Warme

We have completed the fourteenth week of the legislative session, which means we are officially in the homestretch. With the 100-day deadline quickly approaching, the Capitol is moving at full speed as we continue debating bills and sending legislation back and forth between the House and Senate. Even as the pace picks up, there is still a list of remaining priorities to work through, which of course includes responsible budgets and property tax reform.

One of the more interesting topics we’ve taken up this week felt a bit like returning to middle school science class as we discussed hydrogen and what may be valuable energy deposits in iron-rich rock formations 1-2 miles beneath the surface of Iowa. In response to early exploration and the possibility of a new industry developing here, we passed Senate File 2490, which updates Iowa’s oil and gas laws for the first time in decades. Because this geologic hydrogen is created naturally by the Earth, it functions as a primary energy source, like how we treat crude oil or natural gas, and we looked to states with oil reserves for policy frameworks. The goal is to modernize the legal framework, so we are prepared for responsible development of natural resources, including potential hydrogen discoveries, while also protecting landowners.

A key goal of this legislation is to strengthen landowner protections during exploration and production. There is no provision for eminent domain in this bill. If a landowner does not want a well on their property, it will not be there. In addition, if resources beneath a landowner’s property are developed, the landowner is entitled to a fair share of the revenue generated. As we look ahead, this is one way Iowa can position itself for future opportunity, support innovation, and potentially help reduce input costs for farmers while continuing the broader effort to make Iowa more affordable and competitive.

Artificial intelligence is another area of significant innovation and needed protections, and Senate File 2417 addresses how chatbots interact with minors. This week the bill passed the House and is on its way to the Governor’s desk. There have been several extremely sad cases in which chatbots users (especially children) have harmed themselves or others following chatbot use. SF2417 requires that companion chatbots clearly disclose they are not human, prohibits any conversational AI from providing sexually explicit content to minors or professional psychological advice to any users, and requires chatbots to direct users with suicidal thoughts to appropriate crisis services. Technology is valuable, but so is human connection.

Speaking of connection, Tax Day was on Wednesday this week and it’s a date I always remember because my amazing father-in-law is a tax preparer and it also happens to be his birthday. Since 2017, Senate Republicans have worked to steadily reduce Iowa’s tax burden and simplify the system. That has included eliminating the inheritance tax, removing taxes on retirement income, and providing relief for small businesses. Over time, we continued bringing down Iowa’s income tax rate until reaching a 3.8% flat tax last year. These changes are designed to make Iowa a more competitive and affordable place to live, work, and retire. I’m honored to serve you, and I hope you feel those measurable impacts in your tax refund this year!

——-

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