State Sen. Eric Giddens (D-Cedar Falls)

Greetings friends and neighbors!

Summer is in full swing, and I hope you’re enjoying all it has to offer. Since my last newsletter, I’ve enjoyed participating in parades and town festivals in Waterloo, LaPorte City, Cedar Falls, Dysart, Gilbertville, and Hudson. In the next few weeks, I look forward to parades and festivals in Evansdale and Traer. If you’re out at those events, please say hi!

Additionally, I’ve been busy visiting with constituents at their doors. I’ve had thousands of great conversations, and I appreciate all of the informative feedback I’ve received that helps me do the best job I can of representing you in the Iowa Senate.

July is also a special month for me because it’s the month my son Henry came into the world. Henry’s 19th birthday was on July 20, and we had a great time celebrating him last weekend. Next month, he’ll be moving back to campus at UNI and beginning his sophomore year in the jazz studies program there. We’re very proud of Henry and are excited to see what the next year has in store for him.

As always, please reach out to me at eric.giddens@legis.iowa.gov or (319) 230-0578 if I can be helpful with anything or if you have any issues or concerns you’d like to share with me. It is an honor to serve!

Accountability in Education Matters Now More Than Ever

Our state government belongs to the people. It should work for all Iowans, their families, and communities. This can’t happen without transparency from its legislators, especially when Iowa taxpayer dollars are on the line. You have a right to know how your tax dollars are being used – but when it comes to Iowa’s private-school voucher program, that’s not what’s happening.

In 2023, Gov. Reynolds and majority party lawmakers rushed their ‘education savings plan’ program into law with little regard for public concern. In its first year, it cost Iowa taxpayers nearly $128 million to send a small percentage of the state’s students to private schools. Now in its second year, 30,000 Iowa students have been approved for vouchers for 2024 – that’s about 13,000 more than in 2023. If all 30,000 of those vouchers are used, the cost to Iowa taxpayers tops out at over $200 million for the coming school year alone.

In the 18 months since the law was passed, the Iowa Department of Education has released no meaningful data on private school acceptance rates or student turnover. Without this information, Iowans have no way of knowing whether this program actually provides new options for Iowa kids, or if it’s just a giveaway for families who have already chosen private education and had the means to afford it.

While this question remains unanswered, the cost to Iowa’s taxpayers will continue to balloon: In 2025, all Iowa families – regardless of how wealthy – will be eligible to receive vouchers to attend private schools that lack oversight, transparency, and an obligation to admit students who wish to enroll.

In response to the voucher law, Iowa’s private schools saw an opportunity and raised tuition to amounts exceeding the $7,638 per pupil tuition voucher allotment. In doing so, private schools largely priced out new families: according to Princeton University researchers, two-thirds of Iowa students receiving vouchers in 2023 were already attending private school and could afford tuition prior to receiving a voucher.

This lack of accountability isn’t just shortchanging Iowa taxpayers – it’s affecting our kids, too.

In its first year, the voucher program effectively siphoned $54 million away from Iowa’s already-underfunded public education system. As income-eligibility limits for vouchers are lifted, this inequity will only continue to grow, resulting in deeper cuts to public programs Iowans and their families depend upon.

For far too long, our underfunded public school districts have grappled with difficult decisions to cut staff or programming. Now, some are trying to decide whether to close altogether. As voucher eligibility expands in coming years, more funding for public education will surely be cut to offset the cost of subsidizing tuition for our state’s wealthiest families.

The bottom line is this: Iowa taxpayers have the right to judge for themselves whether the voucher program is effectively serving the educational needs of our children. As recipients of taxpayer dollars, our public schools must adhere to strict transparency and accountability in their budgeting, policy decisions, and enrollment decisions. That’s impossible to do with private schools that accept vouchers, as there’s no legal requirement for them to disclose any of this information – despite being partially funded with taxpayer money.

It’s our job as policymakers to guard against waste, fraud, and abuse. Iowans deserve transparency and accountability from all elected officials – especially when tax dollars are at play. If we continue to collectively sound the alarm on questionable spending of public funds, together we can strengthen and protect our state’s educational system.

Iowa’s Child-Labor Law Can’t Skirt Federal Protections

In 2023, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa’s majority party lawmakers passed a dangerous child labor bill amid warnings from Senate Democrats and the U.S. Department of Labor that many of the bill’s provisions, including certain jobs and hours it allowed minors under the age of 16 to work, violated federal labor law. Despite this, the bill was signed into law, creating a confusing legal landscape for Iowa small business owners already facing a workforce shortage. Guidance from the Reynolds administration and the Iowa Restaurant Association was murky, and failed to clarify that businesses who employed minors per Iowa’s new standards were still risking violating federal law. Now, Iowa business owners are facing fines for following bad advice from the governor’s office and their own industry leaders.

Statewide Natural Disaster Recovery Information

For the most up-to-date information on recovery efforts throughout Iowa following recent flooding and tornadoes, visit https://bit.ly/Iowa-Disaster-Recovery. There, you’ll find help applying for state and federal assistance, a complete list of disaster declarations, and volunteer and donation opportunities.

CBD restrictions go into effect

The Department of Health and Human Services filed emergency rules last week to effectuate a broader ban of CBD restrictions than the legislation intended. Litigation over this law is ongoing.

Learn to trap with the DNR

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to trap furbearers to people with little to no trapping experience. The workshop will feature knowledge and skill building sessions with instructors that will teach the basics of trapping in Iowa. For more information and to register, visit: https://license.gooutdoorsiowa.com/Event/EventsHome.aspx.

Community Colleges Receive Grants for Career Training

Four Iowa community colleges will receive a total of over $3.6 million in competitive grants from the state’s Career Academy Incentive Fund to help more students with multiple pathways to postsecondary education. Schools receiving awards include: Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, Iowa Valley Community College District, Iowa Western Community College, and Iowa Central Community College. Through Career Academies, students may earn industry-recognized credentials as well as high school and college credits while gaining technical and academic skills through career and technical education (CTE) programs aligned with business and industry.

Important Changes to Minor Licenses and Driving Permits

During the 2024 legislative session, changes were made to driving privileges allowed by those with Minor School Permits. A new type of license, called a “Special Minor’s Restricted License,” may be issued to minors under certain circumstances and allows individuals to drive up to 25 miles for work shifts and childcare purposes. The Iowa Department of Transportation mailed notices to current permit holders with guidance regarding next steps. More information can be found at https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/under-18.

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.