On Oct. 21, the Legislative Services Agency released the second map proposals for Iowa’s redistricting process.

The first maps were rejected because several of the districts at the congressional, Senate and House level did not meet the criteria for compactness and the population deviation in several districts could have been improved. The second maps made improvements to those aspects of the new districts, and last week the Senate voted to accept the second set of maps.

To view these maps and see where the new boundaries are, you can go to the legislative website www.legis.iowa.gov and click Iowa Redistricting 2021 or visit www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/redistricting. Iowans can also enter their address and see their district under the new maps.

I look forward to continuing to represent my constituents at the Capitol. We are now focused on preparing for the 2022 legislative session, working on the issues important to Iowans. Specifically, in light of recent record-setting state budget surpluses, Senate Republicans are determined to pass real, permanent tax relief for hard-working Iowans and their families.

Several weeks ago, President Biden announced a massive federal overreach, compelling employers across America to require their employees to be vaccinated or risk thousands in fines for each unvaccinated employee. Once the proposed rule is issued, employers will be faced with the lose-lose proposition of firing employees at a time when workforce is Iowa’s biggest hurdle to economic growth, or paying excessive fines to the federal government if they don’t fire these workers.

In an effort to address this dramatic federal overreach, without making more problems for Iowa employers, the Iowa Senate passed HF902 to create a workable solution. The bill requires businesses to grant health-related or religious exemptions to the COVID vaccine. These exemptions are consistent with other vaccine exemptions in Iowa law. It also provides for unemployment coverage for any employee terminated as a result of losing their job because of a vaccine mandate.

State Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, represents Senate District 5.