The sixth week of the legislative session included our first deadline of the year, keeping us busy in subcommittee and committee meetings as we worked to get important legislation through our first hurdle. This also meant we covered a wide range of issues while we worked towards our deadline.
One of the bills that was passed by committee last week was the Patient’s Right to Save Act, Senate File 431. It creates incentives for people to make price transparency work by rewarding patients who shop for lower cost, high-quality care.
This bill addresses the rising cost of health care by rewarding patients who shop for more affordable care by requiring cash rate disclosures from all providers, offering deductible credit for lower-cost cash care, and letting patients share in insurance company savings post-deductible. Lower health care costs are consistently one of the top issues of Iowans and the goal of this bill is to lower costs, reduce premiums, and empower patients.
The Senate also advanced Senate Study Bill 3073, the bill to reform Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs). Since this idea was originally announced, we have received a lot of comments, questions, and feedback. We have listened to the stakeholders and people interested, taken that feedback, and several positive changes have been made to the bill as a result.
Under the bill, as amended in the Senate Education Committee, AEAs will still be able to provide schools with the same services they do now with funding provided. This is a major change from the original bill.
The bill also requires the Department of Education’s special education division to oversee special education compliance with all applicable federal and state laws related to special education and provide guidance and standards. This is not only accountability for the AEA system, but also accountability for the Department of Education to ensure that they are doing their job as expected in Iowa Code and federal law.
The goal is to help not only students with disabilities, but all students, and ensure they are getting the support they need to succeed. The focus will remain on that goal as we continue working on this important legislation.
Supplemental school aid (SSA) has advanced through committee and is eligible for debate on the floor. The Governor proposed 2.5%. I am looking to improve on that number, especially in our current economy. This needs to get moving as schools are deep into developing their budgets and contract negotiations.
There is also continuing discussion to raise the minimum teacher salary. The minimum teacher salary in Iowa for a first-year teacher is currently $33,500. The average starting salary for a teacher in Iowa is currently $46,251. I expect some movement on this during the current session.
It is truly an honor to serve Senate District 3 and rural Iowa at our state capitol. Please feel free to reach out to me with comments or concerns at lynn.evans@legis.iowa.gov