AP file
Gov. Kim Reynolds talked about Iowa s need for affordable housing in her Condition of the State address last month.
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to expand affordable housing options in Iowa had its first hearing at the Iowa Capitol Thursday, and affordable housing advocates, business groups and local government representatives expressed support for the package.
The bill would create new tax credits for developers of low-income housing up to $15 million per year. It also would remove the $3 million cap on revenue for local housing trust funds, allowing more money to flow to those agencies.
Reynolds proposal would double workforce housing tax incentives from $25 million to $50 million, with $20 million set aside for small cities. And it doubles the brownfield/grayfield tax credit to $20 million, which is used to redevelop properties that have environmental hazards.
A bill under consideration by an Iowa Senate subcommittee would require school districts to notify parents of their student’s preferred pronoun.
Senate File 80 stipulates that if a student is asked by a school employee or in a school communication or survey to identify the pronoun by which they prefer to be called, they provide written notification of such action to the parent or guardian of the student at least one week before such action occurs. District 42 State Senator Jeff Reichman (R) isn’t clear at this point whether he supports the legislation, “Back in my day we had a movie in biology class that was ‘Where Do Babies Come From?’ And that was the extent of it, and I really think that schools need to stay out of this, any ‘identity’ I think is between the parent and the child, whatever it is, and they can notify the school, I don’t think it should be the other way around.”
Denver Newsroom, Jan 30, 2021 / 06:14 pm (CNA).- Lawmakers in Iowa this week passed a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution which would exclude a “right to abortion” or to public funding for abortion. House Joint Resolu.
IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH
Iowa employers could face loss of their state licenses if they employ undocumented workers under a bill approved by a legislative subcommittee Monday.
Senate File 84 drew opposition from business organizations, advocates for immigrants and at least one immigration lawyer before the subcommittee sent the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Republican Sens. Julian Garrett of Warren County and Jason Schultz of Schleswig voted in favor, while Democrat Kevin Kinney of Oxford opposed the measure.
The legislation would make it a crime to knowingly employ an undocumented worker, which the bill refers to as “unauthorized alien employee.” Law officers, county attorneys and members of the public could file a complaint with Iowa Workforce Development, which would consider action in district court.