Under the golden dome

In the Senate

     During week nine in the Iowa Senate we saw some of the first major debate of this year. This week alone, we passed over 30 bills out of the Senate chamber.

     On Monday, I ran my first bill on the Senate floor. Senate File 303 was about the change of an individual’s driver’s license from vertical to horizontal on their 21st birthday. As passed in the Senate, this bill would allow the individual to renew their license electronically on or after their 21st birthday. Not only does this provide convenience for Iowans, but it also helps our eating and drinking establishments with their diligence to prevent underage drinking.

     One of the bills debated this week, Senate File 536, took out a restriction in the Iowa code that limited the operation of tele-pharmacies in rural Iowa. Current law set a 10-mile radius restriction for granting a special or limited-use pharmacy license to a proposed tele-pharmacy site. By removing the 10-mile radius restriction, we hope to improve healthcare services in rural communities. Senate District 29 includes 42 communities and I’m committed to making sure rural Iowans have access to medications and prescriptions where they need it the most. This bill passed the Senate 48-0.

     Another bill which passed the Senate this week was Senate File 274, protecting free speech on college campuses in Iowa. This bill, which passed the Senate 35-11 with Republican and Democrat support, provides common sense, proactive protections and safeguards for belief-based student organizations in Iowa. This was an important bill to pass as a number of universities not just in our state but across the country have been stifling free speech and the discussion of differing ideas on their campuses.

     Senate Joint Resolution 18 passed the Iowa Senate on Wednesday this week. This legislation is the first step in placing the right to keep and bear arms in the Iowa Constitution. Iowa is one of only six states in the country to lack constitutional protections for this fundamental right and this policy will take Iowa off that list.

     The language in this legislation is nearly identical to the Second Amendment in the US Constitution with one important exception. It requires the Iowa Supreme Court to use the strictest evaluation on legal restrictions to the right of Iowans to keep and bear arms. This language is important because, as was illustrated in 2008 when legal challenges came to the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, only one vote on the US Supreme Court separated law-abiding citizens from their constitutional right.

     Adding this language to the Iowa Constitution provides a layer of constitutional protections at the state level for the law-abiding citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. This legislation also passed the Iowa House on Wednesday. In order for it to be added to the Iowa Constitution, it must be passed in the same manner in the next General Assembly and then passed by a majority of Iowans in a statewide vote.

     This proposed amendment does not change the laws we have today which prohibits individuals with serious criminal records, such as domestic abuse, from acquiring or possessing firearms. It also does not eliminate our current law requiring background checks in order to purchase firearms.

Around the Capitol

     Aside from debate I was able to meet with several groups at the Capitol this week.

     Wednesday morning, I spoke with the 50-50 in 2020 See Yourself Here participants as the learned about the legislative process up close. 50-50 in 2020 is a group which provides support to women considering a run for public office. We covered topics such as work-family life balance, campaigning, and building relationships with colleagues once elected.

     I attended the State Fair Board dinner along with other senators and representatives to learn about the work that goes into making our State Fair a huge success. Having spent my career in tourism for over 20 years, I know how state and county fairs can be economic engines for our communities.