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Second funnel is over. All bills that have originated in either chamber and have not made it through full committee in the opposite chamber are dead, excluding appropriation and ways and means bills. This means Health and Human Services Committee has ended for the session. We passed a lot of good legislation to further the cause of increasing access to health care across Iowa. Going forward, we will be working on floor debate and bills that are in Appropriations and Ways and Means. The main priority will finally be working on the state's budget.
Iowa House Republicans
release budget target
Late last week, Iowa House Republicans released our budget target for Fiscal Year 2024.
Crafting the budget has looked a little different this year, because the government reorganization bill needed to be passed first. But now, with the bill to streamline state government passed, our caucus is ready to hit the ground running to craft the state's budget.
Our big budget target is $8.58 billion. This number is roughly $90 million above the governor and the Senate's number. There are two main reasons for this.
First, our number includes the appropriations we've already passed this session that the governor didn't consider since her budget number is released prior to session. This includes money for the property tax rollback fix and increase in funding for public schools to 3 percent SSA.
Second, our number also includes about $50 million more to address a few priorities that we know are important to Iowans. Some of those priorities for the Iowa House that make our number higher include:
• More dollars for nursing homes by raising reimbursement rates. This would allow Iowa's nursing homes caring for residents on Medicaid to be reimbursed at a higher rate.
• Funding increase for the Department of Corrections to help with the retaining and recruitment of corrections officers. These are very tough jobs and we know the department is having a tough time hiring and keeping folks for these roles.
• More resources to expand Iowans' access to quality, mental health care across the state.
We have a lot of work and negotiations to do on the budget yet, but am hopeful we can adjourn the legislative session on time.
State Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, represents Fort Dodge and part of Webster County.