The first week of the legislative session is traditionally filled with ceremony, and this year was no different. House members were sworn in Monday morning; seat selection in the chamber was in the afternoon.

Tuesday evening, Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered the Condition of the State address. Our state is strong!

Iowa ranks No. 1 nationally as a state for retirement, for millennial home ownership, and fiscal responsibility. We are No. 2 in cost of living and No. 3 for opportunity. We’re also No. 4 for health care and educational choice. Significantly we are the sixth best state overall. Gov. Reynolds also talked about addressing rural health care.

While we don’t have specifics on her proposal yet, I’m very happy with the focus on addressing the workforce shortage in health care and a focus on improving maternal health in Iowa.

Wednesday, Chief Justice Susan Christensen delivered the Condition of the Judiciary. Thursday, Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn delivered the Condition of the Guard address.

My committee assignments are a little different this year. I have been appointed chairman of the Health and Human Services budget subcommittee. I will also be serving on the Health and Human Services policy committee, Appropriations committee, and Transportation committee. Committee work started this week.

Health and Human Services

To start the session, the House Health and Human Services Committee got started right away with a presentation from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on childcare. At the meeting, DHHS announced that Iowa has expanded the number of childcare slots by over 25,000 because of legislation that has passed over the last five years. Expanding access and affordability to childcare for working parents remains a priority of House Republicans.

The state recently launched a childcare search website called Iowa Child Care Connect. The website can be found at this site: https://iachildcareconnect.org/. This website helps families find childcare near their home and work, allows childcare businesses to advertise open slots and fill child vacancies faster, and for state and local leaders to understand current vacancies, as well as supply and demand of child care in communities. DHHS announced at the presentation that there have been over 7,500 searches on Child Care Connect in the first quarter of use.

This website builds on the work of the Legislature during the last General Assembly. Last year, the Legislature passed House File 2658 to increase childcare rates for the Child Care Assistance Program by $15 million and in 2023 the Legislature increased these rates by $10.8 million.

HF 2658 also extended the childcare workforce pilot program for an additional year to collect data on recruiting and retaining childcare employees. This pilot program provides the children of childcare workers with Child Care Assistance with an annual cost of $7 million ($3.5 million state general fund).

Transportation

The Transportation Committee met this week for approval of standing meeting rules and introductions. During this time, many members of the committee mentioned their priority for the session was passing the hands-free driving legislation this year. Gov. Reynolds also mentioned this in her Condition of the State address. I am very optimistic the Legislature will deliver this bill to her desk for signing this year.

Please stay tuned … the session will move fast. I’m looking forward to a productive session.

If you are visiting the Capitol, please reach out to me. I would love to meet with you. It is truly my honor to serve Webster County in Des Moines.

State Rep. Ann Meyer, R- Fort Dodge, represents Fort Dodge and eastern Webster County.