Browsing Tag
Mark Chelgren
19 posts
Education Savings Accounts Receive New Life in the Iowa Senate
Education savings accounts were reintroduced in the Iowa Senate’s version of the Iowa Student Opportunities Act (SSB 3206) by State Senator Charles Schneider (R-West Des Moines) as an appropriations bill and passed through an appropriations subcommittee.
Twenty-One Iowa Legislators to Retire in 2018
Twenty-one Iowa Legislators have decided not to run for reelection in 2018. The Iowa House will have 16 members retire after this session. Twelve Republicans and four Democrats will leave the House. The Iowa Senate Republicans will have two retirements and Democrats will see three.
Five Reasons Iowa Democrats Hope for a Blue Wave in 2018
Iowa Democrats hope for a historic blue wave in 2018 due to President Trump’s unpopularity, a competitive gubernatorial race, a good turnout for the mid-term Iowa Caucuses, the potential to flip Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, and the number of Republican state legislators retiring.
Religious Freedom Restoration Act Advances in Iowa Senate
Iowa’s version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) survived the first funnel week of the 2018 legislative session. SSB 3171, sponsored by State Senator Julian Garrett (R-Indianola) was passed out of the Iowa Senate Local Government Committee by a 7 to 4 vote.
Religious Freedom Restoration Act Filed in the Iowa Senate
A bill entitled the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was filed in the Iowa Senate on Thursday. The bill is modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 that was passed with bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
McCoy Wants Independent Private Instruction Parents to Notify Schools
State Senator Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines) introduced a bill into the Iowa Senate that would require parents who homeschool under independent private instruction (IPI) to submit a written notice to their local school districts by September 1st of their intent to do so.