Government : Third Week of the 2025 Legislative Session

This was a busier week for me at the Capitol, with committees, meetings with constituents, and other legislative responsibilities.

On Monday, we started the week with the Rally for Life. Iowa's pro-life advocates rallied at the state Capitol, highlighting the achievements over the last several years to protect and defend the right to life in the state of Iowa. The Legislature has passed numerous policies to protect the unborn, help pregnant women, support families, and expand adoption and foster care options.

This week, we received policy language for Governor Kim Reynolds' cell phone policy in schools. For many years now, we have been focused on how we can improve achievement in schools, make classrooms a better place for learning, and ensure schools are concentrating on preparing students for success both in school and out of it. Cell phone use in the classroom is one aspect of this conversation. We are looking forward to the discussion in how we can continue meeting these goals and ensure parents remain involved in the process.

Senate Republicans propose new funding for K-12 education

This week, Senate Republicans released our funding proposal for the next school year, proposing a $235 million increase for K-12 students. The increase in state funding is in addition to the budget passed last year, meaning state aid for schools coming from the state budget is $4.2 billion. It is also the same amount proposed by Governor Reynolds.

Senate Study Bill 1053 continues our dedication to responsible budgeting and our commitment to Iowa students. It provides money for students going to public school, students utilizing education savings accounts, and students attending charter schools. It also funds the teacher pay increase passed in the 2024 session, the largest teacher pay increase in Iowa's history. Now in the second year of enactment, beginning teachers will start at $50,000 and teachers with more than twelve years of experience will be receiving at least $62,500.

Over the last several years, the legislature has expanded education options available to Iowa families. Those options include open enrollment for all students, educational savings accounts so all families, regardless of their income, can choose the school of their choice, and expanded charter school options. The proposed increase for education funding goes to help all Iowa students. For public schools in Iowa, this bill will mean an increase of over $123 million for a total of $3.9 billion in total General Fund state aid spending. The education savings account program will receive an increase of $96.6 million, coming to a total of $315 million. Charter schools also receive an increase of $14.5 million.

When you look at the state budget, it is clear education is a priority. With state funding alone, we are spending $7,983 per student in Iowa. Including both state and local funding, K-12 students in Iowa receive over $6 billion. After all funding sources are considered, such as property taxes, state aid, federal dollars and other sources, public schools in Iowa will receive an estimated $18,722 per student next school year.

Funding for K-12 education in Iowa has been receiving steady, sustainable increases since 2017. This proposed increase in funding continues our conservative budgeting practices and does so in a timely matter so schools across the state can start planning their budgets.