To the People of House District 95

Yesterday the Iowa House passed a bill that would remove gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights code, and codify a basic biological reality – that there are only two genders; male and female. Over the past few years, the legislature has taken action to pass common sense protections that Iowans have strongly supported. Whether it be our bill to protect children’s bathrooms and locker rooms, our bill to keep biological men out of women’s sports, or our bill to prohibit gender transition procedures on children, Iowans have spoken loud and clear that they support these common sense pieces of legislation.

Unfortunately, all of these policies are at risk so long as gender identity remains a specified protected class in Iowa code. Most Iowans believe that taxpayers should not be on the hook to pay for someone else’s gender transition procedures. However, that is exactly what is happening as a direct result of gender identity being in our civil rights code. In a 2019 Iowa Supreme Court ruling, the courts said that Iowa taxpayers must fund sex reassignment surgeries for Iowans on Medicaid because our civil rights law includes gender identity. So long as gender identity remains in Iowa Code, the other common-sense policies we have passed are also at risk of suffering the same legal fate.

Every Iowan deserves to have their rights protected and to be treated with dignity and respect. Despite what some have said, this bill does not take away rights from transgender individuals. Current code actually results in the infringement of many Iowans’ rights, particularly women. In the name of gender identity, women have lost their right to privacy, to play their own sports, and their right to female-only spaces. Current code infringes on the rights of anyone who questions or disagrees with gender identity theory.

I’ve also heard from some that this bill will legalize discrimination against transgender Iowans – that is simply not the case. At least 27 states do not have gender identity specified in their civil rights code, and neither does the federal civil rights code. Even the Biden Administration did not deem it necessary to push for adding gender identity to the federal civil rights code. It’s important to note that many entities will still be able to implement whatever policy they see fit when it comes to gender in accordance with Iowa law. The difference is that it will be their own decision, and it won’t be compelled by state law.

Here is what the bill does and does not do:

Iowa and Federal Law will continue to protect:

• All Iowans’ from employment discrimination.
• All Iowans’ from housing discrimination.
• All Iowans’ freedom of speech.
• All Iowans’ freedom of religion.
• All Iowans’ freedom of assembly.
• All Iowans freedom of protest.
• All Iowans’ right to due process.
• All Iowans’ right to property.
• All Iowans’ right to vote.
• Much, much more.

This bill will not protect:

• The ability to use public bathrooms, dressing rooms, and showers designated for the opposite sex.
• The ability for biological males to gain access to prison cells, homeless shelters, domestic abuse shelters, and other spaces designated for females.
• The ability for biological males to participate in sports designated for females, taking away women’s opportunity to participate on the team and do so safely and fairly.
• Free sex reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments paid for by the taxpayers.
• The ability to file legal complaints against a business or an individual that believes that there are only two genders, and acts and speaks accordingly.

It’s time to restore sanity when it comes to the issue of gender, and this bill does exactly that.

Iowa is dropping its individual income tax to a flat 3.8% in 2025, but what are our neighbors up to when it comes to taxes?

Nebraska: Nebraska is lowering income taxes. In 2023, Legislative Bill 754 reduced the top individual income tax rate from 6.64% to 5.84% for 2024, part of a phased plan to reach 3.99% by 2027. For 2025, the rate is set to drop further, likely to around 5.2%–5.3%, depending on revenue triggers, as the state continues this gradual reduction. Nebraska also cut its corporate rate from 7.25% to 5.84% in 2024, aligning it with the individual rate, with plans for further decreases.

South Dakota: South Dakota has no individual income tax. It’s one of nine states with this distinction, alongside places like Texas and Florida. However, it did repeal its 4% tax on interest and dividends in 2025, fully phasing it out ahead of an original 2027 timeline. On sales tax, it actually reduced its state rate from 4.5% to 4.2% in July 2023, a temporary cut set to expire in 2027 unless extended.

Minnesota: Minnesota, sometimes referred to as Minnefornia, isn’t lowering income tax rates. Its top rate remains 9.85% (on income over $193,240 for singles in 2024), one of the highest nationally, and there’s no legislation signaling a reduction for 2025. Left-wing policies under Governor Tim Walz have prioritized spending over tax cuts, so no rate drops are on the horizon.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin enacted significant tax relief in 2023 that reduced the third bracket rate from 5.3% to 4.4% and raised its threshold, effective for 2023 and carrying into 2024. For 2025, no further rate reductions are scheduled, though the state expanded its earned income tax credit and child care credit in 2023, providing indirect relief. Wisconsin’s top rate stays at 7.65%.

Illinois: Illinois isn’t lowering its flat income tax rate of 4.95%. The state has maintained this rate since 2017 when it was increased from 4.35%.  A 2023 attempt to lower it via constitutional amendment failed, and Illinois’s fiscal challenges (e.g., pension debt) make cuts unlikely soon.

Missouri: Missouri is reducing income taxes dropping its top rate from 5.3% to 4.95%, effective January 1, and added a trigger mechanism: if net general revenue exceeds the prior year’s by $200 million, the rate cuts by 0.1% annually. For 2025, the rate fell to 4.8% on January 1, and it’s scheduled to drop to 4.7% later in 2025 if revenue triggers hold. Missouri aims for a 4.5% rate long-term.
Iowa’s flat 3.8% in 2025 will rank it lower than most neighbors except South Dakota.

Most parents believe a back-to-basics approach is needed in Iowa schools. Last session, Governor Reynolds and House Republicans took that attitude to improve literacy amongst Iowa’s students with the Literacy Enhancement Act. HF 2618 aimed to improve literacy among elementary students by enhancing teacher preparation requirements, ensuring parents are informed about their children’s reading proficiency, and providing personalized support for struggling readers. The bill emphasizes the importance of reading proficiency in early education and gives parents a role in the retention process for their children.

This session, the Governor and House Republicans taking the same approach with math. HSB 137 requires the Department of Education to develop a comprehensive state math plan and develop and distribute of family-centered resources to support mathematics knowledge at home. This allows parents to engage in their child’s mathematics learning that backs up what they are learning at school.

Additionally, the bill calls for school districts to identify K-6 students falling behind in mathematics. Each district will administer screener assessments to students in grades K-6 at least three times per school year to determine the level of proficiency of each student.

A student is considered persistently at risk if they fail to meet the benchmark for two consecutive assessments. If a student is identified as persistently at risk, the school district consults with the child’s parents or guardians to develop a personalized plan, provide small group intervention, and intensive instruction if deemed necessary. Students persistently at risk are assessed at least every other week while receiving the extra interventions and supports until the student performs at benchmark on the statewide summative assessment in mathematics or until the student performs at the benchmark for two consecutive screener assessments.

Through evidence based professional development, the Department of Education will help teachers implement the plan beginning with the school districts most in need of support.

The bill also requires higher education institutions to include preparation in methods for teaching mathematics in their practitioner preparation programs to ensure teachers entering the classroom will have the training they need to help students succeed in evidence-based mathematics. This change will best equip teachers graduating from college to teach effective math techniques to their students.

The Governor’s proposal is a step in the right direction to ensure Iowa students receive a strong mathematics foundation for their futures.

This week, the House Health and Human Services Committee passed bills from the Governor regarding health care workforce and child care continuum.

House Study Bill 191 comes from the Governor to expand access to health care in all parts of Iowa. The bill does the following:

• Requires DHHS to work with CMS to implement a funding model to provide more Medicaid rate flexibility and incentivize creative regional partnerships.
• Consolidates five health care loan repayment programs into one called the Health Care Workforce and Community Support Grant Program within DHHS that will award loan forgiveness or bonuses based on high-need health care professions in shortage areas. Provides for transition of funds to continue to support those with existing awards.
• Establishes a Medicaid Graduate Medical Education (GME) enhanced payment to draw down over $150 million to federal dollars for more residency slots in Iowa’s 14 teaching hospitals.
• Eliminates the Health Facilities Council and replaces it with DHHS as the decision maker regarding certificate of need to build new healthcare facilities and enhance current ones.
• Improves the Health Information Exchange network by authorizing HHS to competitively procure and manage it.

House Study Bill 145 does the following related to childcare and preschool:

• Allows community-based providers not affiliated with a school district to participate in the statewide voluntary preschool program subject to the same requirements as a school district to participate.
• Removes the Child Development Coordinating Council.
• Adds additional responsibilities of the Department of Education to ensure high-quality curriculum for preschool.
• Revises the current ECI local board makeup from 34 boards to 7, which are modeled after the Iowa Behavioral Health District map.
• Makes childcare employees providing care directly to children eligible to receive Child Care Assistance if working at least 32 hours per week and have children enrolled in child care.
• Creates a childcare continuum partnership grant pilot program to award competitive grants to partnerships between preschools and child care centers to provide full-day early childhood education.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding the funding changes contemplated to fund the childcare continuum grants. Prior to this legislation coming to the House floor, stakeholders will be communicated with regarding those changes and feedback will be received.
House HHS Passes Legislation to Support Foster Care

This week, the House Health and Human Services Committee passed multiple bills to support children in foster care and to help foster parents support children in their care.

• Foster Parent Consent – House File 374 allows for DHHS and foster parents to consent to routine medical care for a child placed in their care.
• Finding Family – House Study Bill 146 appropriates $275,000 for additional Department of Health and Human Services employees focused on finding relatives for children placed in foster care and provides additional emphasis on foster parents that have cared for the child for at least nine months in determining custody.
• Fictive Kin License – House Study Bill 215 allows for expedited kinship licensure. Fictive kin is an adult who is not a relative of a child but who has an emotionally positive significant relationship with the child or the child’s family.

This week the House Local Government Committee approved several bills ahead of the first legislative funnel to provide more flexibility for local governments and their entities to serve their constituents and to streamline the function of government.

House Study Bill 154 removes odd variances in public notice requirements which has caused confusion and a lack of conformity for local governments timing requirements for each specific public notice. This bill aims to standardize the public notice requirements for various local government actions in Iowa, promoting transparency and consistency. It modifies existing laws to align all notice requirements with the provisions of Code section 362.3. Key changes include:

• Unified Notice Period: The bill establishes a uniform notice period of not less than 4 nor more than 20 days before public hearings or actions, replacing varying notice periods previously required for different actions.
• Publication Requirements: Notices must be published in a newspaper that is published at least once weekly and has general circulation in the city. For cities with a population of 200 or less, or those without a newspaper, notices can be posted in three designated public places.
• Transparency: By consolidating the notice requirements, the bill enhances transparency in local government actions, ensuring that citizens are adequately informed and have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.

Overall, the bill seeks to create a more consistent and transparent framework for public notices across local governments in Iowa.

House File 479 was also reported unanimously out of Local Government this week. HF 479 expands the options available to county boards of supervisors regarding the employment of county engineers. Under current law, counties are required to hire one or more licensed civil engineers directly as county engineers. This bill allows boards to instead employ a professional engineering entity, which can provide the necessary engineering services through its licensed civil engineers. This change offers counties greater flexibility in managing engineering resources, potentially allowing them to access a broader range of expertise and services while also facilitating cost-sharing arrangements among multiple counties. Additionally, the bill maintains the requirement for the professional entity to provide a bond, ensuring accountability and performance standards are upheld. Overall, House File 479 enhances the ability of counties to tailor their engineering support to better meet their specific needs and circumstances.

One of last year’s more extensive debates has produced new issues in 2025, as Iowa teenagers and parents work with the new student driver rules adopted by the Legislature in the closing moments of the 2024 session.

Last session’s bill – Senate File 2109 – took out of the Code the pre-existing school permit and farm work permit systems and replaced those with a new restricted work license and a special minor’s restricted license. The special minor’s restricted license is for those students between the age of 14.5 and 18 who have an instructional permit, have completed driver’s education or have been allowed by the DOT to get the license without driver’s ed due to hardship, and is enrolled in a school.

The special minor’s restricted license allows qualifying teens to drive to and from school, extracurricular activities, work, and to stop at service stations. To use the special minor’s restricted license to drive to and from work, the teenager must have the DOT’s written permission form filled out by a parent or guardian. The form must be in the vehicle being driven by the student driver. Driving time would be limited to 1 hour before or after school, extracurricular activities, or their work shift.

The distance a teenager is allowed to drive with a special minor’s restricted license is 25 miles, unless the distance between the driver’s residence and their school is more than 25 miles within the same school district. A teenager with a special minor’s restricted license is allowed to have siblings and one unrelated person in the car with them. This is the same as was allowed under the previous law. The teenager with this license would be allowed to have up to three residences, as long as those locations have been filed with the DOT.

The new license does come with some enhanced penalties if the teenager is at fault for causing an accident or collision, or if they violate state law or a local ordinance for operating a motor vehicle.

The new license went into effect on July 1 and for the first six months there were few questions, but the 2025 session has seen new issues arise.

One of those deals with students who open enroll into another school district.  The 25-mile limit on trips is preventing some students from driving to their high school. Since they are not attending the district they live in, there is no school transportation available. Legislation proposing some adjustments has been proposed in House File 613, which would expand the driving limit to 40 miles for students who open enroll into another district. The new law has also prompted calls to expand the places these license holders can drive to. The House Transportation Committee has advanced legislation that would allow those with a special minor’s restricted license to drive to their place of worship. That bill, House File 574, is on the House Calendar awaiting floor action.

Recently, the Iowa House unanimously passed two bills to support veterans.

House File 175 opens up in-state tuition at Iowa’s community colleges and regent universities for all veterans, their spouses, and their dependents. Veterans often do not have a single place of residency and this bill helps support those veterans and their loved ones seeking an education and attracting high quality individuals to Iowa.

House File 250 comes from the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs to update a legislative report to be based on the fiscal year, rather than calendar year, and to provide oversight over the training of county executive directors and administrators by the commandant of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.

Recently, the Iowa House unanimously passed three bills related to expanding access to health care services through their insurance and to provide relief to providers and patients seeking approval for health care service through their insurance. The bills below are now able to be considered by the Senate.

• Prior Authorizations – House File 303 sets up timelines for response from health insurers on prior authorizations, requires insurers to review health care services that require prior authorization, requires a prior authorization exemption program with each health insurer and a report submitted to the Insurance Division on the effectiveness of their program.
• Breast Imaging – House File 318 requires insurers to provide the same cost-sharing requirements for supplemental breast examinations and diagnostic breast examinations as they do for mammograms.
• Autism Coverage – House File 330 strikes age and benefit limits from the autism coverage requirements of health plans in Iowa.

This week the House Labor and Workforce Committee passed House Study Bill 68. HSB 68 enhances the functions of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and local workforce boards. This legislation comes from the Governor’s office which entitled it as—’The Iowa Workforce Development and Education Enhancement Act’. The bill modifies existing laws related to functions of the DWD, and unemployment insurance and taxable wages, ensuring that only wages paid in Iowa are considered for unemployment insurance tax purposes. The bill was amended in Committee to remove divisions III and IV form the bill. Division III proposed to modify the Iowa student internship program and appropriates $1,039,425 from the general fund to support that program. Division IV proposes changes to adult education and literacy programs to remove reference to and involvement of community colleges. Much of the bill continued the Governor’s efforts started last year to modernize and prune from state government boards and functions that have become stale, not cost-effective, or out-of-date.

Des Moines County:

• Greater Burlington Partnership Forum: Friday, March 21st from 8 – 9AM at the Greater Burlington Partnership in the Winegard Board Room.

Henry County:

• Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance Forum: Friday, March 14th at 8:30AM at Mount Pleasant City Hall in the City Council Chambers.

Louisa County:

• Self Organized Forum: Saturday, March 1st from 11AM – 12PM at Wapello City Hall in the City Council Chambers.

Muscatine County:

• Self Organized Forum: Saturday, March 1st from 9 – 10AM at Wilton City Hall in the Community Room.

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