Iowa wraps up legislative session focusing on education reform and immigration policy, sidestepping LGBTQ+ issues

After an intense legislative session that stretched into the early hours of Saturday, Iowa lawmakers wrapped up four months of legislative activity that included significant changes in special education administration and accelerated tax cuts.

This session, led by the Republican-majority General Assembly, also addressed topical issues such as immigration and religious freedom, central themes in the party’s 2024 campaign strategy.

Governor Kim Reynolds, a member of the Republican Party, has successfully pushed through a number of her legislative priorities, achieving the highest number of bill requests during her term this session and the most of any governor since 2006, according to public records.

A major focus of the session was education, particularly a proposal from Reynolds that aimed to overhaul the state’s system for students with disabilities.

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This brought a significant change in the way schools can use special education funds, which were traditionally managed by local education bodies.

Beginning in 2025, schools will have the option to independently allocate 10% of these funds, despite concerns from disability advocates about the potential negative impact on the institutions and quality of special education.

In addition to special education reforms, the Legislature approved a salary increase for Iowa teachers, setting new minimums for the 2023 school year and further increases for the following year.

Additionally, the session saw the passage of legislation limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public universities.

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The Assembly passed immigration legislation similar to that in Texas.

This new law criminalizes the unauthorized presence of individuals in the state and is expected to come into effect from July 1.

The implementation of this law has raised concerns among immigrant communities in Iowa, and a debate has emerged over how this law will be enforced and whether it is consistent with federal powers.

The legislative session also discussed the state’s position on religious freedom by passing a law similar to the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.

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The move has sparked debate between Republicans, who argue for the need to protect religious freedoms, and Democrats, who fear it could encourage discrimination.

Another key area of ​​focus was tax policy, with lawmakers voting to implement a flat 3.8% income tax rate starting next year and moving toward constitutional changes that would consolidate this flat rate and make it more difficult to enforce tax laws in the change in the future.

Not all proposed measures were successful, as legislation to redefine gender identity and birth certificate requirements for transgender people failed to pass, as did a bill that would have given legal protection to the makers of the pesticide Roundup.

In addition, no progress was made on a proposed amendment to deny a constitutional right to abortion, leaving the state to wait for a court decision on an existing six-week abortion ban.

As Iowa implements these legislative changes, the results of these new laws will likely resonate beyond state lines and influence national policy discussions as the U.S. heads toward the 2024 elections.