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Iowa General Assembly Update
State Representative Jim Carlin
March 23, 2017
Supporting Iowa Schools in a Tight
Budget Environment
The education of our children is one of
the state’s top priorities with local control
being one of the platform issues of my campaign. So
far this session, House Republicans have increased
investment in K-12, provided more flexibility in the
use of funds and allowed for more decision making
at the local level.
When the Legislature convened earlier this year, the
state budget faced a $117 million shortfall due to
lower than anticipated revenue growth. While
House Democrats argued for an across the board cut
that would have resulted in a $48 million cut to
schools, House Republicans fought to protect K-12
education from any budget reductions. Revenue
estimates for FY 2018 show an even more
challenging budget environment yet House
Republicans are committed to maintaining the $40
million in additional funding already approved to
schools for FY 2018.
passed several bills giving local schools more control
over their spending decisions and resource
allocations. Passed last week by the House, HF 564
and HF 565 loosen funding restrictions and allow
locally elected officials to use funds that are stuck in
accounts because of burdensome state restrictions.
This week the House passed Home Rule for Iowa’s
school districts providing locally-elected school
boards the opportunity to govern their schools in a
way that meets the needs of their students,
teachers, and communities. Under current law,
schools are governed under Dillon’s Law, which only
provides them with powers expressly granted by the
state. HF 573 will provide schools with Home Rule,
the opposite of Dillon’s Law, allowing schools to
exercise flexibility in areas not addressed in state
law.
Legislation Highlights
 Earlier this week, the House Commerce
At the same time House Republicans have given
school districts more certainty in their budget
process by reforming the school funding timeline
setting funding in the first 30 days of the legislative
session. Still eligible for discussion this session is a
Senate bill that looks to resolve some of the
inequities in Iowa’s school funding formula with the
recognition that whether its transportation costs or
the per pupil rate, each school has their own specific
needs.
Hand in hand with school funding is the ability for
local school districts to make more decisions about
how those dollars are spent. The Iowa House has

Committee unanimously voted SF 230 out
of committee. The bill increases legislative
health insurance to match that of the
executive branch non-contract employees,
excluding the regents, or 20% of premiums.
House Republicans have moved versions of
this bill several times since 2011 only to
have it die in the Democrat con-trolled
Senate. Now that Republicans control both
chambers, it will finally make it to the
Governor’s desk. SF 230 passed the Senate
back in February, also by a unanimous vote.
HF 579 modifies criminal sentencing for
various crimes in an effort to reduce prison
sentences in some cases.
Crack cocaine penalties are brought closer
in line with powdered cocaine penalties.
A person convicted of attempted murder of
a peace officer shall serve 100 percent of
their prison sentence and shall be denied
parole, work release, or other early release.
Standard sentences shall be imposed in
certain crimes. These standard sentence
guidelines will be used, unless there is a
compelling reason not to impose the
standard sentences or in particular crimes
listed.

SF 413 modifies the statute of repose. A
Statute of Repose establishes a time period
after which a lawsuit, based upon
negligence in an improvement to real
property, cannot be filed. Statute of Repose
should not be confused with a statute of
limitations. Statute of limitations period
begins at the date of the injury or upon
discovery of the deficiency.
The bill strikes the 15 year statute of repose
and replaces it with a statute of repose that
is specific to certain structures:
•
•
•
Nuclear power plants, or interstate
pipelines- 15 years
Residential construction- 10 years
Actions related to, or improvement to
other real property-8 years
If there is intentional misconduct or
fraudulent concealment of unsafe or
defective conditions the claim must be
brought within 15 years.
If the unsafe or defective condition is
discovered within one year prior to the
applicable statute of repose, the period or
repose shall be extended for one year.
This bill does not reduce the statute of
repose for projects already in existence
prior to the effective date. It also ensures
that any contracts in place when this act
goes in to effect are not impacted by the
change in the statute of repose.
Public Forums
th
March 25 @
10:00-11:30
Sioux City Public
Museum
Legislative Town Hall Sponsored by the League of
Women Voters of Sioux City and
Morningside College’s
Bud Day Center for Civic
Engagement.