Dear Senate District 48, Mark Lofgren

By Hayden Douglas · Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 8:49 am CDT


– Week Sixteen – 

Sixteenth Week of the 91st General Assembly

Passing our End Date and Heading into Overtime

The sixteenth week of the legislative session has come to a close. Although May 2 is the last scheduled day of the 2025 legislative session, the Iowa Legislature still has much important work to finish. Therefore, we will be back again next week to work on budget compromises and wrap up other issues to finish out the year. As with every session, there will be some bills that will not come to completion this year, and those bills might possibly be brought back up again during next year’s session. Although our clerks will no longer be there to assist us with secretarial tasks , I anticipate that we will most likely be in Des Moines for at least a couple more weeks.

The Senate debated Monday and Tuesday this week. Bills that had already been passed by the House were sent to the governor’s desk for her signature and those that had only been passed by the Senate were sent over to the House for their consideration. The Appropriations Committee also met this week to discuss some important sections of the overall budget.  Once passed out of committee, these budget pieces will then be brought before the entire Senate before being sent on for House approval.
No Eminent Domain for Private Gain

One group of senators are totally committed to ensuring that the property rights of Iowans continue to be protected from eminent domain. For this reason, I along with eleven other Senate members have signed a pledge to vote against remaining budget bills until a vote is held on HF 639. This is the bill that addresses eminent domain associated with the carbon sequestration pipeline in Iowa. Our objective is to pass both HF 639 and HF 943. These bills complement each other and both contain language specifically preventing eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines. Both bills have already passed out of the House with votes of 85-10 and 82-12 respectively. It is our hope that the Senate can also come to agreement on this soon. Click below to see an article containing details about this pledge and the twelve Senators who are fighting for your rights.

Iowa Senate Property Rights Protectors!

PBM Reform to Protect Iowa Patients and Help Rural Pharmacies Across the State

For the past few years we’ve been hearing from our local, smaller pharmacies about the unregulated stronghold they were under due to Pharmacy Benefit Managers and asking for reform to this system that has caused many to close their doors. In the past years the legislature has passed legislation to start bringing more transparency to this complicated system and to help protect patients. This week the Senate passed Senate File 383, implementing additional protections for Iowa patients, cost-saving measures, and practices to help rural pharmacies.

Senate File 383 enacts a series of regulations on PBMs, including prohibiting them from restricting patients from using the pharmacy of their choice and from designating a prescription drug as a specialty drug to prevent or limit access to the drug by a patient. Under this legislation, PBMs also cannot require a patient to solely use a mail order pharmacy. This bill also ensures 100 percent of all rebates received by a PBM are passed on to the health carrier or the plan sponsor for the purpose of reducing premiums. Another major provision reforms current PBM reimbursement practices, which cause a pharmacy to operate at a loss when dispensing a prescription, by setting a dispensing fee be paid to certain retail pharmacies in Iowa. Lastly, this provides a platform for pharmacists and pharmacies to directly appeal any matter to the PBM to eliminate red tape in the system.

A majority of states across the country have implemented PBM reforms to help control costs for patients, ensure network access, and to help their local communities, especially in rural areas. The measures passed this week move Iowa in line with those states. SF 383 implements sound regulation on pharmacy benefit managers, while providing opportunities to support network adequacy, consumer choice, and provide further transparency on reimbursements and costs. This bill passed the Iowa Senate with a vote of 36-14 and has been sent on to the Iowa House for consideration.

Establishing a Specialty Court with a Focus on Business

We also passed Senate File 639 this week. I mentioned this bill in a previous newsletter, and its goal is to establish a business court in Iowa. This special court will be based on a pilot program that was initially begun in 2012, and has reported great success in a variety of districts across the state including our own District 7. We can attribute  a large amount of the growth and success of Iowa to our local businesses that were started by Iowans to serve the needs of their communities, to people across the state, and even across the world. Therefore, we must continue to seek ways to encourage more and more businesses across the country to relocate from unsafe, high tax, overly regulated states like Illinois to the pro-growth, pro-jobs state of Iowa. As an employer-friendly state, it is important that we ensure a fair system to make Iowa more hospitable for potential investment or future business development. SF 639 intends to do just that. This bill establishes a business court for the purpose of resolving complex commercial and business litigation. Having a business court that is staffed by judges who have particular experience in business litigation and that is dedicated to those complicated issues, along with the pro-growth environment Republicans have created in Iowa, will help make our state even more attractive to business owners who are  looking to find a competitive home to grow their business in.
Having a Plan for Administering Seizure Rescue Medication at School

A bill to help students who may face seizures in school and ensure they have the support they need when it is the most crucial passed the Iowa Senate this week and is headed to the governor’s desk for signing. House File 835 will require a least one employee at each school be trained to administer or assist self-administration of seizure rescue medication during a time of need. This preparation reduces the risk of injury or harm to the student, ensures timely administration of emergency protocols, and creates an environment that is supportive of students with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. This bill also helps to alleviate the stress of parents, students, and staff who otherwise would not actively be able to administer potentially life-saving medication. This is a proactive measure we can set into place to ensure continued safety and security for Iowa’s students.
The Importance of Conservative Budgeting

Senate Republicans announced this week a budget deal with Governor Reynolds, moving us one step closer to a budget agreement to close out the legislative session. The agreement is an overall budget of $9.417 billion, an increase of nearly $470 million or 5.25 percent from Fiscal Year 2025. This includes the $240 million increase in education funding, meeting the state’s Medicaid need, supporting our correctional officers, institutions, and troopers, and sustaining our commitments across state government.

A budget of $9.417 billion continues our conservative budgeting practices, remains sustainable for future years, and puts Iowa taxpayers first. This budget implements the policy that one-time spending means one-time spending. Senate Republicans understand that federal, one-time pandemic dollars cannot be sustained indefinitely by Iowa taxpayers. As hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are returned to hard working Iowans this year due to fully implementing the 3.8 percent flat tax, our budget is built to keep Iowa on pace for new growth.

The first year Senate Republicans were in the majority, our first task was to pass a de-appropriations bill because the Democratic legislature had pushed spending too far. Since then, with careful, targeted spending, we have been able to pass multiple bills to put money back into the pockets of Iowans. We started bringing down the number of tax brackets Iowa had and lowered Iowa’s complicated 8.98 percent income tax rate to a simple, flat 3.8 percent income tax. We eliminated the inheritance tax, the tax on retirement income, and provided tax relief for small businesses. We reduced the corporate tax rate to keep Iowa competitive, and limited tax credits for special interests. All of these achievements have been possible with a consistent and unwavering commitment to responsible budgeting.

Best regards,

Mark

Taylor Collins: To the People of House District 95

By Hayden Douglas · Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 8:45 am CDT

Iowa’s Property Tax Problem

Since being elected in 2022, by far the issue I hear most about from constituents is the burden of property taxes. According to research from the Common Sense Institute, from 1978 to 2024, consumer prices rose 350% in the Midwest while Iowa’s statewide property tax revenues rose by 550%. They tracked each other almost exactly from 1978 until the start of the new millennium. Since 2000, however, statewide property tax revenues have grown at more than twice the rate of inflation – 73% versus 170%. With property taxes consuming 3.25% of statewide personal income, Iowa had the 11th highest property tax burden in the nation in 2022.

In 2023, the House and Senate passed HF 718 with overwhelming bipartisan support which didn’t cut property taxes, but at least limited their annual rate of growth. Since then, local governments have indicated they can’t keep up with the cost of inflation, and taxpayers continue their cry for relief. Those sentiments track a recent ITR Foundation Poll, which indicated 66% of voters support capping property tax increases and restricting local governments from raising property tax collections by more than 2% per year. Only 14% indicated their opposition to this measure.

This year, both House and Senate Ways & Means Chairs have introduced a bill similar to this 2% revenue restriction concept, along with other reforms with a goal of simplifying a system that hasn’t seen significant reforms in over 50 years. As of now, an agreement has yet to be reached on this issue. However, I hope we reach some kind of agreement to begin reforming this process – even if it takes two years to move the needle.
House Republicans Release Budget Plan

This week House Republicans released their spending plans for Fiscal Year 2026 once again committing to move forward a responsible, conservative budget for Iowa. The plan spends $9.453 billion starting on July 1st. This represents an increase of $505 million over the current year.

The largest area of growth in the budget is Medicaid. Under the plan, the state increases its share of the program’s costs next year as the enhanced federal matching funds due to Covid are dwindling down. In addition to replacing those funds, the Medicaid budget includes rate increases for nursing homes, dentists, pharmacies, and other providers.

Funding for Iowa’s public schools was set earlier in April as a 2% increase in the state cost per pupil was agreed to. The increase is over $107 million and includes a $5 per student increase for per pupil equity, increased operational sharing funds for districts, and a higher contribution for school transportation costs. The House Republican budget also provides an $8 million increase for community colleges, and additional funds to the Regents Universities for specific initiatives rather than continued general fund increases.

House Republicans continue to keep their word to paraeducators and school support personnel by maintaining the $14 million of additional funding that was first enacted last year. These funds are being used by school districts to raise pay to those serving special education students and other needed services. Unfortunately, the joint Senate / Governor budget targets do not include maintaining the additional wages to these vital classroom assistants who provide a difficult and underappreciated service to younger Iowans with special needs.

The House Republican budget includes additional funds for other priorities, including meeting the state’s constitutional requirement to provide indigent defense services, helping victims of crime, supporting job training programs for students, and providing support for veterans services. Action on these priorities is moving quickly as they will be eligible for debate early next week.
Iowa Ranks Fifth in the Nation, Leading the Midwest in Preschool Access for Four-Year-Olds 

In a newly released national report, Iowa maintains its top five ranking in preschool access for four-year-old children. The state’s national ranking in preschool access for three-year-old children also gained new ground, rising from 22nd to 21st place.

Each year, the National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) State of Preschool Yearbook provides a critical snapshot of preschool education in the United States. The 2023-24 school year set national records for state enrollment and funding for preschool programs, primarily serving four-year-old children. Nationally, enrollment reached 37% for four-year-old’s and 8% for three-year-old children. In comparison, 67% of Iowa’s four-year-old children and 6% of three-year-old’s were served in state-funded preschool programs.

“We are pleased to see Iowa recognized for our continued efforts to provide access to high-quality preschool programs for our youngest learners,” said Kimberly Villotti, chief for the Bureau of Early Childhood Education at the Iowa Department of Education. “Through our collaborative partnerships with preschool programs across the state and a statewide commitment to expanding access and inclusive programming, we continue to serve a large number of four-year-olds and look for additional enrollment opportunities for three-year-old children.”

For Iowa, the NIEER 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook noted the following results:

  • Iowa’s two state-funded preschool programs showed an enrollment of 28,189.
  • State spending totaled nearly $97,000,000, up 1% since last year.
  • State spending per child equaled $3,735, up $49 from 2022-23.

Iowa’s Shared Visions Preschool Program and the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children support access to preschool programs for families across the state. Shared Visions programs provide quality child development programs for children at-risk in 29 Iowa counties. The preschool programs serve children ages three to five.

Established in 2007, the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children, aims to give every young child in Iowa an opportunity to build a strong foundation for learning. Children who are four-years-old on or before September 15 can enroll and attend quality preschool programs at no cost.

For more information on Iowa’s preschool programs, visit the Department’s early childhood education webpages.

 
Trump Administration Issues Nationwide Emergency Waiver for Summertime E15 Sales

This week the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a press release announcing that this federal agency was issuing an emergency fuel waiver allowing the sale of E15 gasoline — gasoline blended with 15% ethanol — nationwide during the summer driving season. By doing so, EPA will keep E15 on the market giving consumers more options across the nation. This is consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency, directing the EPA to consider issuing emergency waivers to allow for year-round E15 sales. EPA Director Lee Zeldin noted – “President Trump’s commitment to farmers and the Renewable Fuels Standard has been a cornerstone to his leadership. In my confirmation hearing, I pledged to establish certainty when it came to the sale of E15 year-round. Promises made, promises kept.”

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins added – “President Trump is committed to lowering energy prices by unleashing American energy production, and it all starts with U.S. farmers. This move to allow the summer sale of E-15 will provide immediate relief to consumers, provide more choices at the pump, and drive demand for corn grown, processed, and used right here in America. Our nation’s great corn growers are critical to helping the U.S. achieve energy independence which is essential to national security. I thank Administrator Zeldin for moving quickly to implement this emergency fuel waiver and his continued commitment to U.S. famers and the U.S. biofuels industry. At USDA we look forward to our continued partnership with EPA and are working diligently to increase our energy dominance in the U.S. and abroad by expanding market access for American biofuels on the world stage.”
House Releases Health and Human Services Budget

This week, the House and Senate both released FY2026 Health and Human Services Budgets. The House budget appropriates $2.47 billion of state general fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services. This is a $253 million increase in general fund compared to FY2025. In total with federal matching funds, the House budget appropriates over $6 billion towards Medicaid, childcare, child welfare, public health, aging and veteran services in Iowa.

  1. Fully Funding Medicaid – This budget appropriates an additional $20 million on top of the March Medicaid estimate for FY26. House Republicans are dedicated to fully funding Medicaid and have always provided that commitment to vulnerable Iowans while being in the majority. Allegations that Medicaid is not being funded is inaccurate and is federal fear mongering for political purposes.
  2. Provider rate adjustments – This budget provides necessary increases to the following Medicaid providers:
    1. Nursing Homes – The House has fully funded Iowa’s nursing homes at the rate developed through cost reporting. This $25 million of state funding amounts to almost $70 million increase to Iowa’s nursing homes to care for Iowa’s elderly.
    2. Home and Community-Based Services – The House budget provides a $3 million increase to care for Iowa’s disabled population in their communities, which amounts to $8.5 million in total funding increase.
    3. Maternal Health – Increases rates for prenatal, delivery and postnatal care
    4. Dentists – Provides $3.1 million to increase dental rates to the 85% Medicare benchmark
    5. Pharmacy – Provides a $1 million increase to the Medicaid dispensing fee
    6. Prosthetics – Increases prosthetic and orthotic provider rates by $295,000
  3. Mental Health –
    1. Autism Coverage – fully funds adding autism coverage to the hawk-i program ensuring over 600 youth have access to autism care
    2. Commitment Discharge – adds in the majority of House File 385 that requires responsible discharge planning for individuals committed for substance abuse or mental health.
    3. Commitment Hearing Testimony – adds in House File 313 that allows Pas and ARNPs to testify at committal hearings if they witnessed the examination, reviewed the report, and the professional that examined the individual is unable to attend the hearing.
  4. Adoption and Foster care – This bill increases foster care and adoption subsidy rates by 5%
  5. Emergency Medical Services – Funds House File 977 to expand federal support for Iowa’s EMS providers. This bill will enable additional tens of millions of dollars to come to the state to support rural EMS.
  6. Personal Needs Allowance – increases the monthly allotment for Medicaid individuals in nursing facilities to retain $65 per month to pay towards personal needs.
  7. SNAP – Double Up Food Bucks – Fully funds the $1 million in House File 970. This bill importantly provides a $1 million appropriation to the Double Up Food Bucks Program if Iowa receives federal approval to include healthy food based on necessary nutrition for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
  8. Veterans – Fully funds House File 1000, which appropriates $250,000 to the veterans service organization grant program to provide matching funds for employing new staff to assist veterans with federal claims.
  9. Dementia Coordinator – Requires DHHS to hire a state dementia coordinator to help Iowans and their family members with accessing dementia care.
  10. Radon testing kits – creates a $20,000 standing appropriation to DHHS to be used to make radon test kits available, free of charge, to homeowners and renters in Iowa.
  11. Health Equity Bureau – Eliminates the Health Equity Bureau within DHHS to focus the department on the health needs of all Iowans.
  12. TANF – Maintains FY25 TANF distribution of funds
  13.  Juvenile Detention – Increases the allotment of funds to Iowa’s juvenile detention centers by $25,000
Equal Rights for Firearm Owners

When a person turns eighteen, they can legally get married, sign a contract, join the military, work full time, and buy a place to live, but until recently they didn’t have the right to protect themselves or their loved ones with a firearm. HF 924 changes that by allowing adults, eighteen and over, to acquire and carry a firearm and exercise their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Under the previous law, a person had to be twenty-one years old to possess or use a handgun unless they were under direct adult supervision of someone twenty-one or older. This meant that a person old enough to join the military and defend our country could not legally defend themselves or their loved ones at home. Imagine being a husband, with a new wife, a baby, and no ability to protect them from a violent intruder.

Allowing an eighteen-year-old to acquire and carry a firearm is not unique policy. Most states allow legal adults to possess a handgun. Federal Courts have ruled that eighteen-year-old adults have the same rights as those twenty-one and over. HF 924 brings Iowa in line with other states and federal court rulings.

House File 924 does not change where firearms are allowed, and only ensures that adults are treated equally under the law. Firearms are still prohibited on school grounds, most federal grounds and other designated places. This means an eighteen-year-old high school student cannot keep their firearm in their vehicle while at school, carry it in the building, or carry at school sanctioned events.

This new law treats adults equal under the law and ensures a person has the right to protect themselves and their family and are not hindered by out-of-date policy.
Iowa Awards $3.4 Million in New Grants to Support Registered Apprenticeship Programs

Iowa announced new grant awards for Registered Apprenticeship (RA) sponsors whose programs are building the workforce pipeline across the state. A total of $3.4 million in grants are being distributed to both existing RA programs and programs created in new occupations that are based in high-demand fields.

Grant funds awarded to RA sponsors will be managed through the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA). The IOA, housed within Iowa Workforce Development, is responsible for administering and supporting all RA programs in the state. In 2024, Iowa officially became a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), granting IOA the formal oversight and authority to better support existing programs and establish innovative ways to expand their development across the state.

“I applaud the program sponsors receiving grant funds today who are committed to preparing the workers of tomorrow using the Registered Apprenticeship model,” said Governor Reynolds. “Registered Apprenticeship programs play a critical role in our overall workforce strategy. As we demonstrated in the Teacher-Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship program, using a tried and true model in a nontraditional field is a win-win for Iowans and employers, and I am pleased to see a number of our schools receive funding under this program.”

Today’s grant awards involve two different funding streams, which together will help support the success of thousands of apprentices participating in the sponsors’ programs:

  • The Iowa Apprenticeship Act (84E), which provides funding for training or ongoing costs within any active RA program in the state.
    • (Awardee Sheet): $2.94 million in grants to 59 sponsors who are supporting 5,133 participating apprentices.
  • The Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Program (84F), which specifically provides funding for new programs formed in a high-demand occupation.
    • (Awardee Sheet): $427,800 in grants to 17 sponsors who have created programs in 19 new occupations.

“Iowa made an investment to provide financial support to grow Registered Apprenticeship programs when these programs were created over 10 years ago,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development.

“Today, we continue to see the return on that investment with increases in the number of apprentices and programs across the state as well as the expansion of this training model into nontraditional fields.”

For more information about the programs featured in today’s awards, visit the pages below:

  • Iowa Apprenticeship Act (84E).
  • Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Program (84F).
Senate Concurs; Gives Final Approval to Youth Deer Tag Extension

This week the Senate passed Senate File 423 as amended by the House by a 47-2 vote. SF 423 requires that youth deer hunting licenses be available for purchase during the same timeframe as general deer hunting licenses, encompassing all established deer hunting seasons. It allows holders of a youth deer hunting license to utilize their license and tag during the season for which it was issued or in any subsequent established deer hunting season, provided they follow the authorized method of take for that season. However, if the tag is filled in one season, the license will not be valid for subsequent seasons. This change enhances accessibility and flexibility for youth hunters in Iowa. The House amendment, which I added to bill after hearing from concerns from farmers, obliges the DNR to issue deer depredation permits to any landowner who incurs crop, horticulture product, tree or nursery damage of one thousand dollars or more due to wild animals.
Governor Signs Several State Government Bills

Last Friday Governor Reynolds signed several State Government Committee pieces of legislation into law. These bills range from some good governance changes to existing code, code cleanup following the reorganization of the government, and licensing bills.

Department of Revenue Alcohol Beverage Division Bill
HF 470 updates the definition of “canned cocktail” and “mixed drink cocktail” to include drinks made with a beer or wine base. Updates Iowa Code to require license applicants to use the USPS Verified Address for their licensed premise in their application to the Department. The new law additionally clarifies that the State of Iowa and agencies of the state are authorized to hold an alcohol license.

Eligibility requirements for financial institutions to hold public money
HF 844 repeals section of code requiring the Treasurer of State to establish a list of eligible financial institutions to accept state public funds. The Division of Banking and Division of Credit Unions under the Department of Insurance and Financial Services has the authority to determine the eligibility of financial institutions to accept state funds.

Enacting the Respiratory Care Licensure Interstate Compact
HF 547 enacts the interstate compact to support the mobility of licensed respiratory therapists. The compact allows qualified licensed respiratory therapists to apply and be approved for the compact privilege to practice in remote participating states.

 
REAL ID Enforcement Date Approaching: What Iowans Need to Know

Starting next Wednesday (May 7th) all travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card or another acceptable document (like a passport) to board domestic commercial flights. A REAL ID will also be required to access certain federal buildings or enter nuclear facilities. If you need clarification about entry into federal facilities, we recommend contacting the specific federal facility directly before your visit.
You do NOT need a REAL ID to:

  • Drive
  • Vote
  • Purchase alcohol or cigarettes
  • Access hospitals
  • Visit the post office
  • Access federal courts
  • Apply for or receive federal benefits such as social security or veterans’ benefits

When to get a REAL ID:
Iowans who fly commercially or visit certain federal buildings should obtain a REAL ID soon to avoid any issues or delays after the May 7, 2025 enforcement date. Appointments are highly encouraged and can be scheduled through the Iowa DOT Service Selector (or go to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s website at IowaDOT.gov and search appointments).

If you are not flying or visiting a federal facility that requires a REAL ID until later in the year, you can wait to get your REAL ID. We strongly recommend getting it two months in advance of when you need to use it.

How to Check If You Have a REAL ID:
Check the upper-right corner of your driver’s license or ID. If there is a gold star, you have a REAL ID. If the upper-right corner is blank or reads “NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES,” then your ID is not REAL ID-compliant. For examples, visit the Iowa DOT REAL ID page (or go to the DOT’s website at IowaDOT.gov and search REAL ID).

Need a REAL ID? Here’s How to Get One:
To obtain a REAL ID-compliant credential, visit the Iowa DOT REAL ID website (or go to the DOT’s website at IowaDOT.gov and search REAL ID) for details on required documentation. This site will put together a checklist for you on the documents you need. To meet the federal requirements, just remember 1-1-2. You will need:

  • 1 document that proves your identity and date of birth.
  • 1 document that proves your social security number.
  • 2 documents that prove Iowa residence and residential address.

*Name change documents (if applicable, marriage certificate/divorce decree, etc.)
House Funds Veteran Service Organization Grant Program

This week, the House released the House Health and Human Services Budget, which fully funds House File 1000. This bill passed the House unanimously and appropriates $250,000 to the veterans service organization grant program to provide matching funds for employing staff to assist veterans with claims.

Iowa veterans first line of assistance to ensure they are receiving the benefits they have earned is their county veteran service officer. Oftentimes, if the claim is more complex or the veteran needs assistance appealing a determination, veteran service organizations provide that assistance free of charge. This bill will ensure expansion of that assistance for Iowa’s veterans. The bill is now to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Iowa is Finally Inheritance Tax Free 

Tax Year 2025 has been a big one for Iowa. The income tax rate dropped to a flat 3.8% for all taxpayers. That change alone has made Iowa’s tax climate so much more competitive and kept more of Iowans’ money in their hands. But another big change happened this year as well – Iowa no longer has inheritance tax.

Senate File 619 passed back in 2021 phased out Iowa’s inheritance tax and rate of 20% each year until it was repealed totally for deaths occurring on or after January 1st of this year. Most property passing from a decedent was already exempt from the tax, but there were situations where tax was owed. Whether tax was owed depended on the relationship. Direct transfers (think up or down) to children, grandparents, parents were all exempt. However, transfers to nieces, aunts, uncles, etc. were taxable.

But in 2025 that is no longer the case – inheritance tax is gone, and income tax is flat.
Staying in Touch

As always, you can 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 2nd

By Slaten Swords · Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 6:28 am CDT

High School Track

WACO hosted the Ekstrand Relays last night and the Fairfield boys’ team and Washington girls’ team ran away with the Class A team titles, while the Class B winners were the Sigourney boys’ team and the Lone Tree girls’ team with 108 points.

Starting on the boys’ side for Class A, Fairfield won eight events on their way to the team win. Ousman Saine took the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.76 seconds. Gabe Tejada outsprinted the field in the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.57 seconds and the 800-meter run by just two-tenths of a second. Ryan Giberson captured the 110-meter hurdles gold with a time of 15.81 seconds, while Dylan Adam snatched the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 57.43 seconds. Those wins paved the way for the Trojans to take the shuttle hurdle relay. In the field events, Eli Zillman leaped 21 feet and 3 inches to win the long jump, while Giberson outleapt his state champion teammate to capture the high jump with a height of 6 feet and 6 inches.

Mediapolis proved to be stronger in packs as the Bulldogs won the 4×200 meter relay with a time of 1 minute and 31 seconds, the 4×400 meter relay with a mark of 3 minutes and 33 seconds, and the distance medley relay. Simon Wendel outpaced the field in the 3200-meter run with a time of 10 minutes and 6 seconds.

Central Lee’s best finisher was Kegan Damico in the 400-meter hurdles with a silver medal time of 59.32 seconds. Danville’s Noah Horn took 2nd place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.7 seconds.

On the boys’ Class B side, WACO finished in 2nd place as a team. The Warriors pieced together wins in the sprint medley relay with a time of 1 minute and 38 seconds and the distance medley relay with a mark of 3 minutes and 40 seconds.

Winfield-Mt. Union’s Kohlby Newsom won the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.43 seconds and the 800-meter run with a time of 1 minute and 59 seconds. Cruz Hagmeier hopped his way to the win in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.89 seconds. Lastly, Cooper Buffington lobbed the shot 39 feet and 2.75 inches to win the event.

New London’s 4×100 meter relay team continued their success, grabbing 1st place with a time of 43.47 seconds. The 4×200 meter relay team followed the formula, winning their event by three seconds.

On the girls’ side for Class A, Danville’s Alaina Gourley sprinted to the gold in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.34 seconds. She grabbed her second gold of the night in the 800-meter run with a mark of 2 minutes and 21 seconds. The Bears won the 4×400 and sprint medley relays.

Fairfield’s Lilly Bergren took the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.21 seconds. Avery Crear grabbed Mediapolis’ lone win in the high jump with a leap of 4 feet and 10 inches as the Bulldogs finished in 2nd place in six events.

For Class B, Kynlee Buffington of Winfield-Mt. Union took home the win in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.32 seconds. Josie Nelson sprinted to the win in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.38 seconds. WACO snatched the win in the distance medley relay and the shuttle hurdle relay. Bren Graber took the gold in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 10 seconds.

The Wapello girls’ team celebrated their senior night at the Arrow Relays last night and finished in 5th place with 63 points, while Central Lee nabbed 87 points for 4th place. 

For Wapello’s Kate Lanz, she grabbed a trio of golds, winning the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.59 seconds, the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.52 seconds, and the 400-meter dash with a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds. Central Lee’s Aubrey Weber swept the throwing events with a throw of 32 feet and 8.5 inches in the shot put and a toss of 99 feet and 5 inches for the discus.

Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren County will make the trip to Cardinal to compete in the Bob Gerard Relays tonight.

Columbus will host the Wildcat relays at Louisa-Muscatine, due to their field renovation, on Monday, May 5th, with Wapello in attendance. 

The Van Buren County Co-Ed meet is scheduled for Monday with New London and Central Lee making the trip.

WACO and Danville will make the trip to Highland for an Invitational on Monday.

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant was swept by Fairfield last night with the girls’ team falling 9-0 and the boys’ team losing 6-3. Lou Schimmelpfennig picked up the lone singles win for the boys’ team, while the teams of Dane Cook and Max Heater and Elijah Rynders and Sawyer Fulton won their doubles matches. 

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Burlington on Monday, May 5th, with the girls’ team on the road and the boys’ team at home.

The Fairfield boys’ team will compete at the Ottumwa Invitational tomorrow, May 3rd, while the girls’ team will participate in the Grayhound Invite.

High School Golf

On a contentious afternoon at Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club, Mediapolis turned in a pair of victories against Van Buren County by a combined five strokes with the boys’ team winning 172-176 and the girls’ team taking their meet 216-217. Kohen Stotlar and Max Griffin each carded a 41 for the Bulldogs, while the girls’ team was led by Cardin Miller and Katelyn Wischmeier’s score of 52.

The Mediapolis and Danville girls’ teams will compete in the Washington Invitational on Monday, May 5th.

Burlington Notre Dame will make the trip to Van Buren County today. 

The Wapello boys’ team defeated WACO yesterday 179-209 as Wyatt Marlette took home a 43 in the winning effort.

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team cruised to victory over Lone Tree yesterday 164-216, while the girls’ team won via forfeit. Justin Knipfer led the boys’ team with a 39, while Ashlyn Bender carded a 47 for the girls’ team.

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference boys’ tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will host a tournament today with Columbus making the trip.

The Central Lee, New London, and Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ teams will compete in the Keokuk Invite on Monday.

The Mt. Pleasant, Danville, Mediapolis, New London, and Fairfield boys’ teams will compete in the Washington Invitational on Monday at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course.

High School Soccer

The Mt. Pleasant and Washington girls’ teams put on a defensive clinic for 64 minutes until a Demon foul gave Charice Auwerda a direct free kick that she put top shelf to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Mt. Pleasant avoided disaster when Eli Heaton, who made some phenomenal saves throughout the game, saved a goal outside the box, prompting a red card and for an injured Bizzie Richtman to enter the net as the backup goalie for the final four minutes of the contest; a spot she knew she had to step up in,

“I mean, I was really struggling with my hip, but I just knew that like my teammates were kind of counting on me and it’s really a team sport. It’s not like a personal sport. And I know that if I wasn’t going to go in, then I don’t know who else would and I just knew that I had to step up.”

Richtman made three key saves in the final four minutes to give the Panthers the 1-0 win. After a gauntlet of a week featuring multiple injuries, this victory proved to be a confidence booster,

“I think it comes back to just like all of our team just working together this past couple like days, we’ve been really working really, really hard in practice and we’ve all kind of realized that we’ve had to individually step up to step up as a team and I mean props to our coaches too. They’ve been really pushing us in practices and changing up some drills to make things harder to make us better.”

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team followed suit after putting up 21 shots on goal against Washington leading to goals from Jonah Zimmer and Jack Newman, claiming a 2-0 win for the Panthers.

Mt. Pleasant will face off against Keokuk on Monday, May 5th, with the boys at home and the girls on the road.

Fairfield was swept by Fort Madison last night with the boys’ team losing 4-0 and the girls’ team falling 5-0. The Trojans girls’ team will compete against Columbus tonight at 5 pm.

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team shutout Highland, 3-0 last night. The Nike boys’ team will face off against Wahlert Catholic tomorrow, May 3rd, at Assumption High School.

Mediapolis will take on Central Lee tonight at home with the girls playing first at 5 pm and the boys game to follow at 7 pm.

Wapello will celebrate their senior night tonight with the girls’ team competing against Cedar Valley Christian at 5 pm and the boys’ team taking on Danville at 7 pm.

The WACO boys’ team is back in action on Tuesday, May 6th, against Sigourney Keota at 5 pm on the road.

Southeast Iowa Playbook

Same channel, same time, different day, make sure you tune in to KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, tonight at 6 pm for a new episode of the Southeast Iowa Playbook. Winfield-Mt. Union is our school of focus with senior Jake Edwards being our special guest.

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The baseball team will square off against Indian Hills Community College for a three-game series on the road today to conclude the regular season.

This Day in Sports History

1970 – Diane Crump is the first woman jockey at the Kentucky Derby.

2012 – Barcelona football player Lionel Messi breaks the European goal-scoring record with 68 goals.

2015 – Floyd Mayweather Jr. beats Manny Pacquiao on points in 12 rounds in a world welterweight unification fight, shattering all financial records for a boxing match.

Henry County Sheriff Feels Blindsided By Supervisors Over Opioid Settlement Funds Transfer

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at 11:23 am CDT

One Item on the agenda  during this weeks supervisors meeting was discussion and possible action regarding transferring opioid settlement funds from the administrative control of the Sheriff’s Office to Public Health.

Sheriff McNamee expressed surprise at seeing the item on the agenda without prior notice.

 

He emphasized that for the past 2.5 years, the Sheriff’s Office — particularly Chief Deputy Jesse Bell — has done a good job managing the funds, holding regular meetings with stakeholders (including Health and Human Services, police chiefs, and Public Health) to decide on fund uses.

Kelly Carr with Public Health, voiced concern about taking on new administrative duties, especially as they are already absorbing general assistance responsibilities without added staff.

Board members and department leaders agreed that the Sheriff’s Office has managed the funds well and that any decision should be made collaboratively, involving the Sheriff’s Office, Public Health, legal counsel, and other relevant stakeholders.

Ultimately, the board passed a motion to explore the possibility of transferring administrative responsibility, not to enact a transfer yet. The goal is to ensure all parties are aligned, understand the benefits or complications, and maintain transparent communication throughout.

County Departments Provide Key Updates: Tax Sale, Court Cases, Conservation Projects, and Special Election

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at 11:20 am CDT

At their April department head meeting, Henry County officials shared important updates on local projects, staffing, and events.

Treasurer’s Office:
The treasurer reported driver’s license staff have been recertified, and new equipment is up and running. Mobile home and utility credits were certified to the state. Delinquent property tax notices totaling $639,840 (about 1.93% unpaid) were mailed this week. Preparations are underway for the annual tax sale, with online registration open May 19–June 12 and the sale on June 16.

County Attorney’s Office:
Upcoming court dates include district court on May 5, 12, and 19, with a felony trial set for May 13. More defendants are now requesting jury trials, even for minor cases. Three non-jury trials are scheduled for mid- to late May. The office renewed its cost-sharing agreement with the sheriff for GPS tracking devices and recently won an appeal in a controlled substance case.

Conservation Department:
Campgrounds opened April 15, and the major dump station project has started constructon, all 8 tanks are positioned, wiring has begun, with hopes to finish by Memorial Day. Fundraising for a new playground has topped $50,000. Following the cancellation of the AmeriCorps, The Conservation Dept. will not have Americorps volunteers this year. The department is looking to hire a seasonal worker to help during the busy summer season.

Auditor’s Office and Elections:
Budget certifications for county and local governments are complete. Early voting begins today (May 1st) for the Mount Pleasant Community School District special election, with Election Day set for May 13 at Manning Hall.

Board of Supervisors:
Supervisors are working to increase regional project involvement and improve the county website. They also attended Walmart’s 40th anniversary event this week.

The next Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting is May 8th in The Supervisors Office of the Henry County Courthouse.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: A Call to Start the Conversation in Iowa

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at 10:58 am CDT

As May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, Iowans are being called on to break the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness—an issue that affects 1 in 5 adults across the country each year. With Iowa slipping in national rankings for mental health care access and outcomes, advocates say it’s more important than ever to talk openly about mental health.

The Make It OK Iowa campaign, led by the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, is offering resources to help individuals and organizations across the state raise awareness, share stories, and support one another. Their free downloadable Make It OK Iowa Toolkit provides practical tools for starting conversations in workplaces, schools, and communities.

The campaign encourages Iowans to take part by sharing their mental health stories and using social media to amplify the message.

Whether you’re reaching out to a friend, starting a conversation at work, or sharing your own journey, every voice helps reduce the stigma. To download the toolkit and learn how to get involved, visit www.MakeItOK.org/Iowa.