By Kara Warme, Times Republican
Des Moines, IA-As we moved through the tenth week of the legislative session, debate continued to be a central focus in both chambers. It’s been a busy week in the Senate, with a number of important bills passing through our chamber and moving on to the House of Representatives for further discussion and debate. Constituent meetings continued as well and through it all, our priority remains clear–making decisions that help our communities, addressing constituent concerns, and moving Iowa forward.
One significant piece of legislation we passed was Senate File 311, a bill that reforms the civil service discipline process and bans the use of civilian review boards in Iowa. This reform is a step forward in ensuring that our civil service processes are fair, effective, and transparent for all involved.
We also passed SF 469, which establishes an emeritus physician license for doctors over the age of 60. This license will allow these experienced physicians to continue contributing to our health care system by supervising and training resident physicians. It’s a meaningful way to honor their years of dedication while also ensuring the next generation of health care professionals receives the training and mentorship they need.
Another important action was Senate Joint Resolution 9, which proposes an amendment to the Iowa Constitution aimed at protecting both children and adults with disabilities. This amendment ensures that those individuals will not have to face an abuser in the courtroom, providing a vital safeguard for our most vulnerable citizens.
I was proud to bring SF 573 to the floor this week, also known as the Motor Vehicle Glass Act. This bill, which passed unanimously 47-0, ensures that consumers are fully informed about the windshield repair process and know exactly what services are being provided. By requiring clear disclosures about safety features and technology, it helps ensure Iowans are not only aware of the services they’re receiving, but also understand the safety implications if driver-assist systems do not work properly.
I’m thrilled to share that this week the House passed the Governor’s proposal requiring school cell phone policies 88-9! I had many great conversations with House members leading up to the vote and hope to see the House version up for debate and a vote in the Senate next week.
Finally, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate the House passage of SF 75, which will now go to Governor Reynolds for her signature. This bill, which ensures better rural representation by requiring districts for county supervisors in counties (like Story) with a Regent university, passed the House with a strong 65-33 vote. I want to thank Representative Brett Barker and Representative Judd Lawler for their successful advocacy on the House floor. It was a true team effort, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done together. As Representative Ross Wilburn of Ames mentioned, our ability to work together in Story County is a model for bipartisan cooperation. To me, this bill was never about partisanship. It’s about giving a voice to both urban and rural residents, temporary and permanent alike. Thank you to Senator Dawn Driscoll and former Representative Dave Deyoe for their years of dedication to this issue.
As always, thank you for allowing me to serve you. Your support is what keeps us working toward a better, stronger Iowa for everyone.
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