We are back at the Capitol in Des Moines and the legislative session has officially started. The first week is always busy with speeches from legislative leaders, the governor, the chief justice and the adjutant general.

Senate Republicans are proud of the progress our state continues to make. Throughout the last several months, we have seen several successes come from the policies we have moved through the legislature and to the governor’s desk.

This last September, we saw 528 Iowa schools improve in one or more performance categories. We saw absenteeism rates decrease, 15,154 high school seniors engaged in work-based learning activities, and reading proficiency increased by 11 percent in just one year among third grade students.

Just six years ago, Iowa was rated 43rd in the country for tax competitiveness. In November, our state was ranked 17th with the author of those rankings, the Tax Foundation, saying “Iowa’s ranking has improved substantially in recent years as the result of several rounds of pro-growth and structurally sound tax reform that have greatly improved the state’s competitive standing.”

We have a lot of big issues ahead of us this session, but we are excited to get back to work and start working on solutions for Iowans and their families.

Property tax overhaul

Over the last several years, we have heard from Iowans worried about property taxes. Senate Republicans released a major property tax overhaul the first day of the legislative session.

Senate Study Bill 3001 brings the focus back to everyday Iowans, who are working on building their wealth, building their lives and making Iowa their forever home. Under this proposal, Iowans 60 years old and older with a paid off mortgage are done paying involuntary property property taxes on their house and they get to truly own their home.

It also allows local governments to vote for more revenues if needed, and when property inflation goes up more than 2 percent, the levy rate automatically goes down.

The tax and spending limitations in the bill put common sense controls on out-of-control spending in many localities and replaces it with a workable solution for local governments and property taxpayers.

We have to focus on real, comprehensive reform that recognizes the difference between rural, suburban and urban Iowa and helps our families, farmers and businesses. The Senate proposal not only overhauls a system that is no longer working for Iowans, but also addresses a need consistently discussed by cities and counties, allocating additional money to make our state’s roads and bridges safer.

State Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, a Republican, represents Calhoun, Pocahontas, Sac and Webster counties.