Government : Hello, Iowa House District 84 from the State Capitol!

AFSP Members from Vinton Advocate for mental health bills.  From left:  Jen Rake, Julie Hessenius, Rep. Gerhold, and Holly Ollinger.

Jim Hessenius, Atkins, left, Discusses Mental Health Issues on behalf of NAMI.

We had a busy week 12 in the Iowa House of Representatives, even though we did not debate any bills. We had committee meetings every day, discussing bills sent to us from the senate. Here are some of the bills from the last few weeks.

The House and Senate passed SF 615, which pertains to work requirements for Medicaid Expansion. We believe that people receiving Medicaid payments who are able to work should do so. Currently, there are more than 100,000 Iowans receiving benefits who are not working or are working limited hours. Able-bodied people, who transition from government dependency to obtaining a job or increasing their hours can move towards self-sufficiency, enhance a sense of pride, and can open up opportunities for personal economic growth. This will help the Medicaid program better provide health insurance for the most vulnerable Iowans.

SF 615 does provide flexibility for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for determining what qualifies as work. The bill also provides exemptions for those who are unable to work to allow them to keep the benefits. These exemptions are: those under 19 years old and over 64 years old, disabled people as determined by the Social Security Administration, medically frail or exempt individuals, caretakers of dependent children under 6 years old, high risk pregnant women, those receiving unemployment, and those in substance abuse treatment. The director of DHHS can also allow some commonsense exemptions.

The House and Senate passed HF 782, which requires school districts to prohibit the use of cell phones during class time. This bill was amended by the senate, which states the bill takes effect immediately if or when it is signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds. This bill should have a very positive effect on student academic performance, and this article https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2025/03/11/hoover-high-phone-ban-results shows positive results in a school that has already voluntarily banned cell phone us during class time.

HF 856 has passed the house and is on the calendar in the senate. This bill prohibits state entities, community colleges, and private institutions accepting the Iowa Tuition Grant from using any funds to establish or support DEI offices. The message from Iowans on this is clear - the state should not spend taxpayer dollars on this.

On April 2nd, I attended the signing of SF 22 in the governor's office of the distracted driving bill. It was also the Iowa Mental Health Day on the Hill, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Vinton residents Julie Hessenius, Holly Ollinger, and Jen Rake advocating for the Benton County Suicide Prevention Coalition met with me concerning at-risk students. Also, I met with Jim Hessenius of Atkins representing NAMI to discuss mental health issues with our young people.

I hope you have a safe and healthy week and support our local businesses. Hope you're able to go to a fish fry! Blairstown Legion is having ribeyes, fish, tenderloins, and mountain oysters on April 11th from 5-7pm. Garrison First Responders is having a spaghetti dinner & auction fundraiser on April 12th with dinner at 5:30, auction at 7pm! I will try to post any other upcoming events on my facebook page.