This week, Week 10 of the legislative session, we focused on a number of issues like improving access to health care, easing regulations, and cutting red tape. Senate Republicans also released our budget target for this year.

The March Revenue Estimating Conference meeting last week, which gave us a look at the state’s budget and revenue, confirmed our pro-growth policies and responsible budgeting have been working for our state. Our budget target for the next fiscal year is $8.486 billion and is the same target Governor Kim Reynolds put forward. It is a 3.3 percent increase in state spending and continues our goal of responsible, conservative spending so we can focus on investing in important priorities and keep providing tax relief for Iowans.

We had a number of visitors at the Capitol this week. On Monday, I had a visit from a homeschool family from the district. On Tuesday, several members from REM Iowa came in from Marshalltown and the surrounding area.

Also, on Tuesday a number of Republican women from our district came to visit the Capitol. On Wednesday, the Rural Electric Cooperatives had their Day on the Hill. Finally, on Thursday the Capitol rotunda was a buzz with the Iowa Honey Bee Day on the hill. Thank you to everyone who reached out to say hello!

This week, on the Senate floor we passed Senate File 326. This bill would allow pharmacies in Iowa to dispense EpiPens without a prescription. If a patient needs emergency access or forgot their prescribed EpiPen, this will provide them that opportunity within the state.

Access to these life savings drugs should not be limited to a prescription. The bill also allows self-administered hormonal contraceptives to be dispensed and administered by state pharmacists for patients 18-years and older without a prescription. The contraceptive must be approved by the FDA to prevent pregnancy and does not intend to induce an abortion.

Education continues to be a focus for us in the Senate, and this week one bill aimed at improving education in Iowa passed the Iowa Senate. Senate File 251, expands the definition of administrative costs within the Iowa code.

Currently, code states administrative expenditures must not exceed five percent of a district’s general fund. The bill defines administrative expenditures as those which do not relate directly to students and their instruction.

This definition includes salaries for administrators and office staff, school administration, general administration, and data processing and collection services. The bill exempts schools with less than 1,000 students so we are not inhibiting schools that rely on sharing agreements or rural and small schools from being able to provide essential services.

The goal with this legislation is to ensure the billions of dollars being spent on K-12 education in Iowa are focused into the classroom for instruction and teacher salaries rather than growing administration. In Iowa, the number of students has increased 9 percent, and teachers have increased 25 percent between FY 1993 and FY 2021.

At the same time, the increase in all other school district staff was 60 percent. Administrative staffing and costs are rising at a rate far above the increase of students and teachers.

Approximately two-thirds of district expenditures come from their general fund. Based on FY 2021 estimates of this fund, less than half of those expenditures went directly to instruction in terms of teacher and para educator salaries, general supplies, and curriculum materials.

This data shows on average, roughly only a third of the money schools spend is spent in the classroom. While administration, facilities, and other services are necessary, we want to ensure money is first and foremost going to teachers and classrooms for the instruction of students.

Feel free to contact me with any concerns.

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Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center,

represents District 26 in the Iowa Senate.