Transcript Highlights:

• It might be like a California achievement test or Iowa Test of Basic Skills, something such as that.
• >> It would just be students who electively chose to take it there and just in 11th grade.
• So, it may just be provided by the school as an elective opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Well, um, you're
• kind of analytics that you know of that you can compare that you know of that you can compare the Iowa
• Math, and a number of these types of tests, which show you can administer more often than you can an Iowa

Summary: The Education Freedom Account Oversight Committee met on March 27 and approved the agenda, adding a request for clarification on how the Children’s Scholarship Fund separates applications for the EFA program and the education tax credit program. The committee also approved minutes from December 30, 2025, and March 27, 2026, with a request that the March minutes include a link to the live stream. Members discussed the status of pending Legislative Budget Assistant audit reports on EFA and special education, noting the reports were still not released and would likely come later in the summer after review by the Department of Education and the Children’s Scholarship Fund. A major topic was the EFA program’s administrative fee, which statute allows up to 10% of deposits. Children’s Scholarship Fund representatives said current administrative costs were under 8%, that staffing had been reduced through the ScholarVia platform, and that any unused amount is reconciled and returned to students at year’s end. Members asked for historical administrative-cost data and a written explanation of how the withholding and reconciliation process works. The committee also reviewed the distinction between the EFA and education tax credit funding streams and was told the two programs use separate applications and separate funds, though both use the same platform. The committee spent substantial time on assessment and accountability. Department of Education staff explained that EFA students may satisfy annual assessment requirements through a portfolio, a norm-referenced test, or the statewide assessment; only about 10 EFA students took the statewide assessment, while most used portfolios or standardized tests such as the California Achievement Test and NWEA. Staff described how statewide assessment data are kept separate by student identifier and can be aggregated for EFA reporting, and members asked for breakdowns by grade, test type, and school district. The department also discussed linking assessments through Lexiles and Quantiles and said it could provide a list of commonly used formative assessments in New Hampshire districts. The committee additionally discussed a possible PSAT addition to the state contract and the costs of the statewide assessment program. Another major issue was special education eligibility and services within the EFA program. Members questioned the rule allowing a medical certification of disability from a licensed professional anywhere in the United States as an alternative to an IEP-based determination. Department staff said the current system allows either pathway, that about 1,000 EFA students are identified as special education students, and that the program does not track growth or service alignment on an individual basis. Members expressed concern that the medical-certification route may be too broad and asked for data on the disability categories used. The committee also discussed career and technical education access for EFA students, noting that Senate Bill 491 would provide guidance and that House Bill 1817 would address access and funding issues, but that current law still allows EFA funds to be used to pay CTE costs. The meeting ended with a request for future agenda items and a decision to leave the next meeting date open until fall, pending further information from the LBA audit process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, background I grew up in Iowa. >> I went to Iowa State University, studied landscape architecture,
• Thank you. background I grew up in Iowa state in background I grew up in Iowa state in Iowa.<00:02:11.840
• I went to Iowa State University, Iowa.
• . elections. elections.
• So, like I held up my Iowa State cool.

Transcript Highlights:

• They’re going to bring in people from Iowa, the Iowa corn growers, Kansas Light and Power.
• So hopefully we can get Iowa and get this moving. That's where we are, folks.
• Our board structure: these are elected board members at the general election.
• Now, the elections are by sub-districts and/or at large.
• So they're unique in that they're not elected officials, but they do have... ...board.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and heard updates from Department of Water Resources Director Reese Haas and Lieutenant Governor/State Water Commission Chair Michelle Strinden on statewide water funding, major projects, and two legislative studies requested in House Bill 1020. Haas reviewed the status of the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, noting NAWS construction is expected to move water by fall and Southwest’s Hebron-Rugby expansion phase one is in final design with bids expected next month. He also summarized the department’s budget outlook, including Resources Trust Fund and Water Project Stabilization Fund balances, the effect of oil price volatility and stripper well exemptions on revenues, and the status of project buckets, carryover, lines of credit, regionalization, bid trends, and administrative/process updates. Committee members asked about project prioritization, municipal funding demand, maintenance expectations, replacement versus deferred maintenance, and whether the 2025 session may have underfunded municipal water supply needs. Haas said the commission uses the same high/medium/low prioritization process across all buckets, reviews maintenance plans as part of policy, and is seeing strong demand in the municipal bucket. He also explained that the department’s 14-year projection is based on the next seven legislative sessions and that the state faces a projected $1.3 billion shortfall over that period if all planned projects are funded under current assumptions. Deloitte then presented draft findings from the cost-share policy study and the governance/finance study. For cost share, Deloitte said the model shows a roughly $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years and about $1.8 billion through 2031 under current policy, and offered seven options including tighter eligibility for replacement projects, state funding caps for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, a priority-based cost-share scale, timing shifts, use of existing lines of credit, and delayed reimbursement timing. For governance, Deloitte outlined draft options for Southwest, NAWS, and Red River ranging from maintaining current structures with stronger planning to transferring ownership or adding formal oversight, and recommended broader use of performance metrics, long-term financial planning, and clearer decision trees. No votes or formal actions were taken; the commission discussed the scenarios and the studies will return in revised form later in the spring.

Transcript Highlights:

• um but there was a lot of cost elected um but there was a lot of cost that<00:19:42.440><c> were</c>
• So it stands to reason that, whereas we can't tell you, oh yeah, Bjorn drove to Iowa because I live 10
• So it stands to reason that, whereas we can't tell you, oh yeah, Bjorn drove to Iowa because I live 10
• Bjorn drove to Iowa because I live 10 Bjorn drove to Iowa because I live 10 miles<01:19:41.600><c> away
• </c><01:19:41.880><c> BJ</c><01:19:42.159><c> drove</c><01:19:42.360><c> to</c><01:19:42.480><c> Iowa

Bills: HF5

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I live in Iowa and I come up and I watch the Minnesota Vikings at least twice a year because they're
• my team with my dad, but you also have beautiful and wonderful libraries and you give us in Iowa as well
• I live in Iowa and I come up thank you.
• I'm also president-elect of the Minnesota Library Association.
• I'm also president-elect Public Library.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They recruit and support candidates, help organize elections, and serve as a bridge between the people
• They recruit and support candidates, help organize elections, and serve as a bridge between the people
• director of the Louisiana Municipal Association, where he provided mentorship and guidance to local elected
• Speaker, House Bill 906 by Representative Billings, provides relative to elections, party primary elections
• I’m surrounded by newly elected Rep. Sawyer and newly elected Rep. Murray as well.

Bills: HR218 , HR219 , HR220 , HR221 , HR222 , HCR91 , HCR92 , HCR93 , HR210 , HR211 , HR212 , HR213 , HR214 , HR215 , HR216 , SCR29 , SCR38 , SB100 , HR171 , HCR49 , HCR65 , SCR23 , HB276 , HB508 , HB512 , HB599 , HB632 , HB656 , HB998 , HB1052 , HB1084 , HB1171 , HB1193 , HB1194 , HB1204 , HB1209 , HB1250 , SB2 , SB19 , SB24 , SB50 , SB70 , SB96 , SB101 , SB103 , SB104 , SB114 , SB122 , SB159 , SB160 , SB173 , SB180 , SB182 , SB260 , SB412 , SB418 , SB424 , SB442 , SB460 , SB476 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , HCR63 , HCR69 , HCR86 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB130 , HB167 , HB227 , HB243 , HB321 , HB335 , HB398 , HB492 , HB624 , HB689 , HB708 , HB804 , HB906 , HB926 , HB955 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1029 , HB1069 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1187 , HB1203 , HB1217 , HB1220 , HB730 , HB225 , HB175 , HB198 , HB437 , HB457 , HB488 , HB646 , HB763 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1089 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231 , HB1246 , HB1248 , HB1249 , SB47 , SB82 , SB106 , SB206 , SB210 , SB248 , SB305 , SB376 , SB397 , SB441 , HCR32 , HB59 , HB617 , HB897 , HB911 , HB1223 , HB798 , HB824 , HB989 , HB1140 , HB1166 , HB1244 , HB901 , HB79 , HR20 , HR74 , HB284 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1113 , HB1180 , HB1234 , HB1240 , SB89

Keywords: EJ Fields, Shreveport, Louisiana, gospel music, commendation, resolution, honorary resolution, Billboard Gospel Airplay, Mediabase Gospel Airplay, Mercy Endureth, music award, ministry, artist recognition, cultural heritage, spiritual heritage, African American gospel, local hero, state commendation, St. Charles Parish, parish day

Transcript Highlights:

• of Election Integrity, provide for challenges, House and Criminal Affairs with amendments.
• We have now staggered the board with elections, with no more than two trustees up in any one election
• Are they elected by the Sheriff's Association, or... Who gets on the board?
• Are they elected by the Sheriff's Association or sheriffs across the state?
• And I know he did answer all... ...before being elected to the bench.

Bills: HR70 , HR71 , HCR35 , HB31 , HB326 , HB1013 , HB1014 , HB1015 , HB1016 , HR65 , HR66 , HR67 , HR68 , HR69 , HCR33 , HCR34 , HB1006 , HB1007 , HB1008 , HB1010 , HB1011 , SB2 , SB13 , SB24 , SB28 , SB40 , SB47 , SB48 , SB70 , SB79 , SB80 , SB109 , SB127 , SB139 , SB154 , SB181 , SB199 , SB200 , SB208 , SB277 , SB317 , SB336 , SB349 , SB357 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HB51 , HB58 , HB69 , HB82 , HB93 , HB143 , HB166 , HB199 , HB201 , HB202 , HB218 , HB222 , HB223 , HB224 , HB231 , HB235 , HB246 , HB338 , HB349 , HB352 , HB379 , HB405 , HB429 , HB535 , HB547 , HB577 , HB588 , HB626 , HB636 , HB652 , HB653 , HB669 , HB688 , HB691 , HB721 , HB738 , HB749 , HB806 , HB843 , HB851 , HB857 , HB861 , HB889 , HB904 , HB907 , HB908 , HB929 , HB955 , HB1009 , HB952 , HB8 , HB9 , HB10 , HB15 , HB16 , HB17 , HB18 , HB19 , HB22 , HB33 , HB34 , HB35 , HB44 , HB46 , HB47 , HB48 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB135 , HB142 , HB164 , HB185 , HB215 , HB226 , HB232 , HB233 , HB242 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB301 , HB334 , HB436 , HB468 , HB548 , HB571 , HB582 , HB593 , HB594 , HB609 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB827 , HB845 , HB848 , HB921 , HB923 , HB951 , HB953 , HB999 , HB53 , HB57 , HB64 , HB102 , HB106 , HB111 , HB137 , HB152 , HB155 , HB177 , HB238 , HB256 , HB258 , HB337 , HB359 , HB363 , HB386 , HB434 , HB546 , HB557 , HB584 , HB661 , HB697 , HB726 , HB727 , HB747 , HB756 , HB758 , HB759 , HB765 , HB767 , HB825 , HB858 , HB930 , HB941 , HB957 , HB964 , HB868 , HB119 , HB140 , HB739 , HB842 , HB875 , HB919 , HB52 , HB228 , HB289 , HB735 , HB796 , HB901 , HB193 , HB400 , HB570 , HB733

Keywords: Northside High School, basketball, state championship, sportsmanship, athletic recognition, commendation, criminal justice, community contributions, Bridget A. Dinvaut, law enforcement, tax delinquency, property sale, rehabilitation, Louisiana State Law Institute, legislation, retirement, police benefits, disability, municipality, Social Security

Transcript Highlights:

• Austin Strawhacker, who is the Associate State Director at America's SBDC in Iowa at Iowa State University
• in Ames, Iowa.
• Iowa.
• Hosted by Iowa State University, the Iowa SBDC collaborates with various partners to provide tailored
• , the Iowa SBDC, and Iowa State University.

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer

Summary: The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.

Transcript Highlights:

• President of the Iowa Farmers Union said, quote, USAID is important for farmers.
• Elon Musk spent $250 million to get President Trump elected, and now President Trump is returning the
• And we saw in the last election, you know, podcasting playing this massive role.
• After Trump was elected, those tools were all brought back here and there was an effort to create this
• Often accurate information, first around the 2020 elections and then around COVID in 2021 where they

Committee: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Keywords: fiscal responsibility, government waste, foreign aid, funding resolution, legislative oversight

Summary: The committee meeting addressed government spending and foreign aid, with a particular emphasis on perceived wasteful expenditures. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a funding resolution for the committee, which received unanimous support from the members present. The chair noted a quorum at the beginning of the meeting, signaling that the committee was ready to conduct its business. Discussions highlighted ongoing debates concerning fiscal responsibility and the necessity of legislative oversight, notably regarding foreign aid allocations and their implications for domestic fiscal health.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. ...limiting to North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, whatever it may be.
• In Iowa it's called a declaratory order program, but they're essentially this type of situation where
• it's called a plr programs in Iowa it's called a declaratory<02:01:33.079><c> order</c><02:01:33.760
• So we looked at Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and we looked at
• Iowa had full discretion. North Dakota had full discretion, of course.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I learned about this in Iowa.
• They're able to show that if you look out five years or 10 years, a lot of those people in Iowa come
• </c><00:15:05.000><c> they're</c> I learned about this in Iowa they're I learned about this in Iowa they're
• come back home once they're ready Iowa come back home once they're ready to<00:15:11.880><c> settle<
• Our students use the park for team-building walks, picnics, and fitness electives.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, we're going to open the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee, and in lieu
• During the election primary, the law.
• ,</c> Nebraska, Maryland, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Maryland, Michigan, Iowa, Mississippi,<00:38:55.359
• I'm also the prime sponsor on House Bill 261, relative to election audits.
• </c> 261 um relative to election audits. 261 um relative to election audits.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• They're going to bring in people from Iowa, the Iowa Corn Growers, Kansas Light and Power.
• So hopefully we can get Iowa and get this moving. So that's where we are, folks.
• Our board structure: these are elected board members at the general election.
• Now, the elections are by subdistricts and/or at large.
• So they're unique in that they're not elected officials, but they do have taxing authority.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• God bless these elected members, their families, their staffs, and all constituents in a special way
• For example, the state of Iowa, you just have to get close to the border and you can bet on your mobile
• example, the state of Iowa, you just example, the state of Iowa, you just have<00:20:41.680><c> to</c
• are being asked then to put our vote up, uh, representing our districts, our conscience, and our election
• 06.600><c> our</c> our districts, our conscience, and our our districts, our conscience, and our election

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as a taxpayer, I could choose to designate and send $1,700 to Iowa. To an SGO in Iowa.
• So, as a taxpayer, I could choose to designate and send $1,700 to Iowa. To an SGO in Iowa.
• So, as a taxpayer, I could choose to designate and send $1,700 to Iowa. To an SGO in Iowa.
• So, as a taxpayer, I could choose to designate and send $1,700 to Iowa. To an SGO in Iowa.
• So, as a taxpayer, I could choose to designate and send $1,700 to Iowa. To an SGO in Iowa.

Summary: House Republican leaders and Speaker Melissa Hortman held a press event promoting House File 3490, which would opt Minnesota into a federal education tax credit program. They argued the bill has no state cost and would keep donations made by Minnesotans benefiting Minnesota students and schools rather than out-of-state scholarship organizations. Supporters said the funds could help with tutoring, extracurriculars, school supplies, special education-related services, learning loss, and other school needs, and they repeatedly urged Governor Tim Walz to opt in or publicly explain why he would not. Rep. Andrew Myers, the bill’s chief author, said the proposal is personal to him as a parent and legislator and described recent school budget pressures, including staff and resource cuts and larger class sizes. Rep. Ben Bakeberg, a middle school principal, said the bill could generate significant funding if many taxpayers participate and argued it could help offset school district shortfalls and the Blue Ribbon Commission. Rep. Griesbach also backed the bill, calling it a “no-brainer” and saying he would not work with the governor on other budget items unless the governor opted in. In response to questions, supporters said scholarship-granting organizations could be created by a variety of entities, including education foundations, and could support both private-school tuition and public-school-related costs such as extracurricular fees, field trips, and transportation for summer learning. They rejected the idea that the bill pits public and nonpublic schools against each other, saying it is meant to expand educational opportunity for all students. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the event; it ended with questions from reporters on the bill and other Republican priorities such as rental assistance, gas taxes, and energy costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• But President Trump was crystal clear: if you elect us, elect a Republican House and Senate, we will
• But President Trump was crystal clear: if you elect us, elect a Republican House and Senate, we will
• But President Trump was crystal clear: if you elect us, elect a Republican House and Senate, we will
• But President Trump was crystal clear: if you elect us, elect a Republican House and Senate, we will
• But President Trump was crystal clear: if you elect us, elect a Republican House and Senate, we will

Bills: HB1969 , HB1701 , HR1 , HR435 , SJR31 , HR436

Keywords: veterans, VA, Department of Veterans Affairs, suicide prevention, mental health, emergent suicide care, Columbia Protocol, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, title 38, adaptive prostheses, prosthetic devices, recreational activities, sports prosthetics, pension payments, veterans benefits, Veterans Affairs Committee, suicide screening, crisis care

Transcript Highlights:

• We have teachers delaying necessary medical appointments, occupational therapy, elective or emergency
• After the election, we surveyed almost 9,000 of our members, and the number one priority for all of our
• Twenty-five states have directly invested in educator pay, including our neighboring states, where Iowa
• We have teachers delaying necessary medical appointments, occupational therapy, elective or emergency
• After the election, we surveyed almost 9,000 of our members, and the number one priority for all of our

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Iowa asked for it, and I had to tell the Iowa State Auditor, "I'd love to give it to you, but it won't
• We have a county attorney system, and they are elected in our 87 counties.
• When I was first elected, the office had a very small antitrust section, with one or two people working

Bills: HF627 , HF474 , HF361 , HF1837

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Iowa, Ms. Miller-Meeks, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr.
• ,</c> recognizes the gentleoman from Iowa, recognizes the gentleoman from Iowa, Miss<00:14:43.040><c>
• We are proud to have her representing Iowa and to recognize this amazing achievement and opportunity.
• As the Coptic Post make Iowa stronger than it was the day make Iowa stronger than it was the day before
• Peaceful protesters in recent election.

Bills: HB6504 , HB6500 , HB2683 , SB269 , HB6732 , HB6715 , HB6719 , SB3424 , HR909

Keywords: Haiti, duty-free imports, economic recovery, trade, Caribbean Basin, tariff, apparel, remote access, national security, export controls, cloud computing, foreign policy, international relations, improper payments, deceased, social security, federal coordination, state agencies, coercion, minors

Transcript Highlights:

• What if the trustees at the same time lived in the state of Iowa and had the language in Iowa that’s
• It would be taxable in Iowa if those decisions and those distributions were made outside of Iowa.
• It would be a nonresident trust in Iowa if two of those three were made in Iowa.
• </c> being um um put in place by Iowa being um um put in place by Iowa resident<01:02:34.599><c> also
• </c> here if they had your your bill in Iowa here if they had your your bill in Iowa that that that was

Committee: Senate Taxes