The Iowa Legislature concluded its 2019 session on Saturday. In the closing days, the Legislature passed a tax “clean-up” bill, House File 779, which included a $2 million increase in the School Tuition Organization tax credits for a total of $15 million. If all the tax credits are expended that would mean about $23 million was [...]
The staff of the Iowa Catholic Conference wishes you a blessed and prayerful Easter season! It looks like the Iowa Legislature is entering its last week or two of work for the year. We are pleased that both the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees have passed bills including an increase the School Tuition [...]
The pace of debate on the floor of the Iowa Legislature slowed down some last week as leaders from both chambers spent time behind closed doors working on the budget. The Iowa Catholic Conference has updated its action alerts opposing the legalization of sports betting and the provision of contraception without a prescription. We encourage [...]
LEGISLATURE ADDRESSES FUNDING FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS The education funding bill, HF 758, passed the House and goes to the Senate. It appropriates $954 million from the general fund to the Department for the Blind, the College Student Aid Commission, the Department of Education, and the Board of Regents. Funding for public school aid was [...]
Budget bills for state departments are being introduced at the Legislature, which is usually a sign that the session is heading into its last month or so. House Joint Resolution 14, the proposed constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights for people who have committed a felony and completed their sentences, was passed by the [...]
The second “funnel” deadline in the Iowa Legislature is approaching. To survive, a bill must have passed one chamber and through a committee in the opposite chamber by April 5. (This does not apply to appropriations or tax-related bills). Several bills of interest to the Iowa Catholic Conference are bumping up against the deadline, including: [...]
The Iowa Catholic Conference is asking you to contact your legislator on two issues of concern: opposing the death penalty and support for parents of nonpublic school students. Many legislators are hearing from constituents about these issues and it’s making a difference. Go to www.votervoice.net/icc/home for background information and sample messages. Thanks to those of you [...]
Last Friday was the first legislative “funnel” deadline when bills needed to be passed out of committee in order to be considered for the rest of the year. This does not apply to budget or tax-related bills. ACTION ALERTS Death penalty A bill to bring the death penalty back to Iowa passed the [...]
FIRST LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY This Friday is the first legislative funnel deadline when bills need to be passed out of committee in order to be considered for the rest of the year. However, this does not apply to budget or tax-related bills. Some failed bills are also brought back as amendments. ACTION ALERTS The ICC [...]
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR IN OPPOSITION TO GUN AMENDMENT Several bills providing for additional rights for persons to carry guns are advancing in the Legislature. The ICC encourages you to contact your legislators in opposition to a state constitutional amendment that would subject any restrictions on the right of the people to keep and bear arms [...]