State Sen. Eric Giddens (D-Cedar Falls)

Greetings! Week Three of the legislative session is now complete, and activities in the Capitol are in full swing. Every day is a whirlwind here, with subcommittee and committee meetings and organizations holding different events, such as firefighters from across the state who had a chili cookoff in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday. Yum!

This week I met with many of my constituents here at the Capitol. I love to talk with people from home who take the time to come and share their priorities and concerns with me. I encourage you to visit the Capitol and engage with me and my colleagues. If you are planning a visit, please email me (contact info below) ahead of time and send a note to my desk when you get here and I will come out and meet with you.

Make Your Voice Heard in Your Iowa Senate

We get it – tracking legislation and keeping up with what’s going on in the Statehouse is daunting, but it’s more important than ever for Iowans to engage with their government and hold lawmakers accountable.

The legislative process can be complicated, but if you peel back the machinations and the jargon, most bills pass through three key stages of review and discussion – and each one offers opportunities for regular folks to get involved and make their voices heard.

Here’s a quick guide to understanding the process and taking every opportunity to make your voice heard.

*Step 1: Subcommittee: Subcommittees are where we hear from you.

The first step for most bills under consideration in the Senate is a subcommittee. This is where a small panel of lawmakers review the bill and take public comment. If you want to make your voice heard on the pros or cons of a bill, this is the place to do it!

Subcommittees take place at the Capitol but are usually streamed online too, with time set aside for public comment.

What to do: If you want to speak on a bill in subcommittee, you can attend in person or participate online. You can also leave written comments for lawmakers to read and consider.

Find scheduled subcommittees here. Click “Agenda” for meeting details and the Zoom link. Click “Comments” to leave a comment.

*Step 2: Committee: Committees are where we iron out the details.

If a bill passes out of subcommittee (many don’t!) it’s heard by a full committee of senators. In the Senate, we have 17 standing committees focusing on various policy areas. Each committee has between 6 and 20 members, often with specific expertise in that issue area.

In committee, senators discuss a bill and ask questions of the bill manager.

Senators can also amend the bill in committee — that is, offer changes and additions to it based on what they’ve heard from constituents and experts.

Committees take place in person at the Capitol but are also streamed online.

What to do: Attend in person to show public interest in the issue. Contact senators on the committee to let them know what you think and how you want them to vote. Find committee schedules here. Click here to find senators’ contact information.

*Step 3: The Floor: Floor debate is where we make our stand.

A bill that passes committee is eligible for floor debate (although the floor leader decides when and if a bill comes up).

If a bill is brought up for debate, the sponsor introduces it and then all 50 senators have a chance to speak and offer amendments to change it. At the end of debate, senators vote on whether to pass it.

Floor debate is held in the Senate chamber and streamed online. Watch live here. Click here for archived floor debates.

What to do: The Senate chamber galleries are open to the public. Attend in person or watch online. Contact your senator to make your voice heard.

* Step 4: What Happens Next

What happens after the Senate passes a bill depends on whether the bill has also been considered by the House.

If the bill starts in the Senate, it moves over to the House for further consideration.

If it’s already passed the House, it moves on to the governor. The governor gets the final say on all legislation, choosing whether to sign it into law or veto it.

The next six weeks will be very busy with bills moving through the subcommittee and committee process. If there’s an issue you care about, now is the time to get involved and make your voice heard!

Keep up the pressure to save our AEAs

Educators and families across Iowa are speaking up to save Area Education Agencies from major cuts proposed by Gov. Reynolds. This grassroots advocacy is working, but we can’t stop now. If you have a story about how AEAs have helped your family, reply to this email to share it with me or contact the senators on the Senate Education Committee.

New bill aids school mental health

Iowa must do better to provide mental health resources in our schools, which is why I was proud to co-sponsor SF 2082, which my caucus introduced this week. By taking advantage of increased federal flexibility for mental health services in our state insurance programs, more young students will be able to access the support they need while at school.

Ensuring accountable care

This week, I co-sponsored legislation to hold Medicaid MCOs accountable and improve Medicaid for both members and health care providers alike. I have opposed the privatization of Medicaid since the decision was announced by Gov. Branstad in 2015. Since then, my friends across the aisle have failed to provide effective oversight and accountability of the managed care organizations charged with providing care to hundreds of thousands of Iowans. Our bill, SF 2083, provides common sense solutions to several very real issues with our Medicaid program that are impacting Iowans.

Teen driver changes considered

The Senate is once again reviewing the rules for teen drivers. Senate Study Bill 3097 creates a new special minor permit for 14½ year olds who have completed driver’s education and received an instruction permit. The new permit would allow them to drive up to 25 miles to a place of employment and for one hour before and after a work shift. The bill passed a Senate committee this week, making it eligible for debate on the floor.

State Senator Eric Giddens represents Iowa Senate District 38 including Cedar Falls, Hudson, Traer, Dysart, Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, Gilbertville, Washburn, LaPorte City and Mount Auburn. Contact Sen. Giddens at 319-230-0578 or eric.giddens@legis.iowa.gov.