State Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour)

Action in the House Chamber was light this week as we focused on working bills that the Senate has sent over through House committees ahead of the next funnel deadline on March 31.

Late last week, Iowa House Republicans released our budget target for Fiscal Year 2024. Crafting the budget has looked a little different this year, because the Government Reorganization bill needed to be passed first. But now, with the bill to streamline state government passed, our caucus is ready to hit the ground running to craft the state’s budget. Our overall budget target is $8.58 billion which is roughly 89% of the available ongoing revenue. We are holding the spending well below the revenue estimate to ensure that as revenue adjusts to the income tax cuts we enacted in 2022 we still have sufficient revenue for our budget appropriations.

This overall amount is roughly $90 million above the Governor and the Senate’s number. There are two main reasons for this. Our number includes the appropriations we’ve already passed this session that the Governor didn’t consider since her budget number is released prior to session. This includes money for the property tax rollback fix and increase in funding for public schools from 2.5% SSA in the governor’s budget proposal to the 3% SSA that was signed into law. The House overall number also includes about $50 million more to address a few priorities that we know are important to Iowans. Examples of budget priorities for Iowa House Republicans that make our number higher include more dollars for nursing homes by raising reimbursement rates. This would allow Iowa’s nursing homes caring for residents on Medicaid to be reimbursed at a higher rate. It also includes a funding increase for the Department of Corrections to help with the retaining and recruitment of corrections officers. These are very tough jobs and we know the department is having a tough time hiring and keeping folks for these roles. We are also increasing funding for more resources to expand Iowans’ access to quality, mental health care across the state. Details on these priorities will come as the specific appropriations bills develop. Targets for each appropriations bill have also been set, including for higher education, Health and Human Services, administration, etc.

House File 565, the bill that asserts a 90% threshold for voluntary easements before a Carbon Dioxide pipeline can use eminent domain, was passed by the House last week and sent over to the Senate. This was a very popular bill that was supported by the Farm Bureau and thousands of landowners across the state. Unfortunately, the Senate has failed to act on this bill, it has effectively died due to the funnel. Our Senators need to hear from their constituents on this issue. While that bill has died due to lack of action, there will be other avenues to protect landowners as we finish out the session.

I am pleased to announce that Tama resident Danielle Hardon has been appointed by Governor Reynolds as a member of the District 6 Judicial Nominating Commission. Danielle will complete the remaining portion of the term left open by the unfortunate passing of Charlotte Upah earlier this year. Danielle and her husband, Marty, operate a plumbing, heating, and electrical contracting business in Tama and have been active in promoting the redevelopment of the downtown area of Tama. I am confident that Danielle will be an excellent member of this commission and serve District 6 well.

Rep. Fisher’s district covers all of Poweshiek County and most of Tama County excluding Traer, Dysart, and Buckingham.