To the People of House District 95: Taylor Collins’ September Newsletter

As students and teachers begin their school year preparations, it’s time to review the level of state funding provided to Iowa schools for the next school year.

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly set the growth factor for school funding at 2.00%. The Legislature also provided an additional $5 per student to address the school funding equity issue that has existed since the implementation of the school funding formula in the 1970’s. These increases have raised the state’s funding level for each student – known as state cost per pupil – to $7,988 for Fiscal Year 2026 (2025-2026 school year). This is an increase of $162 over the previous year’s level.

Since Iowans put Republicans in control of the Iowa House in the 2010 election, school funding has steadily risen. State funding per pupil has grown by $2,105 over the past fifteen years. The overall amount of funding provided to schools each year has climbed from $2.624 billion in Fiscal Year 2012 to $3.915 billion for the upcoming school year. This is a 49.21% increase in school funding over this period. This amount does not include the $14 million the state has recently started providing to schools to help raise pay for para-educators and other school support staff.

Increasing the state funding per pupil amount has not been the only school funding change enacted by the Legislature. Since 2018 legislative session, the General Assembly has taken additional steps to address the inequity in transportation costs experienced by districts. At that time, some districts were spending up to one thousand dollars per student on transportation, while other districts were spending around $100 per student. The goal of this program is to provide districts with funding to ensure a district’s cost is the statewide average for student transportation. In the 2025-2026 school year, $32.7 million of state funding will help Iowa school districts cover the cost of getting kids to school.

Iowa’s General Fund is not the only source of state funding to local schools. The Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund provides schools with funding from 1 cent of Iowa sales tax to be used on infrastructure needs. In Fiscal Year 2012, Iowa schools split $394.1 million thru SAVE. Compare that amount to what schools received in Fiscal Year 2025. Thru the end of June, Iowa school districts had received $661.4 million in Fiscal Year 2025. This amounts to a 68% increase in school infrastructure funding from the state since Republicans took control of the Iowa House of Representatives in the wake of the 2010 election.

As students and teachers kick off the new school year on August 25, some in the media and nearly all so-called public education advocates will once again issue their allegations and attacks over a lack of state dollars for public schools. What is never provided is an accounting of where the money goes. Simple math tells us that a class of 20 students, at $7,988 state dollars per student, is $159,760. That does not count federal dollars. The actual numbers show public schools receiving steady yearly increases and roughly half of the entire state budget.

One of the sentences frequently heard in the Iowa State Capitol towards the end of a legislative session is “Can we get a report on that?” Often that wish is granted, as new laws and budget bills contain requests for all types of reports. This leads to another question – just how many reports are required to be filed with the General Assembly each year?

The number of reports varies each year, as some requests are for a one-time review while others are ongoing. But annually, the number of reports adds up to a very large figure. In Fiscal Year 2025, 553 reports were required to filed. That amount was down from the 591 reports in Fiscal Year 2024.

Since these reports are being produced by state agencies, one might assume that they are all properly filed with the repository of this information – the Legislative Services Agency.  That’s not the case, however.

Are the entities required to file reports following that requirement? In Fiscal Year 2023, agencies filed 86.1% (483 of 561) of the reports required that year. That’s the best year of the past five. For Fiscal Year 2025, the compliance rate had fallen to 75%. As of last week, 138 of the 553 of FY 2025’s required reports were still unaccounted for.

Some agencies are much better at filing their reports than others. The Board of Regents and the Department of Education have been required to file over 30 reports each year since 2021 and they have filed each and every one of them. Smaller agencies, like the State Public Defender’s Office and the Iowa PBS, also have perfect records when it comes to filing required reports. But then there are other offices and agencies who have different results.

One would expect the State Auditor’s Office to be a leader in fulfilling their legal responsibility to submit their reports to the Legislature, but that is not the case.

Each year, the Auditor is required to file four reports with LSA:

• Targeted Small Business Compliance [as required by Iowa Code section 11.26]
• Municipal Compliance (audits of small communities) [as required by Code section 11.6 (11)b]
• Training and Technologies Expenditures Using Potential Reversion Money [as required by Code section 8.62]
• Audit of Iowa Workforce Development [as required by 2011 Acts, chapter 130.62]

Of these four reports, only the Targeted Small Business Compliance report has been filed with LSA in the last five years. The last time that the report on audits of smaller communities was filed was in January 2019, just as Auditor Sand was taking office. Since then, there has been no filing of how many of these audits have been completed or how much they cost. This is surprising since the State Auditor has claimed that the fee structure for his audits is insufficient.

Auditor Sand is not the only state auditor to fail to submit the audit of Iowa Workforce Development to LSA. While the Legislature mandated that audit in 2011, it has never been filed with LSA. This requirement was established in session law. Since there was no deadline date put in the provision, the requirement remains in effect for each year since. Maybe one year, it will be filed.

The training and technologies expenditures report is one that appears to be a problem for many in state government. This requires agencies to report to the legislature the amount of money they used for training and technology projects that would have been reverted back to the General Fund if unused. While a number of agencies are required to file the report, many have failed to submit it over the past five years. The lack of compliance may prompt a further examination of its source – Iowa Code section 8.62.

The State Auditor is not alone in having accountability issues with required reports. Since the 2019 session, the Iowa Veterans Home has been required to file with LSA a monthly expenditure report. None of these are in LSA online database of reports. The Iowa Civil Rights Commission is required to file its annual report with LSA.  Since 2021, these reports have yet to be filed.

Some agencies have required reports that have not been filed due to the fact that programs are no longer operating. Several agencies are required by statute to file reports relating to the I-Jobs program, including the Iowa Finance Authority. That program is long gone, but the report requirements remain in the Code since the state will be paying off the bonds issued for that folly until the mid 2030’s.

Examining the list of required reports raises another question – are they actually necessary?  Some reports do provide valuable information to legislators, staff, and concerned citizens. But others have turned into busy work for agencies who could be putting their staff to better use. Of course that assumes the agencies are actually following the law and doing the report. The lack of accountability of certain agencies for failure to submit reports along the need for other reports are issues for the 2026 session.

Last month Iowa State University Extension and Outreach issued a press release noting that as foreign interest in U.S. farmland has grown in recent years, new research-backed insights are available in the July edition of Ag Decision Maker for landowners hoping to stay informed on this evolving topic. The article, “Foreign-held farmland in the United States and Iowa: scale, use, and ownership trends,” provides timely updates not only on foreign interest but also on ownership and lease agreements across Iowa and the U.S.

Due to Iowa’s strict regulations on corporate and foreign ownership of agricultural land, foreign-owned acreage in Iowa is minimal (less than 2%), making leases the primary form of land interest in the state. The latest findings also indicate that the majority of these leases are energy-related leases, particularly for wind turbines. This land is often still actively farmed, while energy companies lease the space for turbine infrastructure. According to the article, foreign-held agricultural land in the U.S. has grown by 2.6 million acres per year since 2017, up by about 600,000 acres annually between 2012–2017. Still, this growth is primarily tied to energy leases rather than outright land sales.

The top Iowa counties with foreign interest in 2023, in order of total foreign acres, are: Poweshiek, Dickinson, Mitchell, Washington, Page, Davis, Pocahontas, Webster, Cherokee and Taylor counties. While foreign ownership is low in Iowa due to strong legal protections, foreign leasing activity — especially for renewable energy — continues to rise.

For more information, read the full report here.

Last month Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a coalition of 28 attorneys general asking the Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate the harmful Biden-Harris greenhouse-gas emissions standards for power plants. The Biden-era rule jeopardizes America’s energy independence and threatens to skyrocket prices for American families.

“The Obama and Biden-Harris administrations used the EPA to try to regulate the coal industry out of existence to support climate extremism,” said Attorney General Bird.  “I’m thankful the Trump Administration is taking bold action to restore America’s energy independence, and lower energy prices for Iowans.”

President Obama’s EPA tried to use aggressive emission rules to force coal-fired power plants into retirement. The Supreme Court shut him down. President Biden doubled down on trying to weaponize the Clean Air Act—and now President Trump is putting a stop to it.

“The proposed rule will restore the Clean Air Act to its proper meaning and help States secure affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy for everyone,” the comment letter explains.

Iowa also joined a 25-state letter supporting Administrator Zeldin’s efforts to end the Biden-era MATS rule and provide inexpensive, reliable energy for Americans.

Iowa joined the West Virginia-, Indiana-, and Kentucky-led letter, along with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

Read the full letter here.

Last month, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for a manufacturing expansion in Mount Pleasant and a quality of life project in Keosauqua.

ContiTech—Mount Pleasant
ContiTech USA, LLC, part of a sector of the rubber and plastics manufacturer Continental AG, produces air spring and anti-vibration systems, coated fabrics, conveyer and drive belts, hoses, and more. The company plans to construct a state-of-the-art compounding center, which includes production, warehouse, and office space. The project represents a $65 million capital investment and is expected to create 50 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $21.50 per hour. The board awarded the company a $1 million forgivable loan and tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.

Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT)—Keosauqua
The City of Keosauqua and Engage Keosauqa, Inc. were awarded $144,000 through the CAT program for the creation of a new sports area to revitalize recreation opportunities in the community. The project will construct courts for tennis, pickleball, basketball, and bocce ball, offering new amenities for residents and visitors. The total project cost is $481,761.

The Iowa Department of Education is now accepting applications from individuals who are interested in serving on the final review committee for the state’s social studies standards. Educators, content specialists, administrators, family members, industry and community partners and representatives from higher education institutions are encouraged to apply.

The committee is responsible for reviewing public comments and making final recommendations that will help determine Iowa’s social studies standards. Iowa’s standards for social studies outline what students must learn to be prepared for success as they progress each year and after high school.

State law requires an ongoing review of the state’s academic standards to ensure that current content aligns with best practices.

Two committee meetings will be held at the Grimes State Office Building in Des Moines on October 14th and October 30th. A commitment to attend all meetings is required to participate on the committee.

A final proposal on the social studies standards will be presented to the State Board of Education for consideration. If adopted, the revised standards will be required of school districts as a matter of state law.

Applications for the review committee will be accepted through September 14th.

Iowa’s academic standards provide a set of common expectations for school districts statewide while allowing for decisions regarding curriculum and how it is delivered to be made locally. The standards establish what students must learn to be prepared for success after high school. Local schools and educators continue to set and oversee curriculum and instruction decisions.

President Trump has worked hard to ensure federal immigration laws are enforced, but with borders left wide open during the Biden administration the Federal Government cannot do it alone. That’s why Iowa, along with 20 other states, will be using National Guard soldiers to provide support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials who are working hard to clean up a national problem.

Governor Kim Reynolds has authorized the deployment of 20 National Guard soldiers who will be stationed in the state to provide “administrative and logistical support” for ICE officials in Iowa enforcing federal immigration laws.  The soldiers will not be involved in the apprehension or detention of any individuals, instead they will be in clerical and administrative roles. By taking on these tasks, National Guard soldiers will be freeing up ICE officers to remove illegal immigrants from the state.

The National Guard action has been authorized as a supportive federal Title 32 mission. This means the deployment will be under state control but paid for with federal dollars. This deployment is scheduled to last through November.

According to various rankings (safewise.com, crimegrade.org, commonsenseinstituteus.org), Iowa ranks favorably in public safety and crime metrics compared to other U.S. states. Based on available data, Iowa’s violent crime rate is  about 25% below the national average, while the property crime rate is roughly 32% below the national figure. Iiowa’s murder rate is the second-lowest nationwide while the robbery rate is the seventh-lowest at 25 per 100,000.

In the Common Sense Institute’s Public Safety Competitiveness Index, Iowa ranks third best for drug overdoses and  sixth for homelessness. U.S. News ranks Iowa 14th overall among states, with public safety contributing to its standing, based on FBI crime data for violent and property crimes.

On a city level, Sioux Center is Iowa’s safest city, with low violent and property crime rates.

Iowans report feeling safer than the national average, with 66% feeling safe in their state (vs. 48% nationally) and only 45% perceiving crime as increasing, the lowest percentage nationwide.

The University of Iowa Staed Family Children’s Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) continues to break records saving our most vulnerable children. Recently it was announced that Nash Keen from Ankeny, IA turned one-year old, making him the Guinness World Records titleholder for most premature baby with being born at 21-weeks gestation. Nash was born at just 10 ounces and after 189 days in the hospital, was able to go home in January 2025.

Within the last year, UIHC also announced that the tiniest preemie in the U.S. was discharged and able to go to her home in Solon, IA. Evelyn Eilers was born at 8.46 ounces, making her one of three tied for third-smallest in the world. After 7 months of care at UIHC, she was able to go home weighing 7 pounds 8 ounces.

These remarkable children show the importance of life and how science continues to improve in saving children earlier and earlier. The state of Iowa is incredibly fortunate to have the health care providers at UIHC’s NICU that have the highest survival rate for extremely preterm infants in North America.

As the Iowa Transportation Commission begins its work to update the State Transportation Plan for Iowa, an invitation has been extended to Iowans to tell the seven-member panel what improvements should be addressed.

The State Transportation Plan is Iowa’s five-year blueprint for how future investments should be made to Iowa’s transportation system, including aviation, public transit, rail, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, highways, and water transportation. As part of process, the Transportation Commission is asking for Iowans input. Late last month, the Commission released a short survey to collect feedback on the current system and gather ideas for the future of transportation in Iowa. The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. The survey is available at: https://iowadot.gov/FutureTravel and will remain open until August 31, 2025.

The current State Transportation Plan can be found here:  https://iowadot.gov/transportation-development/systems-planning/areas-planning/transportation-plans/state-transportation-plan.

At its August meeting, the Iowa Transportation Commission approved this year’s version of the State Aviation Program. The annual program of funding to Iowa airports will provide $9.7 million in state funding for improvement projects this fiscal year.

The State Aviation Program is comprised of three separate initiatives: the Airport Improvement Program, the General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure Program, and the Commercial Service Vertical Infrastructure Program.

The Airport Improvement Program is the largest of the three grant programs.  It is funded with the proceeds from aircraft registration fees and aviation fuel taxes. This year, the program is distributing $6.3 million in funding. Just over $1 million in funding for aviation safety and aviation planning and development efforts were approved, as well as $5.3 million of improvement projects located at 25 of Iowa’s commercial and general aviation airports.

The two vertical infrastructure grant programs are funded via appropriations from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund. This year’s bill provided $1 million for projects at four general aviation airports and $1.9 million for projects at eight of Iowa’s commercial service airports.

A list of all the approved projects can be found here.

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