Government : Hello Iowa House district 75! Week 5

Hello everyone! During week 5, a few of the highlights were the House passed the K-12 Education funding bill, and continue to work on many other bills in subcommittees and committees.

Math Remains a Tricky Subject as House Increases School Funding Once Again

Math. It's a hard subject for many students regardless of their grade level. Even after graduation, math can bedevil even the smartest amongst us. Over the last past week, Iowa Democrats have been befuddled by mathematics. Those challenges continued at the State Capitol, as House Democrats tried to convince Iowans that a $162 increase in school funding for every student next year is actually a cut.

The Iowa House debated the annual increase in supplemental state aid to schools on Tuesday, along with increases for the school transportation equity funding and per pupil funding equity. Before the House were two bills which increased state funding to Iowa schools by $108 million in the 2020-2021 school year starting in August, raising state funding to schools to $3.386 billion.

The Fiscal Year 2021 increase of $108 million means that taxpayers have invested an additional $968.1 million into Iowa schools since the start of the 2011-2012 school year, which would be a 38.54 percent increase over this period. Yet Democrats insist schools are chronically underfunded. If nearly a billion dollars over the last decade equates to chronic underfunding, what dollar amount signifies adequate funding?

In addition to seeing increased dollar amounts, Iowa's commitment to education remains steady when it comes to K-12's share of the General Fund budget. In Fiscal Year 2008, the first of four years of complete Democrat control at the Statehouse, K-12 education received 40.70 percent of the General Fund budget. In FY 2020, K-12's share was 43 percent.

Then there is the state cost per pupil, the amount the state is committed to providing for each public school student. In Fiscal Year 2012, this amount was $5,883. Under the bills passed by House Republicans this week, that figure in Fiscal Year 2021 will be $7,062 per student. That is an increase of $1,179 over the past decade - a steady increase as shown by the chart below:

State Cost Per Pupil - FY 2011 to FY 2021

House Democrats either ignore or are unaware of these figures. As usual, Iowa Democrats are trying to make Iowans believe an actual increase in funding is really a cut. Iowans know that a $162 increase in funding per student is just that - an increase. But as they've proven over the last week, Iowa Democrats struggle when it comes to math.

House Ag Panel Okays Licenses Exemption for Farm Special Registration Vehicles

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020, the Iowa House Agriculture Committee passed House Study bill 530 by a by-partisan 17-aye to 6-nay vote. The bill amends the definition of 'chauffer' in the Code to exclude a farmer or his hired help who operate a farmer owned truck tractor and are hauling the farmer's own product or property to a destination no more than 100-miles from farmland owned or operated by the farmer. Under these conditions, the individual no longer needs a chauffeur license.

The measure was amended in committee to further stipulate that this exception only applies when the farmer or his hired help is driving the farmers' trucks that are licensed plated as farm trucks/Special Farm Registrations to transport the farmer's own products or property to a destination no more than 100-miles from his farmland.

IDALS Adds 3 Field Staff to Support Water Quality Improvement Projects

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release in which Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that IDALS has hired three additional field staff to expedite the implementation of soil conservation and water quality practices across the state. ON Tuesday morning the Secretary provided a presentation to the Joint Budget Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural Resources which included this information. The Secretary told the Subcommittee that these watershed coordinators will work in the Floyd, Middle Cedar and North Raccoon River watersheds - three of the priority areas identified in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction

Strategy. They will provide technical support to local farmers, landowners and communities who choose to add conservation practices that reduce phosphorus and nitrogen losses. IDALS Secretary Naig commented--"We're engaging more farmers and landowners than ever before, and the Department is committed to supporting their efforts with local resources. These new coordinators will build upon successful projects happening in these watersheds and help accelerate the adoption of practices that benefit their communities and downstream."

More Water Quality funding provided to IDALS has allowed the Department to make staff investments to support the Water Quality Initiative (WQI) demonstration projects happening in priority watersheds. These new hires join three watershed coordinators who are currently employed by the Department.

To learn more about the state's water quality improvement efforts and read some of the success stories, visit cleanwateriowa.org.

Funding Creative Ways to Expand Internet Access

In the past having a high-speed internet connection has been considered a luxury. However, in today's world is has become a necessity - much like electricity became a necessity close to 100 years ago. One proposal House Republicans are considering to encourage internet access where it does not currently exist, is to leverage the existing asset of the Iowa Communications Network (ICN).

The ICN was created decades ago, and is a state asset, costing over $400 million, that has deployed fiber communications all around the state. In many instances, ICN assets are in underserved areas of the state. House Republicans have been exploring opening up the ICN to providers as a middle mile wholesaler.

The ICN would not be a retail provider to homes and businesses. Instead, communication providers would only have access to the ICN for the purpose of providing broadband internet in underserved areas of the state, not duplicating internet access where it already is offered. Other providers would have an opportunity to verify that ICN access was being used to deploy broadband internet in underserved areas of the state.

There is no silver bullet solution for providing all Iowans with access to the internet. Opening up the ICN is one possible tool that can be used to quickly provide internet access to underserved or unserved Iowans.

Key Facts on Education Funding

Since 2011, Republicans have increased funding by $968 million with zero cuts to education. Iowa's student to teacher ratio in has decreased and on average there is a 13.04 ratio. Iowa schools have added 3,470 new full-time teachers. Democrats falsely claim that funding hasn't kept up with the rate of inflation, however, since 2011, investment in Iowa's K-12 system has increased by 34.4%. Over that same time, inflation has increased by just 13.5%. This year, Iowa schools will see a $94.7 million increase in supplemental state aid. On top of that, additional increases of $7.25 million for rural transportation costs and $5.8 million to reduce per pupil inequity by $10 per student will be felt. That is an $108 million total increase. The investment made by House Republicans is truly paying off as Iowa ranks number one in the nation for graduation rates and ACT scores.

Sunset of Petroleum Underground Tank Storage Fund in Committee

On Thursday, January 30, 2020, House Study Bill 606 was filed with the House Environmental Protection Committee and a subcommittee was assigned. A week earlier a Senate companion bill (Senate Study Bill

3062) was introduced and referred to Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Both bills as introduced are identical and were pre-filed bills drafted at the behest of the Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Board and submitted to the Iowa General Assembly for its consideration. The legislation HSB 606/SSB 3062 repeals the Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank fund and eliminates the Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Board on July 1, 2021.

The measure provides that the role of the Board is transferred to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which is directed to establish and administer the Iowa tanks fund financing program to distribute financial assistance for work conducted by eligible entities. The measure creates the 'Iowa tanks fund' within the State Treasury under the control of DNR and requires the department to administer the fund which now amounts to about $14million in undispersed funds with more than one-half of the amount committed to ongoing clean-up and remediation expenses. The remaining moneys are anticipated to be spent down over the next three to five years as to original source of the funding expired funds on December 31, 2016.

The legislation continues to allow a claimant who has previously received assistance under the Iowa Tanks fund or the Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank fund to receive reimbursement from the Iowa tanks fund for all or part of the costs of corrective action for a petroleum release. The measure continues to allow for cost recovery efforts from potentially responsible parties when moneys from the Iowa Tanks fund are used during the cleanup of contamination at a tank site. The bill directs the Environmental Protection Commission to adopt rules for program eligibility, investigating and settling claims made against the fund, appeal procedures, community remediation, prioritization of fund moneys, funding for tank operator training, additional assessment and corrective action arising out of a release at a site for which a no further action certificate has been issued, and reimbursement for the permanent closure of an underground storage tank system. HSB 636 /SSB 3062 provides that claims for releases filed on or after January 1, 2021, are not eligible for payment from the Iowa comprehensive petroleum underground storage tank fund and the bill includes transition provisions retaining the effectiveness of rules, regulations, forms, orders, or directives promulgated by the Iowa comprehensive petroleum underground storage tank fund board until amended, repealed, or supplemented by affirmative action of the department.

During Subcommittee deliberations, several drafting flaws concerning the bill were discussed and all subcommittee members agreed that the language needs to be fixed by an amendment to the measure.

Background of Fund and Board

The Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund (the Fund) was created in 1989 to assist owners and operators of Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) to comply with state and federal environmental regulations. The program, which was created in HF 447, was codified under Iowa Code 455G. This program also established the UST Fund Board to provide financial resources to assist owners in the cleanup of sites contaminated by leaking underground storage tanks that were installed before 1989. The Program was originally designed to be financed in advance through the issuance of bonds, and the bonds were to be repaid by a new Environmental Protection Charge (EPC). The EPC was assessed on motor fuel deposited in underground storage tanks and is equal to $0.01 per gallon. However, due to concerns that the EPC might be deemed a tax on motor vehicle fuel and therefore subject to Constitutional restrictions. Hence the 1990 General Assembly changed the deposit destination for the EPC to the Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF) and replaced those funds with as funding stream with a comparable amount of Statutory Allocation funds.

The Board has effectively managed and administered this program for 30 years. Over these past 30 years, the Board has provided funding for more than 8,000 tank sites across the state, with over 3,500 active at any one time. In 2017 the funding source for this program ended, while the Board has continued to provide funding for investigations and cleanups. Over the years the number of active sites has continued to decline (as they have been cleaned up), and now there are less than 100 sites that the UST Fund Board is providing funding for. The funding which at one time was more than $160M, has declined to less than $15M, and is expected to continue to be spent down on the remaining sites for the next four to six years, along with continuing to fund other specific activities related to the tank program.

EPA Announces Funding for Surface Water and Drinking Water in Iowa

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a press release that announced the availability of $2.7 billion for State Revolving Funds (SRFs) that assist states, tribes and territories with infrastructure projects that help protect surface water and provide safe drinking water to communities across the country.

This announcement and availability includes EPA Region 7 that covers Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

Over the last three years, the EPA Region 7 states have been allocated collectively approximately $150 million per year for their Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF loan programs. The 2020 annual allocation for the four EPA Region 7 states:

* Iowa - $38.95 million

* Kansas - $27.13 million

* Missouri - $63.46 million

* Nebraska - $19.12 million

The allocation to the SRF program includes over a third of the dollars provided to EPA by Congress and over 50% of the EPA Region 7 budget. The SRF programs fund a wide range of water infrastructure projects, including drinking water treatment and distribution systems, wastewater treatment and collection systems, and a variety of other projects related to preserving water quality, pursuant to the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

House GOP: Keep Health Care Pros in Iowa

This week, the House Human Resources Committee passed House File 2115 to require the University of Iowa medical and dental schools to have 75% of their admitted students be from the state of Iowa. This work builds on legislation passed last year to require state-funded medical residencies to prioritize Iowans in the application process by looking closer at those that are originally from Iowa, went to undergrad in Iowa, or graduated medical school in Iowa. Iowans know that if a medical student or resident has a connection to the state and completes their training in the state while in their mid-20s and 30s, they are going to set roots, start their family, and stay and practice in Iowa. Yet every single Democrat on the committee voted against the bill. Their excuse? An increased administrative burden on the University of Iowa and the loss of non-resident higher tuition dollars. House Republicans countered with the notion that a state university receiving hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars ought to be helping train medical professionals to practice in Iowa to help the taxpayers who are providing their funding. House Republicans also have advanced legislation this session to require primary care residencies, including OB, psychiatry, and emergency department, to provide an opportunity to participate in a rural rotation to expose those physicians to Iowa's rural areas and their unique medical challenges. Iowa needs additional medical residencies, especially in rural Iowa, and that is why the legislature has provided over $12 million in funding towards establishing new medical residencies in the state since 2014.

Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Intern Program

now accepting applications Employers, non-profit groups, and educational institutions are encouraged to apply for the Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Intern Program grant, a funding opportunity to place youth at risk of not graduating high school in internships primarily in high-demand career fields. The State of Iowa has appropriated $250,000 of funds to support the Summer Youth Intern program. The application period opens February 11 and closes March 11. "Future Ready Iowa is lifechanging and it will infuse Iowa's workforce with thousands of skilled employees and is designed to help those looking for a way up," said Gov. Reynolds. "Future Ready Iowa's Summer Youth Intern Program provides opportunities for our students through engaging work-based learning during the summer months. I encourage students to apply because it's never too early, or too late, to find something you're passionate about." Last year, over 110 youth were served by three programs. The programs are designed to last at least six weeks and include developing soft skills and working with or for local employers in high-demand occupations. "Our goal is to help communities create programs with local employers that serve local students. The students learn about high-demand jobs in their hometown and the soft skills necessary to get and keep a job," said Director Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development. "Future Ready Iowa supports the idea that communities can better identify and develop their own workforce needs with the right tools that help create a talent pipeline. The Summer Youth Intern Program does this by giving students hands-on experience with local employers." Funds may be used for services and resources to support costs of program participants, including for example: internship wages, training resources, transportation of the participants, clothing, program staff time and indirect costs. Applications can be submitted for the "Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Internship Program" through the "Grant Opportunities" link at www.IowaGrants.gov. The Summer Youth Intern Program was created under the Future Ready Iowa Act as a way to develop Iowa's skilled workforce. The initiative aims to ensure 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce ages 25-64 have education and training beyond high school by the year 2025. For more information about Future Ready Iowa, visit www.FutureReadyIowa.gov (info taken from Iowa Workforce Development) (Info from Iowa Workforce Development)

Chronic Wasting Disease found in 4 new counties

The DNR released the following information:

Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in wild deer from Woodbury, Winneshiek, Fayette and Decatur counties this year, bringing the total number of counties in Iowa where wild deer have tested positive to eight.

In the past, the DNR has set up a surveillance zone around where the positive deer was taken, then works with hunters to increase the number of samples collected within the zone to get a better idea of the extent to which the disease is on the ground. The Iowa DNR submitted nearly 7,000 deer tissue samples for testing from hunter harvested or road killed deer collected statewide in the 2019-2020 season that resulted in 43 positive wild deer.

The Iowa DNR contacted all hunters with a positive deer and offered the opportunity to come collect the deer meat, hide and other animal parts or were provided other options for carcass disposal. The Centers for Disease Control advises against consuming animals that have tested positive for disease.

Hunters play an important role in preventing the spread of this disease by not using feed or salt-mineral licks that increase the concentration of deer, which can spread disease. Hunters who harvest a deer in a county known to have chronic wasting disease but who live in a county where the disease has not been found, should bone out their deer and either leave the carcass on the land where it was harvested or disposed of within that county. Contact the local landfill for requirements. Make absolutely sure not to transport and dump carcasses outside of the area where the deer were shot as this will spread the disease to new areas.

The Iowa DNR samples deer from every county with increased sample quotas set in areas where the disease has been confirmed or where it has been confirmed across the border in neighboring states.

The Iowa DNR has been testing deer for chronic wasting disease since 2002. The first positive was in 2013 near Harpers Ferry in Allamakee County. To date, there have been 89 positive wild deer. More information is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/cwd.

House Subcommittee Advances Bill to Protect Firearms Rights

The House Public Safety Committee held a subcommittee to discuss House Study Bill 615, a bill that addresses gun ranges and weapons regulations. The subcommittee drew a large crowd and, unfortunately, lots of misinformation. This bill ensures laws remain consistent across the state and that local ordinances do not deprive Iowans of their 2nd Amendment rights.

Shooting ranges are popular across Iowa. However, some communities have been placing heavy burdens on current ranges and preventing the opening of others without good cause. The language in HSB 615 is designed to ensure ranges can continue to open and operate free from unreasonable standards or permit rejections simply because a city or county official doesn't approve of firearms use.

Counties, cities and other political subdivisions are already prohibited from regulating the ownership and sale of legal firearms. The law is clear that the regulation of firearms happens at the state level. This ensures that no matter where you are in Iowa there is no confusion on the law. Some political subdivisions have taken it upon themselves to attempt to regulate firearms accessories. This could include items like legal suppressors, scopes, and other attachments. HSB 615 clarifies that only the state can regulate these attachments. If an Iowan owns a legal suppressor, it doesn't matter what county they live in, the attachment is approved by both state and federal law. This addition to the law protects law abiding gun owners.

The bill requires a political subdivision to provide security if they choose to ban weapons on their property. This ensures that while people may be unarmed, they are still protected in these buildings. The judicial branch also is prohibited from regulating county courthouse spaces they do not occupy.

As usual, opponents have spread misinformation about this legislation which has made the discussion more difficult. Put simply, this bill keeps weapons laws consistent across the state and prevents political subdivisions from overregulating law-abiding Iowans.

Are Bump Stocks Unregulated? And Other Misinformation About HSB 615

House Study Bill 615 is designed to ensure laws are consistent across Iowa for firearms owners. A hodgepodge of firearms laws puts everyone at risk and could result in law abiding Iowans being charged

for crimes simply for crossing a county line. A fair amount of misinformation has been spread about this bill. Below are false claims made by opponents and the truth regarding their false claims.

Claim: Cities will be Unable to Regulate Bump Stocks

Truth: Bump Stocks have been federally banned March of 2019. This means that no one can sell, own or use a bump stock on their firearm. There are no exceptions to this federal ban. Cities attempting to ban bump stocks are not actually accomplishing anything and wasting taxpayer's money on an issue that is nonexistent.

Claim: HSB 615 attacks Local Control

Truth: Political subdivisions have never had the right to regulate firearms. It is clear in Iowa law that power lies with the state. The bill has language to clarify that the power to regulate firearms accessories is also a state power. Firearms accessories can be anything from a scope, to a legally owned and registered suppressor, or even a different size magazine. If each city or county regulated these items, Iowans would never know where their accessories are legal or illegal and subject to confiscation. A scope in Hamilton County could be legal but criminal to possess in Johnson county. A uniform set of laws helps keep all Iowans safe.

Claim: Political Subdivisions Can't Regulate Weapons on their Property

Truth: Political subdivisions can still regulate the possession of weapons on their property. However, if firearms are banned, then individuals must be screened for weapons and armed security must be provided at the facility. Iowans should know they are well protected even when a political subdivision bans weapons in specific locations.

Claim: HSB 615 Allows Guns on School Grounds

Truth: Nothing in HSB 615 changes the laws on firearms in schools. Iowa code 724.4B clearly bans firearms on school grounds with a few notable exceptions that have been in code for a significant amount of time. Any claims that this would allow unregulated carrying of weapons on school grounds is simply false.

Disaster Recovery Homeowner Assistance Program & Fund

Over the past decade there have been a number of flooding issues throughout the State of Iowa. Last year Southwest Iowa was hit particularly hard. The Iowa Finance Authority has introduced a bill this year, HSB 619, to create a Disaster Recovery Homeowner Assistance Program & Fund. The purpose of this fund is to help homeowners that have a disaster-affected home secure forgivable loans for down-payment assistance or rehabilitation or repair of home.

This bill defines a disaster-affected home in the following ways:

* Primary residence that is destroyed or damaged due to a natural disaster that occurs on or after the effective date of this act and is located in a county is the subject of a state disaster emergency proclamation by the Governor that authorizes disaster recovery homeowner assistances.

* Primary residence that is destroyed or damaged due to a natural disaster that occurred on or after 3/12/19, but before the effective date of this Act, and is located in a county that has been declared a major disaster by the President on or after 3/12/19, but before the effective date of this Act, and that is also a county in which individuals are eligible for federal individual assistance.

This bill requires that a homeowner register for the disaster case management program established pursuant to section 29C.20B to be considered for a forgivable loan. The case manager shall determine the homeowner's eligibility for the disaster recovery homeowner assistance program. If determined to be eligible, this homeowner shall be referred to the appropriate local program administrator

To be eligible for a forgivable loan the homeowner must meet all of the following requirements:

* The home must have sustained damage greater than the damage that is covered by the homeowner's property and casualty insurance policy, insuring the home plus any other state or federal disaster-related financial assistance that the homeowner is eligible to receive;

* Local program administrator must deem the homeowner's disaster-affected home suitable for rehabilitation or damaged beyond reasonable repair;

* The homeowner's disaster-affected home cannot be proposed for buyout by the county or city in which the disaster-affected home is located.

IFA may award a forgivable loan to eligible homeowner for any of the following reasons:

* Repair or rehabilitation of the homeowner's disaster-affected home;

* Down payment assistance on the purchase of replacement housing and the cost of reasonable repairs to be performed on the replacement housing to render the replacement housing decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair (as described in 24 C.F.R. §5.703. It shall not be located in 100-year floodplain;

* Maximum forgivable loan that IFA may award to any one eligible homeowner shall be determined in rule.

* All forgivable loans that are awarded to an eligible homeowner shall have a five-year term and be interest free;

* Forgivable loan awarded to an eligible homeowner shall be forgiven by the authority by a uniform percentage on a monthly basis as determined by rule;

* If a homeowner sells a disaster-affected home or replacement housing for which the homeowner received the forgivable loan prior to the end of the five-year loan term, the remaining principal on the forgivable loan shall be due and payable pursuant to rule adopted by the authority. * IFA shall adopt rules pursuant to 17A to implement and administer this section.

Driving Hands Free

With new technology being introduced every day, distracted driving is a major traffic safety issue. Although there are a wide variety of issues related to driver focus, the most common concern is the potential distraction caused by cell phones and other technology in the car.

This week a House Transportation committee considered HF 2119, requiring the use of hands-free or voice activated technology while driving a vehicle. Current law passed in 2017 leaves too many excuses available to drivers and this legislation removes a number of excuses currently used by distracted drivers. The penalty for failure to comply is a moving violation and a $100 fine.

As the use of hand-held technology continues to grow, distracted driving has become more prevalent. Last year there were approximately 1,700 tickets issued for distracted driving. HF 2119 is an important start to reducing the number of distracted drivers.

Veterans Affairs Committee Update

This week the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved HSB 560. This bill protects veterans who are currently receiving benefits and keep that information confidential. Currently county recorders are able to provide the names and addresses of veterans who are receiving disabled veteran tax credits, this bill removes that ability and protects the confidentiality of these records.

This bill was amended in committee to include county assessor and city assessor's offices as well to keep this information confidential. Protecting the military tax exemption information was also included in this amendment. This bill now moves to the house floor as a committee bill.

Last week three bills passed out of the committee including: House File 2312, House File 2313, House File 2300. HF 2312 repeals the requirement that an applicant for admission to the Iowa Veterans Home file with an affidavit signed by two members of the commission of veteran affairs of the county in which the person resides relating to certain eligibility requirements for admission.

HF 2313 provides that federal active duty includes full-time duty performed in the United States Coast Guard. If employed, the employer must provide a leave of absence for such duty to regular, reserve, or auxiliary members of the United States coast guard when called to military duty. It also adds the coast guard in areas of service relating to discrimination against a person because of their military services and prohibits employers from discharging a person due to the fact of being in the coast guard. Lastly, it prohibits terminating coverage under a group health insurance policy for a leave of absence for military duty

HF 2300 Specifically outlines in code that veteran service officers are allowed to use part of their allocation of $10,000 for training, education, and related expenses training. This bill has been re-referred to Appropriations.

House GOP Priority - Supporting Emergency Medical Service Workers

Last week the House Ways and Means Committee passed House File 2280 by a vote of 24-1 with all Republicans voting in favor. The bill increases the Volunteer Fire Fighter and Volunteer Emergency Medical Services Personnel Member Credit and the Reserve Peace Officer Credit from $100 to $200. The bill makes the increase in the tax credit available this tax year.

The credit currently has a maximum of $100 per taxpayer per year. If a taxpayer is a qualified volunteer for more than one of these positions, the tax credit may only be earned for one position. If the taxpayer is not a qualified volunteer for the full tax year, the $100 credit is prorated. The credit is not refundable or transferable, and unused credits may not be carried forward to a future tax year.

Testimony from EMS and volunteer fire fighters as well as reserve peace officers suggested that they really appreciate the credit and feel honored by it and by House Republican's interest in increasing it. These individuals are not only volunteering their time, but very often pay for their own training. The credit is meant as a way to honor their volunteerism and recognize their personal sacrifice.

Currently, between 13,000 and 14,000 taxpayers are claiming the credits per year. The increase to the credit will reduce net General Fund revenue by $1.2 million per fiscal year, beginning with FY 2021.

House File 2280 is currently on the House Ways and Means Calendar and is eligible for consideration by the full chamber. House File 2280 is just one of several initiatives House Republicans are putting forth this session to support our volunteer EMS workers. These volunteers make Iowa a safer place to work and live and deserve this honor.