As we work toward adjournment, the focus remains on budget bills and lingering policy issues. This is the last scheduled week of the 2021 legislative session, but we remain focused on accomplishing our priorities for the year, like tax relief and responsible budgets.

During floor debate, the Senate passed several education bills. One of these bills was House File 847, also called the ‘Education Omnibus’ bill. This bill was designed to give schools funding flexibility, parental choice and accountability measures for local school boards. It increases the annual amount of classroom expenditures from $250 to $500 for Iowa elementary and secondary school teachers. These teachers may deduct their expenditures from gross income for income tax purposes. It expands the Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit by doubling the allowed expense amount to $2,000 per student and extending the credit to families utilizing private instruction.

Another important education bill the Senate passed is House File 813, establishing a new charter school program in Iowa. We have heard a lot of feedback on this issue, but there is misinformation about what this bill does and what charter schools do. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools, open to all students and provide greater flexibility to serve a diverse and changing student population. They promote innovation and flexibility with resource allocation. They empower teachers to provide innovative, high-quality instruction by giving them the autonomy to design a classroom that fits the needs of their students.

Our children need access to great public educational opportunities that suit their needs and help them succeed. Public charter schools have the highest level of accountability as they operate under performance contracts and can be closed if they don’t meet expectations. The bill requires the charter application to provide information on how they plan to accommodate students and prevent discrimination. I was proud to support this bill and give parents and students another option for an education.

The Iowa Senate Commerce Committee moved Senate File 610 this week forbidding what has become known as “vaccine passports.” There has been an increasing number of concerns about requirements to show proof of vaccination in order to shop, go to sporting events or other routine activities in our livelihoods. This bill forbids the inclusion of vaccination status information on government-issued ID and forbids businesses and Iowa government entities to require vaccination as a condition for access to their premises. The only exemptions are employees of these entities and health care facilities. There are a number of reasons a person should not have to show this piece of medical data, including personal privacy and individual freedom.

——

Jeff Edler is the state senator for District 36.

Contact him at jeff.edler@legis.iowa.gov