On the thirteenth week of session, floor debate was the key focus. We discussed a number of issues that are important to Iowans.

This week the Senate passed House Joint Resolution 5, amending the Iowa Constitution to add a new section on the protection of life. The section reads, “To defend the dignity of all human life, and to protect mothers and unborn children from efforts to expand abortion even to the day of birth, we the people of the State of Iowa declare that this Constitution shall not be construed to recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion.” It is our belief this issue should be decided by the people of Iowa, not the courts.

The Senate also passed House File 744 regarding the protection of free speech and First Amendment rights at Iowa universities and K-12 schools. It does a number of things, including prohibiting retaliation against a member of the campus community or a member of a school district who files a complaint for infringement of their rights. It also requires a disciplinary hearing if a faculty member knowingly and intentionally restricts protected speech, and requires first amendment training for members of the campus community, including students, faculty, and staff. HF 744 directs the board of directors of each school district to establish policies protecting students and staff from discrimination based on speech and triggers a hearing with the Board of Educational Examiners if a school district employee is found to have violated the First Amendment rights of a student. This bill addresses a number of concerns we have heard from students at Iowa schools and universities and protects our treasured First Amendment rights in educational institutions where diverse opinions and thoughts are supposed to be encouraged. House File 744 heads to the governor to await her signature.

House File 228 allows all students the freedom to open enroll without interference from school boards and administrators by repealing school district voluntary diversity plans and disallowing denials of open enrollment based on those plans. The open enrollment law in Iowa should mean open enrollment for all students regardless of their district. This bill gives more choices to parents when it comes to their children’s education. They should be able to send their children to public schools that fit their needs, help them succeed and prepare them to be successful Iowans after graduation.

The Senate passed SF 587 on Tuesday to address two major concerns for Iowans – property tax relief and mental health funding. It provides over $100 million in property tax relief for Iowans by eliminating property tax levies and removing the tax triggers put into place in the 2018 tax bill. Additionally, it provides $60 million in state funding for mental health in Iowa in the first year, $125 million in the second, and sets up sustainable, predictable funding growth for the future.

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Jeff Edler is the state senator for District 36. Contact him at jeff.edler@legis.iowa.gov.