Barker

People often think legislators get a “break” after session, but I have quickly found out that is not true. The work continues as I use this summer to meet with constituents and stakeholders to better understand their issues and concerns and to prepare to hit the ground running when session begins in January.

I’ve really enjoyed the “off-cycle” door knocking when I am asking for nothing except honest feedback. I’ve had some great conversations with local voters at the doors and look forward to meeting more new folks across the district this summer and fall.

There’s been a lot of discussion about IPERS following the Governor’s DOGE task force meeting. While we must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars by finding ways to be more efficient, any changes to IPERS benefit would require legislative approval. Let me be clear: I do not support changing IPERS for our public employees. These employees have earned their retirement benefits, and I fully support honoring that promise.

We will continue working to make state government more efficient and eliminate waste–but IPERS should not be part of those cuts. Iowans can have both–an efficient, accountable government and attracting and retaining quality public employees.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to work hard on your behalf in Des Moines! Please reach out to me about any questions, concerns, or suggestions at brett.barker@legis.iowa.gov.

• School Funding Overview

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.

• State Cost Per Pupil 2012-26

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 $2105 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 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 percent 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 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.

• Tree Damage and Insurance

The following was provided by the Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division:

Severe weather, high winds, or old age can cause trees or large branches to fall, sometimes causing damage to your home, garage, fence or vehicle. In the aftermath, many homeowners wonder if insurance will cover the damage and what steps to take next.

In most cases, standard homeowners insurance does cover damage caused by a fallen tree or large branch if the fall is sudden and accidental and caused by a covered peril such as wind, hail, lightning, or the weight of ice or snow. If a tree falls on your house, shed, or fence and causes damage, your policy may pay for:

Structural repairs to your home or other covered buildings

Removal of the tree, typically up to a certain dollar amount as defined by your policy

Temporary living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable

However, if the tree fell without causing damage, your insurance may not cover removal. If a tree falls due to neglect, disease or rot, and the risk was known beforehand the claim may be denied.

If a tree or branch falls on your vehicle, the damage is not covered by homeowners insurance. Instead, review your auto insurance for the comprehensive coverage benefits. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage caused by non-collision events, including falling trees, theft, vandalism and weather.

If you only carry liability auto insurance, which is the minimum requirement in Iowa, you will be responsible for the repair or replacement costs.

If your neighbor’s tree falls onto your property and damages your home, your own homeowners insurance may cover it, but you will have to pay your deductible. If the tree was dead or poorly maintained, and your neighbor was negligent, your insurer may try to recover costs from their insurance through subrogation, which ensures the negligent party is responsible for the loss. In that case, your deductible may be returned.

If your tree damages a neighbor’s property, they should file a claim with their insurance, but you could be liable if your neglect or poor maintenance contributed to the fall.

If a tree falls on your property, ensure safety first. Stay away from downed power lines and damaged structures. Call emergency services if there’s a safety risk. Document the damage with clear photos and videos before making any changes or repairs. Mitigate against further damage by covering holes or broken windows with tarps or boards. Contact your insurance company if it appears the damage is over your deductible, and file a claim promptly and provide documentation. Only hire registered contractors and tree removal services. Don’t sign service company contracts with any blanks, and know how much of the clean up cost you will be responsible for. Keep receipts for reimbursement.

Homeowners insurance may cover damage from fallen trees if caused by storms or other covered perils as defined by the policy. Car damage is only covered under comprehensive auto insurance. Understanding your policies and acting quickly can help minimize stress and out-of-pocket expenses in these unexpected events.

Always review your insurance coverage and speak with your agent regularly to ensure your home and autos have the proper protection. The Iowa Insurance Division is here to assist at 515-654-6600.

• Small Town Grocers Receive Grants

Rural grocers and food producers are among eight recipients of the latest Rural Innovation Grants by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). Awarded through the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, the grants total $72,624 and will support projects designed to enhance local services and promote economic development.

The Rural Innovation Grant program encourages creative solutions to challenges faced by towns that have fewer than 20,000 residents and are not located next to cities with populations of 40,000 or more. This round of funding prioritized independently owned grocery stores implementing technology upgrades or new service models; food producers investing in equipment, technology or regulatory support; and established businesses pursuing new markets through a partnership with the Colorado-based National Center for Economic Gardening.

IEDA received 10 applications from across the state. The eight recipients selected are located in: Minden, Malcom, Winthrop, Independence, Charles City, Lake View, Riceville and Sumner.

The grant program is administered by IEDA’s Center for Rural Revitalization, in consultation with the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative task force. The next round of Rural Innovation Grant funding opened July 1 and focuses on increasing rural housing availability. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. CDT Aug. 29.

• Iowa Holds Record for Smallest Baby and World’s Earliest Preemie

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit continues to break records saving our most vulnerable children. Recently it was announced that Nash Keen from Ankeny 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. 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.

• Iowa Continues to Be Safe Place to Live

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.

• 1 In 7 Iowans Have Unclaimed Property

State Treasurer Roby Smith is inviting Iowans to visit his Great Iowa Treasure Hunt booth at the Iowa State Fair and search for unclaimed money. “Many Iowans would argue there is nothing better than their favorite food on a stick,” said Smith. “But I would argue those Iowans have never stopped by Great Iowa Treasure Hunt’s booth to find unclaimed money with their name on it. More than 587,000 individuals and businesses have unclaimed property.

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt booth is located in the Varied Industries Building and has computers available for fairgoers to search. “Look for your name or the names of people and businesses you know,” Smith said. Unclaimed property occurs when a business or financial institution loses contact with the owner of the asset after a specific period and turns it over to the State Treasurer’s Office for safekeeping. Through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, Smith works to reunite the assets with the owners or heirs. Common examples include forgotten checking and savings accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility refunds and safe deposit box contents.

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property. The website is free, secure, and allows you to search for your name or for businesses and people you know at: www.greatiowatreasurehunt.gov.

• Have an Opinion About Iowa’s Roads?

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: iowadot.gov/FutureTravel and will remain open until Aug. 31.

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

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Brett Barker, a Republican from Nevada, represents District 51 in the Iowa House.