Warme

The sixth week of the legislative session brought us right up to the first major deadline of the year, often called the “funnel.” This is the point in session when ideas need to move forward through committee in order to stay alive for further consideration. As you might imagine, that meant a busy week at the Capitol, with long agendas, thoughtful debate and a lot of collaboration as we worked through the many proposals before us.

One piece of legislation I was proud to run this week advanced out of the Transportation Committee. Senate File 258 raises the maximum weight for permitted vehicles transporting fluid milk, allowing more efficient transport and fewer trucks on the road. This matters locally, as Daisy Brand is building a new plant in Boone that will source milk from State Center in our district. Our policy update supports Iowa agriculture and economic development while maintaining clear limits on where and how these permits apply.

I also chaired and helped pass Senate Study Bill 3011 about AI chatbots through the Technology Committee, and it appropriately happened on STEM Day on the Hill. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in everyday life, this bill focuses on basic consumer protections, especially for minors. It prohibits companion-style AI chatbots from encouraging self-harm or violence, pretending to be a licensed professional or misleading users about being human. It was fascinating to work on this bill with input from the Iowa Behavioral Health Association, major technology companies and even Pope Leo (via the Iowa Catholic Conference). Our goal is not to stifle innovation, but to recognize the value of human connection and make sure new technology is transparent and safe for Iowans.

Speaking of safety, water quality is an area of ongoing focus. The Senate heard this week from the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about their ongoing work alongside ISU. With continued state and federal investment, Iowa has made meaningful progress over the past decade and leads the nation in many conservation practices. Since the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy began in 2013, cover crop usage has grown from fewer than 400,000 acres to nearly 4 million acres today. Wetlands, bioreactors and other edge-of-field practices are reducing nitrogen runoff, in some cases by up to 90 percent, while also helping with flood mitigation. My family has observed dramatic clarity, wildlife and erosion improvements as we paddle and fish the Skunk River, and our excellent county conservation teams share credit for this encouraging progress. Urban conservation projects are playing a role as well, with 138 projects implemented statewide since 2015. There is more work to do, but these efforts show that partnership and persistence make a difference.

As we move forward from funnel week, several bills we advanced will continue to require stakeholder input and careful review of fiscal impacts. If you have feedback, concerns or ideas related to any of this work, I want to hear from you. Serving you is why I am here, and your perspective helps guide the decisions I make at the Capitol.

——-

Kara Warme, a Republican from Ames, represents District 26 in the Iowa Senate.