Delbert Allen “Duke” Moser

By Hayden Douglas · Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 11:54 am CDT

Delbert Allen “Duke” Moser, 86, of New London and formerly Burlington and Kingston, died Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House, West Burlington. He was one of 11 children, born November 30, 1938, in Kingston, Iowa to George Richard Moser and Laura Amanda (York) Moser. He attended Huron and Kingston schools.

He married Phyllis Irene Underwood in Kingston on December 21,1957. She preceded him in death on September 21,1997. Together they had two daughters, Dawn and Denise and cared for foster children for several years. He worked for over 30 years, retiring in 1992, as a welder at J.I. Case. He was in their first class of MIG welding training and was a member of the UAW #807. In his spare time, he also helped Sam Moser and Donnie Paschal on their farms.

He was a member of United Community Church of Yarmouth and West Avenue Baptist Church in Burlington. Duke enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapshooting, bowling and especially spending time with his family. He loved good food and a good cup of black coffee. He also enjoyed cooking, mushroom hunting, and tinkering.

Duke is survived by his daughter Dawn (Mike) Kaczinski of New London; son- in- law, Dewey Loyd of New London; grandchildren Erin (Ben) Seibert of Burlington, Jessie (Calton) English of New London, Culley Loyd of New London, and Bryce (Meagen) Loyd of Danville; great grandchildren Kylie and Hagen Loyd, Camden and Jett English, Brodie and Sydney Seibert, and another great granddaughter on the way; nieces and nephews; and special friend Sharon Hamlin of Burlington.

Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter Denise Loyd; brothers George Jr., Eddie, Jacob, Richard, Frank, and Jim; and sisters Ruth Sietz, Georgia Belle Hulett, Alice Paschal, and Laurada Howe.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Elliott Chapel, New London, Iowa with Pastor Harry Hollingworth officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm, Monday, May 26 at Elliott Chapel.

Duke loved his cowboy boots….and if you got “em”, wear “em” to his service. Memorials have been established for the New London Fire and Rescue, New London Trap Club, and DNR Youth program. According to his wishes, his body will be cremated following the services, and at a later date inurned next to his beloved wife and daughter at Claypoole Cemetery, Wever, Iowa.

Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

SOUTHEAST IOWA FISHING REPORT

By Hayden Douglas · Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 8:30 am CDT

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature was 68 degrees on 5/20, but has been dropping. The duckweed is still confined to around the edges of the lake, most of the lake is free of it.  Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers were finding crappies in about 9 feet of water earlier this week. Minnows and slip bobbers work best. Bluegill – Good: Scout the shallows along the northside to find spawning areas. Get the males to bite with small jigs tipped with a little live bait or just a worm and a bobber.  Channel Catfish – Good:  Try cut bait or nightcrawlers along the face of the dam.  Largemouth Bass – Good: Nesting has wrapped; a few males may still on the nest.  Cast or slowly troll crankbaits along the edges of the trees.

Deep Lakes
Water temperature was 65 degrees at Lake Chester on 5/21. Sprayed the curlyleaf around the boat ramp; should make it easier for the boats to get out.  Electric trolling motors only. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have moved off to the cedar trees in deeper water. Bluegill – Fair: With the ultra-clear water you must sneak up on them or they scatter. Some bluegill are still on the spawning beds. Work the edges of the weed beds with a 1/64 ounce or smaller jig tipped with a piece of redworm.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River level is 3/4 bank full.  Water temperature is in the mid to upper 60’s. Try nightcrawlers or cut bait in the back edges of the sandbars. Use minnows or green sunfish around the log jams.Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfishing has slowed with the falling temperatures. Recent rains are adding a lot of “new” food into the river. Use nightcrawlers or cut bait in the mouths of any of the feeder creeks.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is in the mid to low 60s. Black Crappie – Good:  Find crappies out in the cover in 10-12 feet of water. Try vertically jigging with a jig and minnow or just a minnow and slip bobber. Bluegill – Good:  Good: Cooler temperatures are keeping new bluegills from coming in to nest. If you find a nesting area that is still active, you can catch some nice fish. Work the open pockets and the edges of the curlyleaf beds where they are feeding on insects. Channel Catfish – Good: Cold water temperatures have put a hold on the spawn. Catfish are still in the rocks, they are just feeding instead of guarding nesting cavities. Largemouth Bass – Good: Most males are off the nests, but remain in shallow to hunt baby crappies. Females remain out deep to rest for a little while longer.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 62 degrees. Water clarity remains clear; some some planktonic algae is starting to show back up. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have headed back out deep after the spawn. Try a yellow jig tipped with a minnow in brush piles and rock piles in 8-10 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Look for some bluegills still holding to the nest in bays with a hard bottom out of the wind. You will find a lot of empty beds as they move off the nests and cold temperatures keep new fish from moving in. Channel Catfish – Fair: Dropping temperatures have slowed the males getting geared up for the spawn. You can still find plenty of fish roaming the rocky shorelines looking for something to eat.  Use live crawdads or minnows or chicken liver. Largemouth Bass – Good: Most bass have moved off the nest. You can still find the males in shallow feeding on baby crappies and bluegills. Try small jigs or small crankbaits.

Lost Grove Lake
Water is fairly clear at 6 feet+. The curlyleaf beds are well established. Water temperatures are in the low 60s. Black Crappie – Fair: When the wind dies down, find crappies in deeper water suspended at 12-16 feet down; use jig and minnow. Bluegill – Good: “Drift-troll” worm and bobber and a small jig tipped with a worm to find them; switch to a small bobber and worm. Find bigger bluegills and redears in fairly shallow water (3-4 inches). Largemouth Bass – Fair: Nesting seems is wrapping up.  Females are still out deep recovering from the spawn, but there are still plenty of males in shallow feeding on baby crappies and bluegills.  Cast spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the outer edge of the curlyleaf beds or jigs back into the pockets in the weeds.

Skunk River (Coppock to Mississippi)
River level is slowly rising with recent rains; water is muddier than last week.

For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

To the People of House District 95

By Hayden Douglas · Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 8:21 am CDT

 

With a motion for Sine Die, the first session of the 91st General Assembly officially adjourned last week on Thursday, May 14th at 6:31AM after a marathon 21-hour day. Sine Die, Latin for “without a day”, marks the conclusion of each legislative session. The second legislative session of the 91st General Assembly will convene on Monday, January 12th, 2026, at 8:30AM. Below I’ll summarize some of the noteworthy bills that made it to the Governor’s desk this session.

 

Improving Education in Iowa

House File 782: No phones during instructional time

  • This bill requires school districts to implement a policy that, at a minimum, prohibits the use of cell phones during instructional time.
  • Schools can implement a more stringent policy, but this is the minimum standard. The policy must also contain exemptions for medical reasons students may need access to their phones and must outline methods for parents to communicate with students during emergencies.
  • We know the dangers of smart phones and social media. It’s time to protect our kids from the danger of their devices.
  • This will ensure that the classroom remains a place where students can be free from the distraction of their phones and can focus on learning.
  • Iowa schools that have implemented policies restricting cell phone use on their own are already seeing results of better grades and lower suspensions.
  • The Senate amended the original legislation to clarify that the Department of Education must have model policies for schools available by May 1st.

Senate File 369: Civics Test for All High School Graduates

  • This bill requires high school students to pass a civics test based on the U.S. citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test in order to graduate.
  • Under this bill, students would need to answer at least 60% of the questions correctly to pass and could retake the exam as many times as needed. It also explicitly states that no fee will be associated with this test.
  • Last year, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill to reprioritize history and civics in education by requiring the State Board of Education to include minimum standards related to US History, western civilization, civics and Iowa history.
  • It’s clear when you talk to young people today that history and civics has become somewhat of a second-class subject.
  • Our goal is to ensure that Iowa graduates leave high school with a fundamental understanding of our government, our freedoms, and the importance of civic engagement.
  • Passing a test built off the same test required to become a U.S. Citizen is a great bar to set for all Iowa students.

Senate File 277: Chronic Absenteeism Fixes

  • Last session, we passed a bill to address the growing issue of chronic absenteeism in K-12 schools.
  • Last year’s bill did the following:
    • It required schools to adopt a policy related to absenteeism and truancy including interventions and penalties.
    • When a child becomes chronically absent the school official shall send notice to the county attorney and the parent/guardian.
    • When the child is absent from school 15% or more, they shall initiate a school engagement meeting.
    • If an open-enrolled student is truant, the receiving district may prohibit them from enrolling and the child goes back to the sending district.
  • During the interim we received feedback from schools and parents on some changes that were necessary to this policy.
  • Senate File 277 makes the following changes:
    • It adds new exceptions for absences including military service and attending funerals.
    • Notification procedures are adjusted to allow email, regular mail or in-person delivery instead of requiring certified mail.
    • The engagement meetings outlined in last year’s bill are only required if the absences are negatively affecting academic progress.

Senate File 583: School Safety Threat Assessment Teams

  • Senate File 583 was passed to build upon Iowa House Republicans’ efforts to make our schools as safe as possible.
  • This bill requires schools to create a multidisciplinary threat assessment team to intervene when a student is exhibiting threatening behaviors.
  • It encourages the collaboration between schools, law enforcement and mental health professionals to ensure the safest environment possible for our students and staff in schools.
  • Under this bill, schools and government agencies are allowed to share information on students struggling with mental illness. It also provides immunity from civil liability for individuals who report credible threats.

House File 835: Seizure Management in Schools

  • House File 835 is a bill to provide additional safety measures for Iowa students.
  • This bill introduces new training requirements for school personnel on seizure recognition and management.
    • By July 1st, each school must have at least one trained employee to administer or assist with medications for seizure disorders and manual doses of prescribed electrical stimulation using a vague nerve stimulator magnet.
    • By December 31st, 2026, all school personnel must receive training on seizure recognition and first aid.
  • It also ensures collaboration between schools, parents, and healthcare professionals in developing health plans and seizure action plans for students who need them.
  • And finally, it provides liability protection for school employees assisting students with seizure needs ensuring there is no hesitation preventing them from taking immediate action.
  • This bill improves student safety and raises awareness about epilepsy and seizure disorders.

House File 787: Iowa Education Teacher Salaries Reform Bill

  • Provides some clean up language to ensure the proper implementation of year two of the teacher salary increase bill we passed last session.
    • Last year we passed a bill to increase the minimum teacher salary from $33,500 to $50,000 and ensure 12-year teachers make no less than $62,000.
  • The bill also provides a number of other small policy changes at the request of local school districts. The biggest change is that it allows teachers who have retired to return to the classroom with a minimum salary of $50,000 while still collecting their IPERS.

House File 865: Clearing Up the Definition of Student Harassment and Bullying

  • Defines harassment and bullying as behavior that is repeated and targeted and creates an objectively hostile school environment.
  • This change in definition eliminates any references to “traits or characteristics of the student.”
  • Bullying can take place in school for all kinds of reasons. It is not specific to characteristics like race, sexual orientation, or religion.
  • This change emphasizes that the behavior is repeated and targeted, providing a clearer definition to ensure bullying is addressed consistently in schools.

Senate File 278: Iowa Robotics Extracurricular Activities Enhancement

  • Senate File 278 is a bill to enhance robotics extracurricular activities in Iowa schools.
  • Under SF 278, the Department of Education is required to provide technical assistance to school districts for chartering career and technical student organizations related to robotics. It also allows high school athletic associations to sponsor interscholastic contests or competitions related to robotics.
  • With this additional support, more students can use these STEM-related extracurricular activities to gain skills and experience to increase their readiness for post-secondary education and future careers in high demand industries.

House File 783: Iowa High School Athletics Conference Realignment Act

  • Our members were hearing of multiple instances where school districts were unable to find an athletic conference to accept their teams. Schools were being denied entrance into their desired conferences and current protocols were not resulting in any resolution.
  • Not having a conference can leave some student athletes with less frequent opportunities for competition, more difficult travel schedules, the loss of competitive rivalries, and without the opportunity to compete for conference recognition and awards.
  • HF 783 creates a conference realignment committee to oversee high school athletic conference affiliations. It requires the committee to consider factors such as enrollment, travel distances, and traditional rivalries when evaluating conference changes.

House File 784: Improving Mathematics Instruction

  • Math proficiency is a big indicator of future successes both in the classroom and the workforce.
  • Iowa’s math scores, while above the national average, have been dropping in rankings since 2019. We’ve gone from 7th to 30th in fourth graders and 15th to 23rd for eighth graders. This bill aims to reverse this trend by:
    • Ensuring children struggling in math are identified and receive the personalized help they need by requiring schools to assess students in math three times a year from Kindergarten to 6th grade.
    • If a student is identified as persistently at risk in math, schools must implement personalized mathematics plans and interventions.
    • Strengthening math instruction by equipping teachers with evidence-based professional development and high-quality teacher prep training.
    • Requiring the development and distribution of family-centered resources to support mathematics knowledge at home.

Senate File 275: Purple Star School Initiative

  • This bill creates a Purple Star School designation for schools that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military families.
  • The goal of this initiative is to strengthen the connection between military families and their schools and provide additional supports for military-connected students who face unique challenges.
  • These additional supports will help honor the service of our service men and women.
  • This bill passed unanimously through the Iowa House.

Expanding Iowans’ Access to Health Care in Iowa in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • In 2023, Iowa House Republicans created the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive program to provide scholarships to students studying to fill high need jobs. The budget continues to allocate $6.5 million to that program which includes several health care professions such as nursing.
  • Consolidated the 5 Health Care Loan Repayment Programs under one, the Health Care Professional Incentive Program with an appropriation of $7,985,911.
  • Continues to provide $2.8 million in funding to the University of Iowa Department of Nursing to employ additional instructors and increase the number of students who graduate from the college of nursing.
  • Appropriated $1 million for the University of Iowa Cancer Research.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Consolidated the 5 Health Care Loan Repayment Programs under one, the Health Care Professional Incentive Program with an appropriation of $7,985,911. This consolidation included the Mental Health Practitioner Loan Repayment Program, for those who provide mental health services to high-need communities.

Addressing the Workforce Shortage in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • The Education Budget contains many items that aim at training new professionals to fill high-demand jobs.
  • Higher Education:
    • In 2023, Iowa House Republicans created the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program to provide scholarships to students at the regents studying to fill high need jobs. This budget allocates $6.5 million toward that program.
    • $948,715 in grants to keep and attract high-quality individuals to teaching in Iowa. An increase of $298,715. Grants are awarded $4,000 per year for a maximum of five years.
    • $23.9 million in continued investment into Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarships. This program provides financial aid for students attending community colleges or accredited private nonprofit institutions pursing a high-demand job.
    • $425,000 for Future Ready Iowa Skilled Workforce Grant Program. This fund provides grants that allow Iowans who left college with at least half of the required credits for a bachelor’s degree in a high-demand field to re-enroll to complete the four-year degree.
    • Continues to provide $2.8 million in funding to the University of Iowa Department of Nursing to employ additional instructors and increase the number of students who graduate from the college of nursing.
    • Provides $1.5 million in funding University of Northern Iowa’s Education program to recruit additional students to programs that lead to teacher licensure.
    • Continues to provide a $2.8 million appropriation to Iowa State University to expand programs in the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science, and other high-demand areas related to technology.
  • K-12
    • Over $3.6 million for Career Technical Education Administration and Secondary appropriations to fund vocational education programming in Iowa’s secondary schools.
    • $600,000 in funding for high school students receiving community college credit over the summer related to high-demand fields.
    • $9.9 million, a $300,000 increase, for Jobs for Americas Grads (iJAG) a nonprofit organization designed to keep students in school and help them transition into the workplace in quality jobs.

Support for Individuals with Disabilities in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Invests a continued $35,000 to the Best Buddies program that works in school districts to create opportunities for one-on-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Allocates over $12 million, an increase of $342,391, for the Iowa School for the Deaf which serves students across Iowa who are deaf or hard of hearing preschool through age 21.
  • Allocates $200,000 to the LEAD-K program, the Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids Program. This includes the Family Support Mentoring Program that pairs parents with other families of deaf or hard-of-hearing children or an adult deaf mentor.
  • Allocates over $5 million, an increase of $98,278, for education services for the blind and visually impaired.
  • A continued $2.35 investment in the Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant Program which provides competitive grants to school districts for the establishment of therapeutic classrooms.

Assisting our Veterans in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Will continue the allocation of $6.6 million to provide grants to pay for the tuition of National Guard members attending Iowa higher education institutions.

 

House File 1049: Protecting Taxpayer Dollars from Sex Reassignment Surgeries (In HHS Budget)

  • Iowans agree that taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for sex reassignment surgery or hormone therapies.
  • However, in Iowa this is exactly what has been happening. Though the legislature previously tried to ban Medicaid funds from being used for these purposes, a 2019 Supreme Court ruling said that taxpayers must fund sex reassignment surgeries for Iowans on Medicaid because our civil rights law includes gender identity. Additionally, the state lost on procedural grounds with the Supreme Court in 2024 regarding taxpayer funding for sex reassignment surgery.
  • In less than 10 years, Iowa Medicaid has spent around $1 million on reassignment surgeries and $1.24 million on hormone therapy.
  • This year, we took action to remove gender identity as a protected class under the civil rights code. Additionally, this year’s HHS Budget prohibits funds from being used for reimbursement for sex reassignment surgeries or associated procedures, including hormone therapy and other medical interventions intended to alter primary or secondary sex characteristics, related to a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
  • With this change, Medicaid will still reimburse for mental health therapy for Iowans with gender dysphoria.
  • Iowans have begged us to take action on these commonsense issues.

House File 856: Replacing DEI with MEI (Merit, Excellence and Intelligence)

  • House File 856 prohibits state entities and community colleges from using any funds to establish or support DEI offices.
    • DEI is defined to include various efforts to manipulate employee or student body composition based on race, sex or ethnicity, promoting differential treatment, or implementing policies or trainings related to these concepts.
    • The bill specifically states that the prohibition does not apply to certain exceptions including research, activities of registered student organizations, guest speakers, mental or physical health services, or any DEI required by federal contracts.
      • Democrats will continue to misrepresent our bills tackling DEI to say that they will hurt certain groups of Iowans like veterans or disabled Iowans, or that it will prevent Iowans from getting the care they need based on their race or gender. A simple reading of the definitions and exceptions in this bill makes it clear that is not the case.
      • While “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” might sound nice, the real implications of these DEI offices are not inclusive or diverse at all. Far too often, their efforts are incredibly divisive and are aimed at silencing conservative voices and imposing ideological conformity.
      • Iowans have made it clear that they are sick of identity politics and do not want taxpayer dollars spent on efforts to divide us further.
      • The House’s original version of this bill also included and private institutions of higher education accepting the Iowa Tuition Gran, since we know this issue is pervasive there as well. However, that portion was amended out by the Senate.

Keeping Iowans Safe

House File 649: Improving Iowa Code Definitions of Human Trafficking

  • Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes and Iowa House Republicans have been diligent in our efforts to give law enforcement all the tools they need to eradicate these horrific stories from Iowa.
  • This bill aims to improve Iowa code around human trafficking to give more tools to our investigators and our prosecutors when tackling the issue of human trafficking.
    • It refines the definition of human trafficking by removing the language that requires the relationship between the individuals to be an “ongoing relationship.”
    • It expands the definition of human trafficking and the definition of victim to include instances where a law enforcement officer or agent is posing as a person engaged in human trafficking.
    • It also expands the definition of victim to include instances where an individual attempted to traffic the victim but they were able to escape or evade being trafficked.
  • We want to fight to rid instances of human trafficking from Iowa. But when they unfortunately do take place, we must ensure that our law enforcement and justice system as a whole are able to hold these individuals accountable.
  • Relatedly, the Iowa House also passed House File 926. This bill allows a person who was a victim of human trafficking to request to have their record expunged. This would only be allowed on crimes that were committed while the person was a victim of human trafficking and certain crimes, such as murder, arson, and burglary, cannot be expunged. This bill did not pass the Senate.

Senate File 22: Distracted Driving

  • This session, we passed SF 22 to make our roads safer for all Iowans.
  • We all know the dangerous distraction our phones can be. We have all seen drivers driving down the road distracted by their cell phones, endangering themselves and others.
  • Currently, Iowa law prohibits texting and driving. But there are many other reasons drivers may be using their phone. In addition to being completely unsafe, this makes the texting and driving law almost entirely unenforceable for Iowa law enforcement.
  • SF 22 changes Iowa’s texting while driving ban into a ban on using electronic devices while driving. Drivers can use their device hands-free.
  • There are a number of common sense and necessary exemptions to the ban. For example, drivers can use their phones for the purpose of receiving safety-related information or reporting an emergency situation and public safety or health care professionals are exempt while performing official duties requiring their device.
  • If a driver violates this law, they are guilty of a simple misdemeanor, must pay a $100 fine, and it would be considered a moving violation.
  • Law enforcement officers are to issue warnings to anyone in violation of this law from July 1 until January 1st, 2026.  Beginning on January 1, 2026. Law enforcement will be issuing tickets.

Senate File 397: Enhanced Penalties for Assault on Certain Professionals

  • Currently in code, there are enhanced penalties for assaulting people in certain professionals including police officers and health care professionals.
  • These enhanced penalties exist for jailers and correctional staff, but HF 177 adds juvenile detention staff to the list, meaning those who work in facilities designed to hold and rehabilitate minors.
  • Additionally, current law states that if an inmate assaults a staff member and causes contact with bodily fluids it is classified as a Class D felony. This bill adds saliva to the list of bodily fluids.

Senate File 659: Child Abuse Reporting in Schools (From Standings Budget)

  • House Republicans are committed to keeping kids in Iowa safe.
  • This bill mandates the Department of Health and Human Services investigates reports of alleged student abuse. As well as immediately notifying school authorities and the board of educational examiner upon receipt of an abuse report.
  • During the intake process at DHHS, if the report is from an identifiable source and constitutes as an allegation of student abuse, the Dept. shall notify the school and the BOEE (Board of Educational Examiners). Upon that notification the school shall place the employee on administrative leave and prohibit the employee from entering school property until the investigation is completed.
  • A timeline is also established for investigations, requiring them to commence within 24 hours and be completed within 30 business days.
  • If DHHS determines abuse happened, they must terminate the employment for the school employee(s) found to have committed student abuse, as well as immediately refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement and notify the school and the BOEE of the referral.
  • After the 30 day investigation is complete, DHHS shall report to the school and the BOEE.

Keeping Iowans Safe in the FY 2026 Budget

House File 1046: Justice Systems Budget

  • Allocates an additional $150,000 for victim assistance grants, for a total of $5.17 million.
  • $8.17 million to the general administration for the Department of Corrections, an extra $503,000.
  • Allocates over $2.9 million for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
  • Provides a $1.6 million increase for the Division of Criminal Investigation, for a total of $22.8 million.
  • Appropriates a total of $92.2 million for the Iowa State Patrol, an increase of $2.18 million.

House File 1039: Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund Budget

  • Appropriates $15 million as the first piece of a major investment in the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, by building a driver training facility at Camp Dodge.  This will allow Academy students to have necessary training in law enforcement driving practices on campus.  The facility will also be used for vehicle training by the Department of Transportation, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa National Guard.

Supporting Iowa Families

House File 889: State Employee Parental Leave

  • This session we have placed an emphasis on the importance of family. The first few weeks after a child is born is a crucial time for both the parents and child for bonding and recovery.
  • Currently, state employees do not receive any amount of paid parental leave. This has increasingly become a deterrent for good job candidates to work in state government.
  • This bill says the mother is entitled to four weeks of paid leave, and the father is entitled to one week of paid leave.  Adoptive parents are also entitled to four weeks of paid leave.

Senate File 619: Governor’s Disaster Relief Bill

  • Iowa is no stranger to natural disasters. There are too many communities that have been devastated by storms over the last few years, like the flooding in Northwest Iowa, the tornado in Greenfield, and the Derecho in 2020.
  • House File 1012 does a number of things to make sure the state is better prepared to provide relief to Iowans facing similar crises in the future based on the lessons we have learned.
  • This bill aims to allow Iowa’s executive branch to more easily utilize the state’s Economic Emergency Fund for disaster recovery by giving the Department of Management access to 10% of the fund each year.
  • Additionally, this bill:
    • Establishes the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing Program, created to provide loans for projects to reduce the impact of natural hazards in the future.
    • Expands the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program, which specifies the availability of assistance for homeowners and renters affected by disasters.
    • Removes the requirement for homeowners and renters to register for the disaster case advocacy program to receive assistance.
    • Approves an additional $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund to tear down disaster-damaged buildings.
  • These changes will help communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters and free up additional funding to be put to use after an emergency.

House File 248: Adoptive Parental Leave

  • This bill requires employers to treat employees who have adopted a child 6 years old or younger the same way as those who have had a biological child in regards to their parental leave policies.
  • Iowa House Republicans want to support families and make sure all kids are getting the support they deserve, particularly kids who may have been born into a difficult situation.
  • New parents who have adopted their child deserve to be treated the same as parents who have had a biological child.
  • This is common sense legislation to ensure all new parents are treated the same by their employers.

House File 367: Family Interactions with a Child in Need of Assistance

  • This bill says that during a Child in Need of Assistance proceeding, the family interaction shall continue unless it poses harm to the child.
    • Specifically, family interaction shall continue in a CINA case, unless the court finds that substantial evidence exists that the family interaction would pose a serious risk of physical or emotional harm to the child.
  • The purpose of maintaining family interactions is to support the child’s emotional well-being and familial bonds. We want to support family connections while ensuring the safety of the child.
  • This bill passed unanimously through the Iowa House.

House File 314: Adoption Home Study Waiver

  • The cost of adoption is a huge burden on couples who want to provide children with a loving home.
  • This bill, passed through the Iowa House this week, allows the court to waive a home study requirement in an adoption case if the person applying is the current legal guardian for the adoptee, has been the legal guardian for the proceeding 3 years, and has complied with the duties and responsibilities of a guardian for those 3 years.
  • Waiving the adoption home study in cases where it makes sense and is deemed safe to do so  can speed up delays in the process and lower costs for prospective adoptive parents. An adoption home study can range anywhere from $1,000 – $3,000.

House File 644: Foster Parent Health Care Consent

  • This bill allows for DHHS and foster parents to consent to routine medical care for a child placed in their care.
  • This includes preventative care, nonemergency medical care, and use of necessary medication, but it excludes vaccines.
  • This will help ensure foster kids have access to the health care they need.

Strengthening Iowa Families in the FY 2026 Budget 

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Increases foster care and adoption subsidy rates by around 5%. This is the second year in a row with an increase to foster and adoption rates.
  • Increases rates for facility providers by $4.8 million that care for foster children that cannot find placement in a lower level of care.

House File 306: Increase Penalties for Providing Obscene Materials to Children

  • This bill aims to protect children by increasing the penalties for the dissemination of obscene materials to a minor.
  • Current law says it is a serious misdemeanor for any person, other than a parent, to knowingly disseminate obscene material to a minor. This bill establishes escalating penalties for individuals who commit this crime multiple times.
    • A first offense remains a serious misdemeanor.
    • A second offence is an aggravated misdemeanor.
    • Third and subsequent offense are Class “D” felonies.
  • This bill seeks to create a legal framework that deters Iowans from providing obscene material to minors, protecting their innocence and preventing the sexualization of our youth.

Senate File 288: Pregnant Students at Regents Schools/Community Colleges

  • This session, House Republicans passed many pro-life, pro-family bills. We want to make sure there are supports in place for new families so that they can set themselves up for success in life.
  • Senate File 288 requires regents institutions and community colleges to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant students or students who recently gave birth. This includes giving the student more time to complete coursework.
  • Institutions will not be allowed to require pregnant students, or students who have recently given birth, to take a leave of absence or withdraw from the program.
  • There will be a written policy that will be given to students and displayed that shoe the protections these students have.

Government Efficiency

House File 970: Refocusing SNAP Benefits on Nutritious Foods – (Passed the House, Governor has Submitted Waiver to Feds)

  • This session we passed HF 970, a bill that changes what foods are eligible to be bought with SNAP dollars, funded by the Iowa taxpayers. In order to achieve this, the Department of Health and Human Services must apply for a waiver from the federal government.
  • SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, right now taxpayer dollars are being spent on items that are far from nutritious and don’t do anything to alleviate hunger.
    • According to a 2016 USDA study of foods purchased with SNAP funds, 20 cents of every dollar was spent on sweetened beverages, desserts, salty snacks, candy and sugar.
    • In the same report, sweetened beverages made up the 2nd most purchased category and prepared desserts was the 5th most purchased category.
  • Iowa currently ranks 11th in the nation for adult obesity, a condition linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and several types of cancers. Under the current system, taxpayers are funding Iowans’ bad eating habits and, in many cases, the resulting health care issues through Medicaid.
  • This bill incentivizes better eating habits. It doesn’t ban anyone from purchasing pop, candy or chips with their own money, but it does limit their ability to purchase those items with taxpayer dollars.
  • These changes would put some reasonable guardrails on what SNAP dollars can be spent on. House Republicans do not believe tax dollars should be purchasing things like skittles and monster energy drinks within a program that is supposed to help alleviate hunger.
  • This bill also allocates $1 million to the Double Up Food Bucks program once the SNAP waiver is approved at the federal level.

House File 297: Emergency Services Provided by a City

  • This bill improves the operational capacity of local emergency services, support volunteers, and ensure that cities can effectively manage their resources for public safety.
  • It does this through the following changes in code:
    • Clarifies in code that a city council member may be appointed Chief of volunteer firefighters or an appointed officer position by a majority vote of the council.
      • This can help ensure that experienced individuals are in charge of emergency services, which can enhance the effectiveness of these departments.
  • Clarifies code that volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services providers are exempted from the section of code governing interests in public contracts. Clarifies that the section does not prohibit stipends, compensation, or incentives for volunteer fire fighters or emergency medical care providers.
    • This will encourage more individuals to participate in these critical roles.
  • Allows cities to establish a reserve savings account for major equipment for police, fire, rescue, or emergency medical services.
    • This puts local governments in a better financial position to ensure that funds are available for necessary equipment and maintenance.
  • Overall, the bill provides local governments with additional tools and flexibility needed to enhance their emergency services.

Senate File 75: County Supervisor Representation Plans

  • We hear often from constituents in rural Iowa who do not feel like they are having their voices heard at the local level because they live in districts that contain one of Iowa’s three regent universities.
  • These districts contain many transient students who may cast their vote for their preferred candidate, but then move away before they are truly represented by that individual.
  • SF 75 makes changes to county supervisor representation in these counties to ensure that rural voters can receive proper representation.
  • These rural voters feel that their voices are being drowned out by students who do not have a vested, long-term interest in the area. These changes will bring much-needed balance to the conversation.

House File 706: Open Meetings Training and Enforcement

  • Last year, examples of dysfunction and corruption in the Davenport city government were brought to light.
  • Many will remember the apartment building that collapsed in May of 2023, killing three people. Lawsuits quickly followed alleging that the city ignored many warnings about the dangers of the building.
  • Additionally, the city issued nearly $2 million worth of settlements over workplace harassment to three city employees before a vote by the Davenport City Council. No details have been made public about the nature or perpetrators of the harassment. This information was also kept private until after the re-election of the Davenport mayor.
  • House File 706 increases the maximum fine for violating Open Meeting laws. It also calls for removal from office for a repeat offense. And lastly, it requires all elected and appointed members of governmental bodies to complete an education course on Open Meetings and Public Information law compliance.
  • Iowans deserve accountability and transparency from their government.

House File 928: Recount Consistency

  • Iowa House Republicans have remained diligent in ensuring Iowa’s elections remain safe and secure.
  • It is essential that Iowans can continue to trust the results of our elections. This has been the case, in part, because Iowa House Republicans are always looking for ways to improve our election system and pass swift action to prevent any bad actions we see taking place in other states from happening here in Iowa.
  • One area we have known needs improvement in our election system is the way we conduct recounts. This week, we passed House File 928 to establish a uniform, fair, and common-sense system for conducting recounts in Iowa elections. Here’s what it entails:
    • Currently there is no limit to when a candidate can request a recount even though recounts have shown to yield minimal vote changes. Frivolous requests are a waste of time and resources. This bill sets a threshold for requesting a recount.
      • Recounts for statewide or federal elections are only allowed if the apparent margin of victory is .15%.
      • Recounts for general assembly or local races are only allowed if the apparent margin of victory is the fewer between 1% or 50 votes.
  • The recount board is changed to consist of the county auditor, the auditor’s staff, and if necessary, people employed to count the ballots for the election with equal party representation.
    • The current process allows the campaigns to appoint one person to the recount board each. This essentially puts the campaigns in charge of counting their own votes, opening the system up to bias. The County Auditor is elected and trusted to run the elections, they should be trusted to run the recount as well.
    • Campaigns may designate up to five observers to personally verify that the recount process is conducted fairly.

House File 954: Ensuring Only US Citizens Vote in Our Elections

  • Iowa House Republicans have remained diligent in ensuring Iowa’s elections remain safe and secure.
  • It is essential that Iowans can continue to trust the results of our elections. This has been the case, in part, because Iowa House Republicans are always looking for ways to improve our election system and pass swift action to prevent any bad actions we see taking place in other states from happening here in Iowa.
  • In the 2024 election cycle, Iowa’s Secretary of State was stonewalled by the Biden Administration in his attempts to verify that Iowans registered to vote in the upcoming election were citizens of the United States and were eligible to vote.
  • Recently, the SOS announced that he had found 277 noncitizens on Iowa’s voter rolls. Of those, 40 attempted to cast ballots in the 2024 election and 35 successfully had their vote counted, despite being an ineligible voter.
  • HF 954 aims to ensure that every voter in Iowa’s elections are US citizens. It does this by outlining efforts to clean the current voter rolls and verify the citizenship status of voters in advance of Election Day.
    • Anyone registering to vote will be notified in advance that there is an issue, giving any US Citizens time to correct an error.
  • Additionally, this bill raises the threshold to become a political party to 3 consecutive statewide elections receiving 2% of the vote and bans ranked choice voting.

Increasing Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care

House File 310: Protecting Workers in Health Care Settings

  • Currently in code, there are enhanced penalties for assaulting a person engaged in certain occupations, including “health care providers.”
  • This bill expands the definition of health care providers to include anyone working, volunteering, or participating in an educational course in a hospital or nursing home.
  • Unfortunately, this is a bill that has become increasingly necessary as we’ve heard from providers about more assaults happening on the health care workforce. This is just one thing we can do in the Iowa Legislature to try and ensure the safety of those who are trying to provide care.

House File 972: Expanding Health Care Access in Rural Iowa

  • This session, we have been focused on a number of policies to ensure that Iowans all across the state have access to the quality health care they deserve.
  • There’s no silver bullet solution to expanding health care access, so our Health and Human Services Committee has put many ideas on the table for consideration, including several proposals from the Governor, who shares our mission.
  • House File 972 was a bill proposed by Governor Reynolds focused on expanding health care access in rural Iowa. It does this by:
    • Requiring DHHS to request federal approval for a health care hub-and-spoke partnership funding model to establish regional collaboration between health care providers and improve health care delivery in rural areas.
    • Consolidates all five health care loan repayment programs into one program that will award logan forgiveness or bonuses based on high-need health care professions in shortage areas and doubles the funding it puts into these programs.
    • Requests $150 million in federal dollars to create 115 new medical residency spots in Iowa each year for the next four years.
    • Repeals existing residency and fellowship programs, with transition provisions, and converts those programs to the Medicaid graduate medical education efforts to expand health care for underserved communities.
    • Streamlines the process for certificate of need decisions.
  • All in all, this bill will streamline services and increase funding to address health care shortages in rural Iowa.

House File 887: Allowing More Birthing Centers in Iowa

  • Like every state in the nation, Iowa is dealing with a shortage of doctors and healthcare staff, rising costs of care, and the need to ensure access to quality services in rural and underserved areas of our state.
  • In particular, we know that pregnant mothers are in need of greater access to care, especially in rural Iowa.
  • When it comes to women’s health, we rank 14th in the nation and have been named the 11th best state to have a baby. However, there are many counties in Iowa who do not have an OBGYN and we’ve seen hospitals in rural Iowa close their birthing centers.
  • House File 887 removes the requirement that birth centers must obtain a certificate of need prior to opening or expanding their services.
  • This removes a regulatory burden that may be serving as an obstacle to women receiving birthing are closer to home.

House File 919: Specialty Hospital Designation for ChildServe

  • This session, we have been focused on a number of policies to ensure that Iowans all across the state have access to the quality health care they deserve.
  • A part of our approach has been focused on complex cases and specialized care.
  • House File 919 establishes a children’s specialty hospital designation for ChildServe. This change allows them to be federally certified and participate in federal reimbursement programs.
  • This bill will help ChildServe’s sustainability and growth, allowing them to provide care to more Iowa kids with special healthcare needs.

House File 516: Retaining Health Care Professionals in Iowa

  • Like every state in the nation, Iowa is dealing with a shortage of doctors and healthcare staff, rising costs of care, and the need to ensure access to quality services in rural and underserved areas of our state.
  • The Iowa House passed HF 516 to take a couple steps that will make it more likely that the health care professionals who are educated and trained in Iowa stay in Iowa to provide care.
  • This bill will do that in the following ways:
    • Requires the University of Iowa medical school and dental school to have at least 80% of their students be residents in Iowa or enrolled in an Iowa community college prior to acceptance.
    • Requires the University of Iowa to submit an annual report on the state of residence of each graduate of the medical and dental school in the year immediately following graduation and their residence before acceptance to the program. It also asks for the same information on UIHC medical residents.
    • Codifies language to require medical residencies at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic to give priority to applicants that have an Iowa connection. Also requires primary care residencies like family medicine, OB, psych and internal medicine at UIHC to provide the opportunity to participate in a rural rotation.
    • Requires the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics to offer an interview for the medical residences of some of the most-needed specialties in Iowa to those with an Iowa connection.
  • This bill focuses our state-funded medical school on making intentional efforts to address the workforce needs of Iowa. Right now, not enough of these graduates are staying here in Iowa to practice.
    • From 2020 to 2024, 81% of non-Iowans graduating from the state medical school left to do their residency in another state.
    • In 2024, UIHC residents only remained in Iowa at 44% after completing their program.
    • The data shows that if you complete medical school and your residency in one state, you’re more likely to stay in that state and practice there.
  • These are long-term solutions that aim to help Iowa train, recruit and retain talent to increase the health care provider shortage in Iowa.

Addressing Iowa’s High Cancer Rates

House File 303 – Prior Authorization in Health Care

  • House File 303 is one of many bills in the Iowa House this session aimed at improving access to quality healthcare in Iowa. It does this by addressing prior authorization.
  • Prior authorization is a practice that requires insurance companies to approve a medical procedure or medication before it can be given to the patient. The goal of this practice is to control costs, but it can often result in delays in getting the patient the care they need.
  • This bill aims to improve access to quality care in a number of ways:
    • Insurance companies must make a determination on a request for prior authorization from a health care provider in 48 hours if it is an urgent request. A nonurgent request must be responded to in 10 days. The bill does allow 15 days to respond if it is a nonurgent request and a complex/unique situation or when experiencing a high volume of requests.
    • Insurance companies must review all health care services that require prior authorization every year and eliminate those that don’t promote health care quality or reduce health care spending.
    • Health insurers must implement a pilot program that exempts a subset of providers from certain prior authorizations. They then must submit a report on their pilot program to the Insurance Division by January 15th, 2026.
  • This bill will speed up Iowans’ access to the care they need and lower the administrative burden on health care providers, allowing them to spend more time with patients.

House File 969: Cancer Coverage and Screening for First Responders

  • After years of work, we officially sent House File 969 to the governor’s desk to become law.
  • This bill expands the definition of cancer for the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System and the Special Services Members of IPERS. Current code outlines 14 types of cancers that are covered for disabilities and death benefits. In listing certain cancers that are covered, code inevitably leaves out additional cancers that should certainly be covered.
  • Firefighters and family members who have lost friends, coworkers, and loved ones to cancers that are not covered by current code, were in attendance to support the passage of this bill.
  • These people have our backs every day as they risk their lives and go to work. With this bill, we do what we can to return the favor and have their backs as well.

House File 1038: Opioid Settlement Fund Appropriations 

  • Nearly a decade ago, state and local governments began suing the makers and distributors of opioid-based pain medications for the harmful impacts these products were having across the country.
  • In the summer of 2021, a group of state attorney generals negotiated a series of settlements with these companies which provided state and local governments with funds to address growing opioid addiction issues.
  • In 2022, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill to create an opioid settlement fund.
  • This fund now receives the state’s share of the settlements. As of today, the state has received $56 million and expects another $107 million by 2039.
  • This bill also required that the Legislature appropriate the money. Since then, there has been lots of conversations on how these funds should be used.
  • This year, an agreement was reached on where the settlement dollars will be spent.
  • House File 1038 provides a two-step approach to spending the money:
  1. The first part, which takes place this year, the state will provide $29 million to various substance abuse treatment providers around the state for treatment, support, housing, and other needs on an in-patient and out-patient basis. Much of the funds will help providers expand their service ability and bring services to areas of the state that do not have the capacity to treat those with addiction issues.
  2. The second part of the funding will be spent over the next five years. The remaining $27 million of the current amount and the payments received annually over the next five years will be divided between the Department of Health and Human Services (75%) and the Attorney General’s office (25%). These funds are to be used to provide services throughout the state for crisis response, early intervention, treatment for opioid addiction, and recovery from opioid addiction.
  • DHHS and the Attorney General’s office will decide how the funds are to be used, but they must take the input and suggestions from the seven behavioral health districts as part of their decision-making process.
  • They will also have to collect and analyze how local governments are using their own shares of the national opioid settlement. This will help prevent the state from duplicating programs and services already being offered by local efforts.

Expanding Iowans’ Access to Health Care in Iowa in the FY 2026 Budget

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Fully funds Medicaid and Hawk-I based on the March Medicaid estimate for FY26 with an additional 2%.
  • Provides Medicaid health care provider rate increased for nursing home rebasing ($20 million), disability providers ($3.04 million), dental rates ($2.1 million), prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care ($420,000, and prosthetics and orthotics ($100,000).
  • Funds State-Operated Specialty Care (Cherokee and Independence MHIs, CCUSO, Woodward and Glenwood Resource Centers, and Eldora State Training School) at DHHS recommended amounts.
  • Allocates $2.3 million to be used for Medicaid graduate medical education efforts which will provide start-up funds to bring 20 new residency programs online in Iowa to train Iowa’s doctors.
  • Codifies the direct payment program which has brough in $1 billion to support Iowa’s hospitals improving access to care.
  • Regarding Nursing homes:
    • This budget allocated an additional $20 million for nursing facility rebasing.
    • It also increases the monthly allotment for Medicaid individuals in nursing facilities from $50 to $55 to pay towards personal needs.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in the FY 2026 Budget 

  • Expanding access to mental health care has been a priority of this caucus for several sessions.
  • There are a number of items in the FY 2026 budget to help Iowans gain access to quality care.

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget 

  • Provides a necessary provider rate increase of $3 million through and increase to intermittent community-based services.
  • Increases the monthly allotment for Medicaid individuals in institutions, to retain $55 per month to pay towards personal needs.

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Consolidated the 5 Health Care Loan Repayment Programs under one, the Health Care Professional Incentive Program with an appropriation of $7,985,911. This consolidation included the Mental Health Practitioner Loan Repayment Program, for those who provide mental health services to high-need communities.

Support for Individuals with Disabilities in the FY 2026 Budget 

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Increases home and community-based services rates to care for disabled Iowans in their communities with a $3 million increase. Increased prosthetic and orthotic provider rates by $100,000.
  • Funds State-Operated Specialty Care (Cherokee and Independence MHIs, CCUSO, Woodward and Glenwood Resource Centers, and Eldora State Training School) at DHHS recommended amounts.
  • Personal Needs Allowance – increases the monthly allotment for Medicaid individuals in institutions, including nursing facilities, to retain $55 per month to pay towards personal needs.

Assisting our Veterans in the FY 2026 Budget

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Appropriates $12.7 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Over $8.1 million to the Iowa Veterans home.
  • A continued $2.2 million investment into the Veterans Home Owner Assistance Program. A $5,000 grant is available to a service member for a down payment and closing costs toward the purchase of a new home in the state.

Lowering Costs for Iowans

Senate File 592: Affordable Housing Through Accessory Dwelling Units – (Signed by Governor)

  • The House passed SF 592 to remove red tape preventing more access to affordable housing through “accessory dwelling units.”
  • An accessory dwelling unit is defined as an additional residential unit located on the same lot as a single-family residence. It can either be attached or detached from the single-family residence.
  • Many families are utilizing these as “in-law suites” to provide housing for aging parents but they can also be used to generate rental income.
  • The bill states that accessory dwelling units shall comply with all applicable building regulations. It cannot exceed the larger between 1,000 square feet or 50% of the size of the single-family residence.
  • It also says that counties and cities cannot adopt more restrictive requirements on an accessory dwelling unit than the single-family residence.
  • By making it easier to create accessory dwelling units, this bill will increase the supply of affordable housing options and will allow for more efficient use of existing residential properties.

Access to Affordable Housing in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 645: Economic Development Budget

  • This budget for Fiscal Year 2026 appropriates $550,000 to the Housing Renewal Pilot Program.
    • This program was created in 2022 to expand affordable housing across the state.
    • It provides grants for the purposes of acquisition and demolition of blighted structures and redevelopment.
    • 25% of the money is required to be allocated to rural communities in the 88 least populated counties.
  • This budget also maintains the state’s budget commitment of $873,000 to the Home and Community-Based Services Rent Subsidy Program. This program provides rent assistance to people on one of the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers.
    • This program provides a monthly rent assistance payment to help these individuals live successfully in their own homes until they’re eligible for any other state, local or federal rent assistance program.
    • Investing in this program saves the state money by avoiding the higher cost of institutional-based care.

Economic Relief for Iowans

Senate File 175: Fetal Development Instruction

  • SF175 requires human growth and development curriculum in grades 5th-12th grade to include instruction related to human development inside the womb.
    • This would include high-definition ultrasound video showing the presence of the heartbeat and other vital organs in early fetal development.
    • It would also include a high-quality video that depicts the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development beginning at fertilization.
  • It’s time for the Left to stop denying the reality of human development inside the mother’s womb. Without this prescriptive language, that is exactly the mindset that would be taught in some schools.
  • This instruction reflects reality. And it will provide students with the many developmental milestones that are met as the baby develops in their mother’s womb from the very beginning to their eventual birth.

Senate File 146: Prohibition on Bots Purchasing Tickets

  • The drama surrounding Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Ticketmaster fiasco brought an issue consumers had been seeing for a while into the forefront of the news.
  • Increasingly, we have seen online bots utilized to purchase event tickets before actual consumers, jacking up the price for everyone on the secondary market.
  • Senate File 146 was passed to make it easier for Iowans to buy tickets to events like concerts or sporting events by banning these ticket “bots.”
  • Prohibits people from creating automated software programs designed to replicate humans and use them to purchase tickets during internet sales.
  • It also makes it so they cannot circumvent sales limitations or disable a queue, waiting period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation systems associated with ticket sales.
  • Known violators can be reported to the attorney general.
    • Civil actions can be taken against violators, with penalties up to $100,000 per violation.
  • This change ensures that tickets are more accessible to genuine fans and consumers.

Protecting Freedom and Supporting Our Troops and First Responders

House File 117 and 118: National Guard Scholarships

  • This year we passed two pieces of legislation to honor and improve the lives of our National Guard members through scholarships.
  • House File 117 creates the National Guard Service Professional Qualification Scholarship Program. This scholarship would cover the cost of certain educational programs approved by the adjutant general and administered by a community college, regent university or private institution.
    • This could include programs leading to certifications in cyber security, IT, emergency medical services or others relevant to their service in the National Guard.
    • The bill requires the adjutant general to publish a list of approved programs for this scholarship.
  • House File 118 makes improvements to the National Guard Service Scholarship Program by allowing the amount to be calculated on the actual tuition costs and the financial aid received. This will improve efficiency in the distribution of funds and potentially free up dollars for more recipients.

House File 1002: Firefighters Length of Service Award

  • Many communities in Iowa rely on volunteer first responders in the case of emergencies.
  • But while the number of volunteers is decreasing, fire emergency calls in Iowa have been increasing in recent years.
  • This bill creates a length of service award program for volunteer emergency responders. The program will provide tax-deferred benefits to create an additional incentive to recruit and retain individuals for these crucial roles.
  • Municipal governing bodies are tasked with developing eligibility and operational guidelines for these programs.  Once they have their program established, a service award grant fund will be available to help support the municipalities in funding these programs with a matching contribution requirement.
  • $1.5 million from the sports wagering receipts fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 will be appropriated to support the grant fund.
  • A length of service award program offers a small but meaningful benefit for those who volunteer to put themselves on the front line.

House File 924: 2nd Amendment Rights of 18-Year-Olds

  • Current law allows for a person between the ages of 18 and 21 to have a professional permit but not a nonprofessional permit and places many other restrictions their Second Amendment rights.
  • These inconsistencies in the law have been ruled unconstitutional in recent court rulings. So we have passed House File 924 to allow 18, 19 and 20 year olds to purchase, possess, and carry firearms, including pistols and revolvers.
    • The bill does include an exception that 18-20 year olds cannot obtain a pistol or revolver from a federally-licensed dealer. This is to remain in compliance with the NICS background check system.
  • I understand the concerns with this change. We should always take seriously any legislation regarding access to firearms. However, Iowans have overwhelmingly supported the Constitutional Right to Bear Arms.
  • I believe that young adults, perhaps new families or women living on their own, deserve the right to protect themselves and their loved ones even if they are under 21 years old.

House File 901: Law Enforcement Lateral Transfer

  • This bill is aimed in increase our law enforcement workforce by allowing some military veterans and former federal law enforcement officers to qualify for a lateral transfer into Iowa law enforcement without going through the standard training.
  • To qualify, veterans must have served a minimum of four years, held a military police designation, completed accredited training, and received an honorable discharge within three years.
  • Similarly, former federal officers must have served at least four years and completed equivalent training.
  • Upon approval for this lateral transfer, these individuals must complete and Iowa-specific orientation course and pass background checks.
  • This bill strikes a balance of removing redundant repetitive requirements but still ensuring that our law enforcement workforce as the training and information they need to be successful.

Assisting our Veterans in the FY 2026 Budget 

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Appropriates $12.7 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Over $8.1 million to the Iowa Veterans home.
  • A continued $2.2 million investment into the Veterans Home Owner Assistance Program. A $5,000 grant is available to a service member for a down payment and closing costs toward the purchase of a new home in the state.

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Will continue the allocation of $6.6 million to provide grants to pay for the tuition of National Guard members attending Iowa higher education institutions.

Funding our Justice System in the FY 2026 Budget

  • The Justice Systems and Judicial Branch budgets fund important aspects of our justice system – from departments that help keep Iowans safe like the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections – to entities that work to ensure a fair judicial system like the State Public Defender and Indigent Defense Fund
  • Some aspects of this system haven’t seen increases in funding for some times and are struggling to work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
  • These two budgets contain policies to address some of those issues facing out justice system.

Senate File 644: Justice Systems Budget

  • Increase compensation for public defenders, a $2 per hour increase.
  • Allocates $5.17 million to Victim Assistance Grants for care providers who service crime victims of domestic abuse and other crimes including rape and sexual assault.
  • Allocates over $2.9 million for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
  • The Attorney General’s office will receive an additional $374,070.

Senate File 648: Judicial Branch Budget 

  • The Judicial budget received a $1.7 million increase.
  • Salaries for Judges were increased 2.5%.

Economic Development

Senate File 657: IEDA Tax Credit Changes

  • Senate File 657 is a comprehensive bill that aims to create, modify, and eliminate tax credits and incentive programs related to economic development.
  • This bill reduces IEDA’s cap to $110.0 million annually and moved the Workforce Housing Tax Credits out from under the cap.
  • Establishes the BIG program for business incentives and phases out the High Quality Jobs Program.
  • Creates the Seed Investment Tax Credit Program, and the Iowa Film Production Incentive Program and Fund.
  • Repeals the investments in qualifying businesses tax credit program, Employer Child Care Tax Credit, and Assistive Device Tax Credit.
  • Modifies the Endow Iowa Tax credit and the MEGA program.
  • This bill also phases out the Research Activities Tax Credit and introduces a new RAC Tax Credit.
  • This bill will streamline and better Iowa’s economic development efforts.

Expanding Iowans’ Access to Health Care in Iowa in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • In 2023, Iowa House Republicans created the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive program to provide scholarships to students studying to fill high need jobs. The budget continues to allocate $6.5 million to that program which includes several health care professions such as nursing.
  • Consolidated the 5 Health Care Loan Repayment Programs under one, the Health Care Professional Incentive Program with an appropriation of $7,985,911.
  • Continues to provide $2.8 million in funding to the University of Iowa Department of Nursing to employ additional instructors and increase the number of students who graduate from the college of nursing.
  • Appropriated $1 million for the University of Iowa Cancer Research.

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Fully funds Medicaid and Hawk-I based on the March Medicaid estimate for FY26 with an additional 2%.
  • Provides Medicaid health care provider rate increased for nursing home rebasing ($20 million), disability providers ($3.04 million), dental rates ($2.1 million), prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care ($420,000, and prosthetics and orthotics ($100,000).
  • Funds State-Operated Specialty Care (Cherokee and Independence MHIs, CCUSO, Woodward and Glenwood Resource Centers, and Eldora State Training School) at DHHS recommended amounts.
  • Allocates $2.3 million to be used for Medicaid graduate medical education efforts which will provide start-up funds to bring 20 new residency programs online in Iowa to train Iowa’s doctors.
  • Codifies the direct payment program which has brough in $1 billion to support Iowa’s hospitals improving access to care.
  • Regarding Nursing homes:
    • This budget allocated an additional $20 million for nursing facility rebasing.
    • It also increases the monthly allotment for Medicaid individuals in nursing facilities from $50 to $55 to pay towards personal needs.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in the FY 2026 Budget 

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget 

  • Provides a necessary provider rate increase of $3 million through and increase to intermittent community-based services.
  • Increases the monthly allotment for Medicaid individuals in institutions, to retain $55 per month to pay towards personal needs.

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Consolidated the 5 Health Care Loan Repayment Programs under one, the Health Care Professional Incentive Program with an appropriation of $7,985,911. This consolidation included the Mental Health Practitioner Loan Repayment Program, for those who provide mental health services to high-need communities.

Addressing the Workforce Shortage in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • The Education Budget contains many items that aim at training new professionals to fill high-demand jobs.
  • Higher Education:
    • In 2023, Iowa House Republicans created the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program to provide scholarships to students at the regents studying to fill high need jobs. This budget allocates $6.5 million toward that program.
    • $948,715 in grants to keep and attract high-quality individuals to teaching in Iowa. An increase of $298,715. Grants are awarded $4,000 per year for a maximum of five years.
    • $23.9 million in continued investment into Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarships. This program provides financial aid for students attending community colleges or accredited private nonprofit institutions pursing a high-demand job.
    • $425,000 for Future Ready Iowa Skilled Workforce Grant Program. This fund provides grants that allow Iowans who left college with at least half of the required credits for a bachelor’s degree in a high-demand field to re-enroll to complete the four-year degree.
    • Continues to provide $2.8 million in funding to the University of Iowa Department of Nursing to employ additional instructors and increase the number of students who graduate from the college of nursing.
    • Provides $1.5 million in funding University of Northern Iowa’s Education program to recruit additional students to programs that lead to teacher licensure.
    • Continues to provide a $2.8 million appropriation to Iowa State University to expand programs in the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science, and other high-demand areas related to technology.
  • K-12
    • Over $3.6 million for Career Technical Education Administration and Secondary appropriations to fund vocational education programming in Iowa’s secondary schools.
    • $600,000 in funding for high school students receiving community college credit over the summer related to high-demand fields.
    • $9.9 million, a $300,000 increase, for Jobs for Americas Grads (iJAG) a nonprofit organization designed to keep students in school and help them transition into the workplace in quality jobs.

Senate File 645: Economic Development Budget

  • The Economic Development budget for Fiscal Year 2026 contains many appropriations aimed at growing Iowa’s skilled workforce.
  • $760,000 to the Future Ready Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Program. This program is designed to encourage small to midsize businesses to start or grow registered apprenticeship programs in high-demand occupations.
  • $125,000 to the Department of Workforce Development to develop a long-term program to train unemployed and underemployed central Iowans with the skills needed to advance to higher-paying jobs with full benefits.
  • Appropriates $11.7 million to continue the operation of the High Quality Jobs Program.
  • $2 million to the Iowa Manufacturing 4.0 program, to implement automation technologies such as robotics, augmented reality, and cybersecurity. (I know the $2 million is the same, just making sure its to fund the same things)
  • $387,158 to the Offender Reentry Program to place soon-to-be-released offenders in a job before they leave prison.
  • $250,000 Summer Youth Intern Pilot Program to help young people at risk of not graduating high school explore and prepare for high-demand careers through summer work experience.
  • The Iowa Regents received over $9 million in state appropriations from the Economic Development budget for Skilled Worker Job Creation Funds.
  • $633,325 to provide students studying STEM fields with internships that lead to a permanent position with Iowa employers.

Supporting Agriculture and Rural Iowa in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 646: Ag and Natural Resources Budget

  • House Republicans maintained their commitment to helping Iowa farmers respond to the threat of foreign animal diseased, like bird flu. The Ag and Natural Resources budget provides the Department of Agriculture with the following new appropriations in FY26 to address these issues:
    • $250,000 to purchase equipment to bolster the Department’s response efforts when outbreaks are detected;
    • $100,000 to support research efforts to develop vaccines;
    • $100,000 to establish a foreign disease preparedness and response fund to help pay for costs incurred by IDALS in addressing outbreaks; and
    • $100,000 to research diseases affecting livestock at the ISU college of Veterinary Medicine
  • This new funding is in addition to the $1 million already allocated to IDALS to address foreign animal disease.
  • We again allocated more than $1.8 million for the Choose Iowa program, which adjusted this year to combine three agricultural marketing promotional programs that were previously separate line-items.
    • The Dairy Innovation and Revitalization program, Value-Added Agricultural grants and Choose Iowa programs received funding to continue promoting products grown, raised and made in Iowa.
  • $200,000 will go toward the launch of a pilot program the helps schools and food banks purchase locally sources foods through the Choose Iowa initiative. We also increased funding for the Local Food and Farm program, which helps producers develop new markets for their products locally.
  • The Butchery Innovation and Revitalization program continues with an appropriation of $249,695. This provides grants to expand and revitalize small-scale meat processors and lockers.

House File 1039: Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund Budget

  • Allocates $8.2 million to the Iowa Water Quality initiative.
    • This initiative provides funding for prioritized watersheds to implement conservation practices that reduce nutrient transport to bodies of water in Iowa.
    • It also allows IDALS to support education and outreach to encourage agriculture producers to establish water quality practices.
  • Allocates $10 million to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program to provide financial assistance to gas stations that wish to convert their equipment to dispense renewable fuels.
  • Appropriates $9.6 million for lake restoration and water quality.
  • Appropriates $5 million over 2 years to the Iowa State Fair for a new Agriculture Education building, which will help teach Iowans the importance of farming to the state.
  • Continues the state’s commitment to addressing our levee system around the state with $5 million to the Levee Improvement Fund.

Keeping Iowans Safe in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 644: Justice Systems Budget

  • Allocates an additional $150,000 for victim assistance grants, for a total of $5.17 million.
  • $8.17 million to the general administration for the Department of Corrections, an extra $503,000.
  • Allocates over $2.9 million for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
  • Provides a $1.6 million increase for the Division of Criminal Investigation, for a total of $22.8 million.
  • Appropriates a total of $92.2 million for the Iowa State Patrol, an increase of $2.18 million.

House File 1039: Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund Budget

  • Appropriates $15 million as the first piece of a major investment in the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, by building a driver training facility at Camp Dodge.  This will allow Academy students to have necessary training in law enforcement driving practices on campus.  The facility will also be used for vehicle training by the Department of Transportation, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa National Guard.

Funding our Justice System in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 644: Justice Systems Budget

  • Increase compensation for public defenders, a $2 per hour increase.
  • Allocates $5.17 million to Victim Assistance Grants for care providers who service crime victims of domestic abuse and other crimes including rape and sexual assault.
  • Allocates over $2.9 million for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
  • The Attorney General’s office will receive an additional $374,070.

Senate File 648: Judicial Branch Budget 

  • The Judicial budget received a $1.7 million increase.
  • Salaries for Judges were increased 2.5%.

Access to Affordable Housing in the FY 2026 Budget

Senate File 645: Economic Development Budget

  • This budget for Fiscal Year 2026 appropriates $550,000 to the Housing Renewal Pilot Program.
    • This program was created in 2022 to expand affordable housing across the state.
    • It provides grants for the purposes of acquisition and demolition of blighted structures and redevelopment.
    • 25% of the money is required to be allocated to rural communities in the 88 least populated counties.
  • This budget also maintains the state’s budget commitment of $873,000 to the Home and Community-Based Services Rent Subsidy Program. This program provides rent assistance to people on one of the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers.
    • This program provides a monthly rent assistance payment to help these individuals live successfully in their own homes until they’re eligible for any other state, local or federal rent assistance program.
    • Investing in this program saves the state money by avoiding the higher cost of institutional-based care.

Support for Individuals with Disabilities in the FY 2026 Budget 

Senate File 645: Economic Development Budget 

  • $84,804 is allocated from the general fund to expand and improve independent living services and to develop and support a statewide network of independent living.
    • Each dollar in state appropriations can match $9 in federal funds.
  • $138,506 to administer the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program. This program provides business development funds of technical or financial assistance to qualified Iowans with disabilities that start, expand, or acquire a business in Iowa.
  • $86,547 in support for Iowa’s seven Independent Living Centers that help develop the skills necessary for Iowans with disabilities to live independently. Services by the centers include peer support, skill training, advocating and more.

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Increases home and community-based services rates to care for disabled Iowans in their communities with a $3 million increase. Increased prosthetic and orthotic provider rates by $100,000.
  • Funds State-Operated Specialty Care (Cherokee and Independence MHIs, CCUSO, Woodward and Glenwood Resource Centers, and Eldora State Training School) at DHHS recommended amounts.
  • Personal Needs Allowance – increases the monthly allotment for Medicaid individuals in institutions, including nursing facilities, to retain $55 per month to pay towards personal needs.

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Invests a continued $35,000 to the Best Buddies program that works in school districts to create opportunities for one-on-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Allocates over $12 million, an increase of $342,391, for the Iowa School for the Deaf which serves students across Iowa who are deaf or hard of hearing preschool through age 21.
  • Allocates $200,000 to the LEAD-K program, the Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids Program. This includes the Family Support Mentoring Program that pairs parents with other families of deaf or hard-of-hearing children or an adult deaf mentor.
  • Allocates over $5 million, an increase of $98,278, for education services for the blind and visually impaired.
  • A continued $2.35 investment in the Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant Program which provides competitive grants to school districts for the establishment of therapeutic classrooms.

Assisting our Veterans in the FY 2026 Budget 

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Appropriates $12.7 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Over $8.1 million to the Iowa Veterans home.
  • A continued $2.2 million investment into the Veterans Home Owner Assistance Program. A $5,000 grant is available to a service member for a down payment and closing costs toward the purchase of a new home in the state.

Senate File 647: Education Budget

  • Will continue the allocation of $6.6 million to provide grants to pay for the tuition of National Guard members attending Iowa higher education institutions.

Strengthening Iowa Families in the FY 2026 Budget 

House File 1049: Health and Human Services Budget

  • Increases foster care and adoption subsidy rates by around 5%. This is the second year in a row with an increase to foster and adoption rates.
  • Increases rates for facility providers by $4.8 million that care for foster children that cannot find placement in a lower level of care.

 

Staying in Touch

This will be my last weekly email until the start of the second session of the 91st General Assembly next January. However, you can expect my monthly email updates over the interim to start again on July 1st. As always, you can also can shoot me an email with any questions or concerns at taylor.collins@legis.iowa.gov, or you can call the Capitol Switchboard and leave me a message at (515) 281-7340.
Sincerely,

Rep. Taylor Collins

Sports, May 23rd

By Slaten Swords · Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 6:26 am CDT

High School Track

The 2025 State Track and Field meet commenced yesterday and some of our local athletes walked away with hardware after the first day, while some other competitors advanced to the finals tomorrow, May 24th. Here’s some of the highlights from yesterday’s events.

Classes 2A and 3A kicked off the day with the field events and a quartet of local talent challenged for the boys’ Class 3A high jump title. Kenden Bowie of Fort Madison leapt over 6 feet and 3 inches but needed all three of his attempts, while Fairfield’s Ryan Giberson and Eli Zillman each cleared it in one attempt. However, the height of 6 feet and 5 inches was too much for our competitors, leading to Bowie tying for 4th place and Giberson and Zillman sharing the silver medal. 

In the girls’ Class 3A 3000-meter run, Avery Rump of Fort Madison snatched 5th place with a time of 10 minutes and 22 seconds. 

Southeast Iowa’s speed was on display on both the boys’ and girls’ sides of Class 3A. Mt. Pleasant’s Alex Scott grabbed the last spot to qualify for the girls’ 100-meter finals with a time of 12.42 seconds. Ryan Bair of Keokuk qualified for both the 200-meter dash finals, with a time of 21.89 seconds, and the 100-meter dash, after sprinting to a time of 10.8 seconds. West Burlington/Notre Dame’s Landry Haberichter will be joining him in the 100-meter dash finals as he secured the 4th fastest time of 10.73 seconds. The finals are scheduled for Saturday at 12:50 pm.

In the boys’ 4×800 meter relay, Fort Madison outdueled Washington with a 6th place time of 8 minutes and 1 seconds, while the Demons finished two seconds behind for 8th place.

Lastly for the boys’ Class 3A field events, Greyson Hartman of Washington slung the discus 169 feet and 8 inches, which was good enough to earn the sophomore the bronze. 

Classes 1A and 4A carried the momentum into their field events as Winfield-Mt. Union’s Kynlee Buffington nabbed 7th place in the girls’ Class 1A long jump, getting a mark of 16 feet and 8 inches. Kylee Hill of Burlington entered the discus event with the 23rd best throw from the state qualifiers and managed to finish as the runner-up with a throw of 149 feet and 3 inches. 

On the boys’ Class 1A side of the field events, New London’s London Franklin flew to a silver medal in the long jump with a mark of 21 feet and 11.25 inches. Kolton Small of Wapello rattled off a 6th place throw of 50 feet and 0.75 in the shot put. 

Danville’s Alaina Gourley sprinted to a personal record time of 58.44 seconds, earning 4th place in the girls’ Class 1A 400-meter dash and five points for the Bears. In the boys’ Class 1A 400-meter dash, Kohlby Newsom of Winfield-Mt. Union took home his own 4th place time of 50.11 seconds. 

London Franklin continued his excellent day with a 5th place time of 11.11 seconds in the boys’ Class 1A 100-meter dash prelims. He will race tomorrow for the finals. 

Lastly, Columbus had Lamar Ceant and Alexander Rees earn spots in the boys’ Class 1A 200-meter dash finals, which will race tomorrow at 2:05 pm. The Wildcats will also be competing in the shuttle hurdle relay finals tomorrow at 12:15 pm after notching a 7th place time of 1 minute and 1 second. 

Stay tuned to KILJ for more updates through the final two days of the 2025 State Track and Field Meet. 

High School Tennis

Fairfield’s Rumin Luo earned the #3-seed in the boys’ Class 1A State Singles Tournament. His first round matchup will be against Ethan Valtman of Newton on Tuesday, May 27th. 

High School Golf

The girls’ Class 1A state meet will be held at American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown with New London’s Emma Busby and Wapello’s Emmalin Marshall making the trip, starting on Thursday, May 29th, and concluding on Friday, May 30th.

The boys’ Class 1A state golf meet will take place at South Hills Golf Course in Waterloo on Tuesday, May 27th, and Wednesday, May 28th.

Central Lee will contend for the boys’ Class 2A state championship starting Tuesday at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo.

Washington’s Drew Conrad will tee off on Tuesday at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls for the boys’ Class 3A state meet.

High School Soccer

The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team will start their Class 2A Region 4 postseason journey tonight on the road against Clear Creek Amana at 7 pm.

In the boys’ Class 1A Substate 5 bracket, Danville will take on (14-1) West Liberty on Tuesday, May 27th, at 7 pm in a road showdown.

The Central Lee boys team will travel to Mediapolis on Tuesday at 7 pm.

In the boys’ Class 2A Substate 5 bracket, #6 Burlington Notre Dame will take on Assumption on Tuesday at 7 pm at home.

It will be a Southeast Conference battle in the boys’ Class 2A Substate 6 semifinals as Mt. Pleasant will get to host Fairfield on Tuesday at 5 pm. 

In the girls’ Class 1A Region 3 bracket, Assumption will take on Washington on Wednesday, May 28th, at 7 pm.

The Mediapolis girls’ team will get to host Mid-Prairie next Wednesday at 7 pm.

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant’s three-run fourth inning was enough to push the Panthers past Cardinal last night for a 4-3 home victory. Zach Newton was dealing on the mound last night, notching 11 strikeouts in six innings of work. Grayson Lowery picked up the save and an RBI. The Panthers are back on the road on Tuesday, May 27th, against Clear Creek Amana for first pitch at 7 pm.

Van Buren County fell to Keokuk in a pitchers’ duel last night, 1-0. The Warriors will face off against Mt. Pleasant on Wednesday, May 28th, at 5:30 pm at home.

Wapello will host Wilton tonight at 5:30 pm.

West Burlington will stay at home for their matchup against Louisa-Muscatine tonight at 5:30 pm.

Fairfield will travel to Moravia on Tuesday at 5:30 pm. 

Mediapolis will face off against New London on the road at 5:30 pm on Tuesday.

Central Lee will compete against Fairfield on Wednesday at 7:30 pm on the road.

Southeastern Community College

The baseball team earned the #7-seed for the NJCAA DII World Series and will be taking on the Great Lakes District Champion in #10 Kellogg Community College tomorrow, May 24th, at 10 am. 

SCC will be hosting a summer volleyball camp starting on Monday, June 16th, and running through Wednesday, June 18th. It is open to boys and girls in grades 3 through 12 and it will be held at the Loren Walker Arena. The final day to register and pay (prices vary from $106 to $132.50 based on grade) is June 1st and there are limited spots in each session. 

You can register at the following link: www.sccvolleyballcamps.com 

This Day in Sports History

1873 – First Preakness Stakes: George Barbee aboard Survivor wins in 2:43 at Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland.

2001 – Marco Siffredi becomes the first person to snowboard down Mount Everest via the Norton Couloir (some share record accreditation with Stefan Gatt).

2021 – PGA Championship Men’s Golf, Ocean Course Kiawah Island: Phil Mickelson becomes the oldest major winner in history (50); wins his 6th major by 2 strokes over Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen.

Prep Track and Field: Day One Results for Classes 1A and 4A

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 at 11:51 pm CDT

Des Moines, IA- Day one of the 2025 State Track and Field meet is in the books after Classes 1A and 4A saw some of our local athletes walk away with team points and some hardware. Here’s a look at how all of our local athletes fared in Thursday afternoon’s slate of events.

Girls Class 1A

The field events led off the afternoon session for the two remaining classes and Isabella Forbes of Columbus competed in the shot put. The Wildcat grabbed 21st place with a heave of 33 feet and 8.5 inches.

In the second session of the field events, Winfield-Mt. Union’s Kynlee Buffington, who has left her mark as a freshman already, claimed 7th place and two points for the Wolves with a leap of 16 feet and 8 inches in the long jump.

Wapello’s Kate Lanz was unable to qualify for the 200-meter dash finals after collecting a 21st place time of 26.96 seconds.

In the 4×800 meter relay, Van Buren County finished in 15th place with a time of 10 minutes and 17 seconds.

Danville’s Alaina Gourley sprinted to a personal record time of 58.44 seconds, earning 4th place in the 400-meter dash and five points for the Bears. Gourley will also participate in the 800-meter run on Saturday at 10:30 am, along with the sprint medley and 4×400 meter relays.

Lanz turned in a 12th place time of 1 minute and 1 second to conclude her performance at the state meet.

Boys Class 1A

The long jump featured some local talent as two Southeast Iowa Super Conference members ushered in three competitors. New London’s Logan Franklin took 17th place with a leap of 19 feet and 8.5 inches. Hayden Shelman of WACO tabbed a mark of 20 feet and 2.75 inches for 14th place.

But it was London Franklin of New London that sailed through the air to nab a distance of 21 feet and 11.25 inches, earning the Tiger the silver medal and eight points for the team total.

In the evening session, Wapello’s Kolton Small rattled off a 6th place throw of 50 feet and 0.75 inches in the shot put, which gave the senior three points towards his team and individual total. He will throw the discus tomorrow at 4:30 pm.

In the first running events of the afternoon, the shuttle hurdle relay team for Columbus was able to qualify for the finals after clinching a 7th place time of 1 minute and 1 seconds. The Wildcats will run on Saturday at 12:15 pm.

Ty Muniz of Columbus displayed his endurance in the 3200-meter run, taking home a time of 9 minutes and 51 seconds, a personal record, along with a point for the Wildcats as his time was good enough for 8th place.

Columbus continued to be a familiar school name as two Wildcats participated in the 200-meter dash prelims, along with Lincoln Bainbridge of Van Buren County. For Lamar Ceant and Alexander Rees, the duo finished 6th and 7th place, respectively. They will compete in the finals on Saturday at 2:05 pm.

Bainbridge gathered a time of 22.88 seconds, which put the Warrior in 11th place.

For the 4×800 meter relay, Columbus was the only one of our local teams to compete and the Wildcats finished in 19th place with a time of 8 minutes and 41 seconds.

London Franklin of New London continued his successful day in the 100-meter dash prelims as the he collected a 5th place time of 11.11 seconds to qualify for the finals. Riley Kaalberg of Columbus took 12th place with a time of 11.33 seconds.

Kohlby Newsom of Winfield-Mt. Union will be competing in a trio of events before the meet concludes on Saturday and he has already collected five points for the Wolves after nabbing 4th place with a time of 50.11 seconds in the 400-meter dash.

Girls Class 4A

Lilian Mennen of Burlington cleared 5 feet even to finish tied for 19th place in the high jump.

Burlington’s sophomore phenom Kylee Hill has now added a silver medal to her collection after ripping off a throw of 149 feet and 3 inches in her second throw of the finals. She entered the meet with the 23rd best throw of the state qualifying marks.

She will defend her shot put title tomorrow at 2 pm.

Boys Class 4A

Burlington’s lone qualifier, Laderrias Shealey, participated in the 100-meter dash prelims and collected 24th place with a time of 12.83 seconds.

Stay tuned to KILJ for updates, results, and recaps from now until Saturday, May 24th! We would like to thank all of our sponsors for allowing us to cover the 2025 State Track and Field meet.

Prep Track and Field: Day One Results for Classes 2A and 3A

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 at 10:07 pm CDT

Des Moines, IA- The 2025 State Track and Field meet is off and running with Classes 2A and 3A to lead off the three-day event. Here’s a look at how our local athletes have fared against some of the best competition in the state.

Girls Class 2A

Kira Messer, the lone qualifier for Mediapolis, competed in the 100-meter dash prelims and sprinted to a time of 12.82 seconds, which was good enough for 15th place.

Girls Class 3A

Over in the field events, Elyse Setterstrom of Fairfield was unable to advance to the finals of the discus after logging a throw of 107 feet and 2 inches, which was good enough for 20th place.

Fort Madison’s Brylie Lorence entered as the #11-seed and would need to add at least three feet on a good day to find a spot in the top nine. Unfortunately, Thursday morning was not the optimal day for most of the throwers as her toss of 114 feet and 3 inches claimed her 13th place.

The prelims shuttle hurdle relay kicked off the running events for the 2025 State Track and Field meet and none of the three Southeast Conference squads managed to qualify for the finals. Washington led the trio of teams, taking 14th place with a time of 1 minute and 10 seconds.

Fairfield, in the 3rd heat, turned in a time of 1 minute and 11 seconds, which was good enough for 18th place. Keokuk did not fair much better with a 23rd place time of 1 minute and 17 seconds.

In the 3000-meter run, Fort Madison had a duo competing and Avery Rump set a new personal record with a time of 10 minutes and 22 seconds, snatching 5th place and four points for the Bloodhounds. Jordan Marshall, a freshman, turned in an 18th place performance with a time of 10 minutes and 57 seconds.

The two will run again for the 1500-meter run on Saturday at 2:30 pm.

In the first of her two events for the day, Mt. Pleasant’s Alex Scott turned in a personal record time of 25.56 seconds in the 200-meter dash prelims; however, it was not fast enough to make the finals, securing 13th place.

Jaedyn Moore of Washington claimed 16th place with a time of 25.95 seconds.

Over in the 4×800 meter relay, Fort Madison took home 12th place with at time of 9 minutes and 53 seconds, while Washington grabbed 18th place with a time of 10 minutes and 1 second.

Lastly, for the running events, the Panther duo of Scott and Kiyah Sanders went racing for the 100-meter finals, which are scheduled for 12:50 pm on Saturday. In her second event of the day, Scott qualified with a time of 12.42 seconds, taking that 8th and final spot. Sanders took 24th place with a time of 13.1 seconds.

In the second half of the field events, Camryn Atterberg of Keokuk was able to get up and over 4 feet and 10 inches but failed at the height of 5 feet. She finished in 19th place.

Boys Class 3A

The high jump was crowded with local talent. Mason Wakins of West Burlington/Notre Dame cleared 6 feet and 1 inch, but failed at 6 feet and 3 inches, finishing tied for 13th place.

Similar to last year, the Southeast Conference brought their A-Game with Fairfield’s Ryan Giberson and Eli Zillman—attempting to defend his title—and Fort Madison’s Kenden Bowie guaranteeing at least a top five finish after everyone cleared 6 feet and 3 inches.

However, the height of 6 feet and 5 inches proved to be challenging for everyone, except Eli Patterson of Benton Community. Bowie finished tied for 4th place after taking all three attempts to clear 6 feet and 3 inches.

Giberson, who had outperformed Zillman for most of the season, also was unable to get over 6 feet and 5 inches in his three attempts. Shockingly, neither was Zillman. The two tied for 2nd place after hopping over 6 feet and 3 inches in their first attempt.

Patterson claimed the state championship for the high jump as he was able to make 6 feet and 7 inches.

Ryan Bair of Keokuk will be busy on Saturday after qualifying for the 100 and 200-meter dashes. He completed a personal record time of 21.89 seconds in the 200-meter dash, which was good enough for 5th place. That final will take place on Saturday at 2:10 pm.

In the 100-meter dash, he will be joined by West Burlington/Notre Dame’s Landry Haberichter, as the Falcon flew to a 4th place time of 10.73 seconds, while Bair grabbed 6th place with a time of 10.8 seconds. The finals are scheduled for 1 pm on Saturday.

In the 4×800 meter relay, both Washington and Fort Madison were able to add to their team point totals as the Bloodhounds collected three points on a 6th place time of 8 minutes and 1 second, while the Demons finished in 8th place with a time of 8 minute and 3 seconds for one point.

For the 400-meter dash, Fort Madison’s Payton Lambert took home 17th place with a time of 51.59 seconds, while Chayce Smith of Keokuk finished in 22nd place with a time of 53.05 seconds.

Fairfield’s shuttle hurdle relay team was unable to qualify for the finals as the Trojans finished in 12th place with a time of 1 minute and 2 seconds.

In the second half of the field events, two members of the Southeast Conference competed in the discus. Fort Madison’s Brayton Schneider fell about 30 feet short of his personal best, throwing for 143 feet and 17th place.

Greyson Hartman of Washington ripped an impressive mark of 169 feet and 8 inches on his first throw of the day. It would turn out to be his best throw as the sophomore finished with the bronze medal and six points for the Demons.

Stay tuned to KILJ for updates, results, and recaps from now until Saturday, May 24th! We would like to thank all of our sponsors for allowing us to cover the 2025 State Track and Field meet.

Fire Destroys Part of Historic Burlington Music Store; No Injuries Reported

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 at 8:41 pm CDT

Burlington, IA (May 22, 2025) — A Thursday afternoon fire caused significant damage to a longtime Burlington business, Musicians Pro Shop, located at 800 Maple Street. The Burlington Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 4:35 p.m. after receiving reports of a commercial structure fire.

Firefighters arrived on scene within four minutes and discovered flames along the rear of the one-story storage portion of the building. The structure, a 4,800-square-foot two-story masonry building with an attached single-story storage unit, dates back to 1868 and is owned by Joel and Patricia Kipp.

According to Fire Marshal Robert Berndt, the building was occupied at the time of the fire, but all patrons were able to evacuate safely. Mr. Kipp and a deputy from the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office made early attempts to suppress the fire with an extinguisher before crews arrived.

Firefighters began with an offensive attack, but a roof collapse in the storage area prompted a shift to defensive tactics. The fire was under control by 8:30 p.m. and no injuries were reported.

While the two-story portion of the structure sustained smoke and water damage, the attached one-story storage section is considered a total loss. Fire officials confirmed there were no working smoke alarms inside the building at the time of the incident.

The fire originated in combustible materials placed against the building’s exterior. Although the cause has been ruled undetermined, it is not considered suspicious.

Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including West Burlington Fire Department, Mediapolis Fire Department, Danville Fire Department, Alliant Energy, IAAP, Superior Ambulance, Burlington Police Department, and the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

Further updates regarding the incident will be provided by the Fire Marshal’s office as the investigation continues.

Delbert Allen “Duke” Moser

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 at 8:38 pm CDT

Delbert Allen “Duke” Moser, 86, of New London and formerly Burlington and Kingston, died Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House, West Burlington.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Elliott Chapel, New London, Iowa with Pastor Harry Hollingworth officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm, Monday, May 26 at Elliott Chapel.  Memorials have been established for the New London Fire and Rescue, New London Trap Club, and DNR Youth program.

According to his wishes, his body will be cremated following the services, and at a later date inurned at Claypoole Cemetery, Wever, Iowa.

Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.