During the past two weeks the Iowa Senate has been busy with floor debate, passing many Senate bills so they can be sent to the House.
Week 9
At the Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, I met Mark Daly, presiding officer of the Seanad Eireann (Senate) of Ireland, in the office of Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair. I posed with a picture holding a certificate of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. It makes me think of my County Limerick ancestors who were members of the Garvey, Murray, Wallace, and Mahony families.
I also talked with Kendra Rensink, director of Head Start at Mid-Sioux Opportunity. Mid-Sioux is a community action agency in Remsen that provides services in five counties, including Plymouth, Sioux, and Lyon. As an example of how they might be impacted by legislation, we talked about their preschool in Hawarden.
That same day, I chatted with Bob Ladd, chair of the Lyon County Soil & Water Conservation District Board.
Wednesday, March 12, was Iowa Hospital Association Day at the Capitol. Among those I talked to were administrators and board members of Lakes Regional Healthcare (Spirit Lake). I had an extended conversation with LRH trustee Randy Heikens, a friend since our college days.
Week 10
When the Senate gaveled in on Monday, March 17, I congratulated the high school girls and boys basketball teams from Sioux, Lyon, and Plymouth counties which made it to the state tournaments — three of which won state titles in their respective classes. Such talent and dedication.
For girls basketball, the Class 2A championship game saw Central Lyon face off against Hinton. Hinton won the state title. Sioux Center competed in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
For boys basketball, two of the state title winners were from Senate District 2: the MOC-Floyd Valley Dutchmen are the Class 3A state champions and the Western Christian Wolfpack are the Class 2A state champions. The Unity Christian and West Lyon teams made the 2A semifinals, and the Boyden-Hull and Remsen St. Mary’s teams made the 1A quarterfinals. Great job, players, coaches, and parents.
After Senate floor debate on that Monday, I posed in the chamber for a St. Patrick’s Day picture with Jensen Cooper. Jensen is a Dordt political science alum and the legislative clerk for Senator Adrian Dickey.
On Tuesday, March 18, my friend Senator Kevin Alons floor managed a medical freedom bill I introduced in January (SF 56 → SF 233). “Right to Try” passed unanimously. It would allow seriously ill Iowans to try, as a last resort with the approval of a physician, gene-specific medical treatments that do not yet have FDA approval.
Pro-Life, Pro-Woman, Pro-Education
Wednesday, March 19, I floor managed SF 288 (formerly SF 12), a bill that I introduced to provide reasonable accommodations for any student attending University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, or a community college, who is pregnant or has recently given birth. These schools are already required to provide some accommodations under Title IX but many are on a case-by-case basis and are not well publicized. SF 288 would bring greater intentionality and consistency to campuses.
Providing support to mothers who are pregnant will allow them to both have a child and continue their education. The bill passed 47-0. It now moves to the House Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Skyler Wheeler, for consideration. Hopefully it will move forward to the House floor for a vote.
That same day, farmers and other rural landowners rallied at the Capitol in support of property rights and in opposition to eminent domain abuse. I gave a brief speech of encouragement in between Senate floor votes. This has been a priority issue for me since I wrote a letter to the Iowa Utilities Board in January 2022 and filed the Legislature’s first carbon dioxide pipeline bill the following month (SF 2160).
This week I voted for a Senate bill to raise the speed limit on undivided paved highways (SF 378). The bill would raise the default speed limit from 55 to 60 mph.
I serve as the vice chair of the Education Committee and also serve on the Judiciary, Local Government, Technology, and Workforce committees.
Mailing address:
Jeff Taylor
1007 E. Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-1001
