Government : McClintock's Week in Wrap: 1/19/25

First Week of the 2025 Legislative Session

This Monday, January 13, we gaveled in for the 91st General Assembly. Throughout the first week, many leaders from various areas of our government and the legislature delivered speeches about the future of our state. If you missed Governor Reynolds Condition of State address, you can watch it online here.

As the new Chair of the Technology Committee, I am looking forward to advancing legislation to benefit and protect the people of Iowa. As always, if you have questions or ideas on technology, or any other areas of concern, please contact me.

On Tuesday, Governor Kim Reynolds addressed a joint session of the Iowa Legislature in her eighth Condition of the State speech. Her speech highlighted the progress our state has made, as well as the actions that need to be taken to continue that success for all Iowans.

The governor began by noting the top national rankings for the state of Iowa in several different categories. Iowa is the number one state in the nation for retirement, millennial home ownership, and is ranked number one for the third consecutive year for fiscal responsibility. Iowa ranks high in many other important metrics like being second in cost of living, third for opportunity, and fourth for health care and educational choice nationwide. To cap it all off, Iowa is now enjoying the benefits of a 3.8% flat income tax, opposed to the 8.98% tax we faced just six years ago.

While there are many great accomplishments our state has made in recent years, many issues still facing our state that we would like to address this year. One of these critical issues is improvements to health care and cancer research. In her commitment to finding answers on Iowa's high cancer rate, Governor Reynolds asked the Legislature for $1 million to fund a partnership between the University of Iowa and Iowa Health and Human Services to further promote research. In addressing the workforce, Governor Reynolds proposed increased funding and loan re-payment programs to provide incentives for both in and out-of-state health care workers to practice in rural Iowa. Additionally, she is proposing to utilize federal resources to expand residency slots at our 14 teaching hospitals with the goal of adding 460 new physicians over four years.

The governor also outlined her proposals to assist communities to expand preschool and child care for hard-working Iowans. Over the past two years while I have served, the legislature and governor enacted policies to increase child care pay for workers, new child care slots, and funding opportunities for new facilities. This year, the legislature will review her proposal to encourage partnership between preschools and community child care centers to help fill the need in local communities.

Additional policies that were addressed include a disaster assistance package for communities impacted by natural disasters in NW and SW Iowa, addressing unemployment insurance, providing more ways to find waste in state and local government, and addressing energy challenges while diversifying our energy sources.

Together, Iowa continues to make significant strides toward becoming one of the most prosperous states in the nation. As Governor Reynolds put it, "Iowa is a state with endless opportunity, and timeless charm." There is much left to do, but Iowa stands as a beacon of freedom and opportunity for the world to see and Iowans to enjoy.

Iowans across the state likely noticed a bump in their paychecks this month as the 3.8% flat tax passed last year went into effect on January 1. Along with my colleagues, I have been dedicated to simplifying Iowa's tax code. As a result, we can ensure Iowans keep more of their hard-earned money, and preserve their choice about where to invest those dollars.

The 3.8% flat tax was estimated to provide over $1 billion in additional tax relief for Iowa families. This is an additional $1 billion that can go into our communities, saved for a rainy day, or invested for the future. Not only does tax relief achieve those goals, but a flat tax makes Iowa an attractive place for families to put down roots, small businesses to build and grow, and makes Iowa a more competitive state on the national stage.

Senate Republicans have a number of incredible accomplishments that are strengthening our state, making Iowa an attractive place to live and work, and building it for a better future. We heard Iowans asking for relief, looking for solutions to help them at home, and throughout the steps we have taken, we delivered.