We are losing our precious tree cover at an alarming rate to such causes as storm damage, pests, diseases, chemical drift, and rising commodity prices. Around the turn of the last century, our forefathers in the Iowa Legislature recognized the loss of forested acres at a time of massive ...
Farmers, ranchers and livestock producers are working with solar companies in Iowa to find multiple uses for land once used only to plant corn and soybeans. Some are investing in what's known as "dual-use solar" or agrivoltaics. They are cultivating profitable crops, grazing livestock, ...
It's been an eventful week here at the Senate. This year I am proud to serve on the Agriculture Committee for the first time, and I’ve been sure to take every opportunity to support our ag producers. Last weekend, I met with the Black Hawk County Farm Bureau in Hudson. It was an engaging ...
Last week, we passed the government reorganization bill through the lowa House. It has been 40 years since lowa reorganized its state government. This bill will streamline government, increase efficiency, eliminate redundancies, save taxpayer dollars and ultimately ensure state government ...
Some members of the Iowa Senate do not think that public notices published in newspapers remain relevant and necessary. A bill filed in the newly formed Technology Committee just over a week ago moved through committee in two days and last week moved through the Ways & Means Committee in ...
Community Based Corrections or CBC provides a vital service to Iowa communities. In corrections, prisons and jails are well known, but CBC is a part of the system that you may not know about because it has been operating quietly in the background for the past 50 years, saving millions in ...
The first funnel week is behind us and we’ve been busy in the Senate with late-night debates and important decisions being made. Unfortunately, some of those decisions were not in line with the highest priority concerns I’ve heard from constituents in my district. Late at night on Tuesday, ...
Last week we entered the debate phase of the session, with bills being sent to theSenate, and few already making it to the Governor’s desk. Ilow House Republicans passed Senate File 75 to establish licensure in Iowa for Rural Emergency Hospitals. This bill was a priority bill for the ...
Last week brought a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill during funnel week as we sorted out what bills would survive the process through committees. I am confident this week's discussions and debates on the House floor going forward into this session will help low flourish and I will continue ...
Meet my clerk I wanted to take a moment this week to pull back the curtain and introduce you to the secret of my success in the Senate: my clerk Nathaniel Harwood. Nathaniel is from Cedar Falls and graduated from Iowa State University in December with a degree in political science. He ...