Government : McClintock's Week in Wrap

The 90th General Assembly is officially adjourned! Thursday, May 4th, was our final day. I ended our five months in Des Moines with a 99% voting rate and one day (excused) absence. You can count on seeing me all over Benton and Linn counties over the next eight months! Thank you all for your continued advocacy and participation in our state government.

Property taxes have been a major concern of my constituents and citizens across Iowa going into this session. A priority of both Senate and House Republicans was finding a solution to the rise in assessments. Just this week, the legislature passed House File 718. This bill will automatically reduce tax rates when assessments rise, restores basic levy limitations to control government spending, and eliminates loopholes some local governments used to exceed limits set by law. HF 718 also provides over $100 million in relief to Iowa property taxpayers, including new exemptions for veterans and senior citizens, while also increasing transparency in property taxes and local government spending. It will also move all elections for bonding to the general election date in November. HF 718 is the most comprehensive property tax reform ever. It answers the requests of about 2/3 of Iowans who want limits on local government taxation and spending and those concerned about the average 20-30% increase in assessments this year.

The session ended this week after a couple of long days of debate and final work on the budget bills. Republicans have allocated $8.517 billion for the next budget year, spending only 88.25% of ongoing revenue.

One of the first issues addressed by the legislature was school choice. Although I was a no on behalf of District 42, this legislation ultimately passed and has been signed into law. Applications for the Education Savings Accounts will open on May 31st, 2023, and close on June 30th, 2023. For more information, please visit the Iowa Department of Education's ESA page.

Education was addressed again when the legislature passed protections for parents to ensure their voice was heard in Iowa classrooms, gave more flexibility to Iowa schools to help districts best meet the needs of their schools, and provided common-sense guidance to ensure boys use the boys' bathroom and girls use the girls' bathrooms and locker rooms in Iowa's K-12 schools.

Numerous healthcare bills were also passed during this session. Senate File 75 was passed to help stabilize rural hospitals. House File 161 put caps on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits to help make Iowa a more affordable state for doctors to practice, making health care more readily available.

Additionally, an OB/GYN fellowship program was created. The investment of $560,000 will allow four fellows to expand maternal health in the state and allocate over $1 million more to the More Options for Maternal Support (MOMS) program in Iowa.

Senate File 538 was also passed to protect Iowa's children from having life-altering gender transition surgeries until they turn 18.

Expanding Iowa's workforce was another priority addressed in this session. Senate File 318 established the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship, allowing people to develop the skills they need for industries experiencing workforce challenges.

Another bill passed will eliminate restrictions for teachers who want to come to Iowa to teach.

Additionally, legislation creating a cap on noneconomic damages in commercial vehicle accident lawsuits was passed to help keep that important industry alive.

Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair said it best when addressing the work done this legislative session, "While we have heard the word "historic" used before, the word accurately describes the positive change Iowa has seen and will continue to see under the Republican trifecta." Although this year's session is complete, my work as your district senator is not. Please continue to contact me with any comments, questions, or concerns regarding how I can best serve you. I look forward to continuing to represent the people of District 42!