the use and creation of bots to purchase more than the posted limit for any ticket sale, or circumvent any queue or waiting period to purchase tickets. The bill will be discussed in the Technology Committee, and if approved will be sent to the floor for debate. more

The House Public Safety Committee has started the year fast with multiple subcommittees on various issues. Below are a few of the bills discussed. more

We have been hard at work in each of our committees. In our Natural Resources Committee, five bills were assigned to various Representatives this week. House File 65, a bill relating to deer depredation, was assigned to Reps. Collins, Sexton, and Kurth. more

Several years ago, I started taking more of an interest in my local community and how we could make it better. My husband, Frank, and I are the proud parents of four incredible children, and we wanted to make sure they had the best education, the resources they needed to succeed, and a community where they could grow and thrive. Wanting the best for my kids, and for families across Iowa, is why I decided to run for Iowa Senate. more

Sometimes in life an event occurs that causes someone to say, “enough is enough.”  In my case, there have been legislative attacks on the people I’ve served in public education for the past 40 years as a teacher, coach, bus driver, maintenance worker, administrator and board member. more

January 2025 marks Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a crucial time to shine a light on the ongoing issues of exploitation and trafficking, particularly in Iowa. Disturbingly, the average age of individuals affected by sex trafficking is just 15 years old, with a staggering 89% of victims being female. This reality calls for urgent action and support for survivors. more