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HF 732 Closing Remarks from Senate President Amy Sinclair

Today, the Iowa Senate passed HF 732, the Heartbeat Bill, 32-17 sending it to Governor Reynolds. Below are the closing remarks of Senate President Amy Sinclair on HF 732 as prepared for delivery:

Thank you Mr. President: 

Thank you for sharing this time with me in debate. I respect each of you and the perspective and experiences your life brings to this foundational conversation. Ultimately, House File 732 gets at the very heart of what it means to be an American, to be a person. Five years ago I stood before you advancing this exact legislation, and a colleague shared a quote from Dostoevsky with me: “We are citizens of eternity.” I feel the weight of those words and the long-term impact of the decisions we are making tonight. The bill we have before us carries all the gravity of the human rights atrocity of our time, and history will judge each of us for the role we played here.

As I said, we’ve been here before. I will be saying the very same things I said in 2018 when we initially had this conversation to pass a law to protect the most vulnerable of human beings. We are back again today because of a procedural division of powers that left our existing Iowa Code, Chapter 146C, in limbo. We are forced by our courts to reinforce the legislature’s 2018 intent to protect the unborn, to reinforce this legislature’s continued defense of all human beings’ right to their own lives. And we are more than willing to do that. We are here to confirm that the Iowa Legislature does not pass hypothetical laws. When we pass a law, we mean exactly what is written on the pages placed into code.

First of all, we are not here today as a matter of religion. While I am a person of faith, I do not have a current membership in any church. Secondly, this is not, I repeat NOT a war on women. Roughly 50% of the people this bill is designed to protect are women. So in actual fact, a failure to pass this bill would be the true war on women in its very purest sense… Hear me: the true war on women would be the failure to pass the bill. And finally, the science is on the side of life. No one can honestly view an ultrasound and deny the humanity of the unborn.

This bill is the logical beginning point for all of civil governance. Each of us took a sworn oath to defend the Constitution of Iowa and the Constitution of the United States of America. Each of these documents was created to govern a society where individual liberty is held in the highest regard, where each person’s rights are carefully and fully defended. And the most logical understanding of that right to life acts as a pre-requisite for every other law that exists and every other law that we might make in the future. So as legislators, our very first duty should be to protect each individual’s life above all else. This is why we have laws against murder and manslaughter, against reckless and drunk driving, against arson and drug dealers. These acts endanger the lives of others, and we legislate on the moral grounds that the right to life is a sacred underpinning of society.

So the question we must face in our sworn duty as legislators is this: who is an individual who has the right to have their life defended by society? House File 732 clearly answers that question. And the answer is simple: an individual life is any person with a beating heart.

Two beating hearts have done much to frame who I am and why I am such an advocate of this bill. The first was the beating heart of my first child, Evan. In 1995 at 19 years old I discovered I was pregnant. It was unplanned, and I was unprepared to be a mother, lost in how to move forward. At the doctor’s visit, where the pregnancy was confirmed, a device was placed on my abdomen and I heard my son’s heart for the first time. There was no question that he was alive and functioning independently of me. The other was in 2002 at the end of my father’s life: his heart stopped beating. I knew the man who had raised me was no longer alive. In each of those cases, the heartbeat, or the lack of one, was an indication of another individual person’s life. 

Mr. President, colleagues, people with a beating heart, please take a moment with me to reflect on what it means to be human – to aggressively defend your own right to life and your reasonable expectation that your government should actively support you and all other people in the primary endeavor. Mr. President, I move House File 732 be read for the final time and placed on its passage so that all people in Iowa understand that their life has intrinsic value and that our society and government are prepared to defend them.

Closing Remarks of Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver

Today, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver released his closing remarks as prepared for delivery. 

Madame President, 

One hundred and fifteen days have passed since my opening day remarks in this chamber. During that speech I talked about how proud I have been to hear the word historic used again and again to describe our accomplishments in the prior six legislative sessions. 

Historic tax relief, historic expansion of Iowans’ 2nd Amendment freedoms, historic protections of our elections, historic mental health reforms, and historic support for law enforcement are all included on that list. 

In our 7th session in the majority, and first in the supermajority, we stacked more historic achievements on top of that list. One of the first bills passed by the Senate this year was HF 68. It kept our promise to parents to give all students choice in their education.  

Iowa has tremendous public schools, but they may not be the best fit for every student. School choice gives all parents and students the same opportunities currently available only for families with the means to pay their income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and still have enough to pay for private school tuition. School choice opens doors for families and it has shown in study after study to improve student achievement both for students in public school and in private school. Senate Republicans have led on this issue for years and we enjoyed seeing this policy cross the finish line so early in session and now the state of Iowa is a leader in school choice. 

On day one I also mentioned how often we heard from Iowans about their serious concern of impeding property assessment increases. They were right. Over the last several weeks they shared their stories of 20%, 30%, and even 50% increases in the value of their property. They were angry about these increases because for decades they’ve seen their property tax bills go up and up, while being told by their local governments it’s the assessor’s fault, not the taxing authority. 

HF 718 was another historic achievement. It fixed the assessment problem. This bill implemented structural property tax reform and protected Iowans from those massive jumps in property taxes they feared by automatically reducing tax rates when assessments rise and consolidating and simplifying more than a dozen different levies. It also empowered taxpayers by giving them information about the taxes and spending of local governments on how it impacts their tax bill. 

The final issue I addressed was workforce. Senate Republicans took several major steps to addressing the workforce shortage in Iowa by creating the Iowa Apprenticeship Office to put Iowans on the fast track to high-demand careers with strong salaries and benefits. We also made it easier for teenagers to explore potential career opportunities or make more money with common sense reforms to youth employment and removed unnecessary burdens to teachers looking to work in Iowa. 

But our work wasn’t just limited to those three issues. We passed a common-sense ban on gender transition surgeries on children and simply directed K-12 schools to have boys use the boys’ bathroom and girls use the girls’ bathroom. 

The list of achievements goes on: We also passed several common-sense policies to expand health care access and availability by limiting non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases and a rural emergency hospital declaration to help stabilize rural emergency hospitals. Reforms to Iowa’s public assistance programs were overdue. This year those reforms passed both chambers and the state’s welfare programs will be better protected from fraud and available for Iowans truly in need. K-12 schools got more flexibility to meet the specific needs of their districts. For the first time in 40 years state government was aligned to improve efficiency, eliminate redundancies, and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. 

The 2023 Iowa Legislature was truly a historic session, one of the most productive since as far back as 2021. Now is the time to celebrate our achievements. I am proud of the work this caucus did. I think I speak for all of us when I say we are looking forward to some days off, time with our other jobs, and time with our families. I will see you again in 8 months refreshed with new ideas to continue to deliver results for the great people of Iowa. 

Thank you madame president.

Closing Remarks of Senate President Amy Sinclair

Today Senate President Amy Sinclair released her closing remarks as prepared for delivery. 

Six years ago, we began the first Republican trifecta in the state since the 1997-1998 General Assembly. Entering our first year in the majority, I could not have imagined the challenges we would face, the bold solutions we would design, and the successes we would have to better the state of Iowa. We focused our efforts on tax reform, the reformation of collective bargaining laws, balancing the state budget, and protecting the life of the unborn. During our first session in the majority, we passed 174 bills, overhauling laws put in place prior to our majority, beginning to repair the budget, and working to begin an economic revival in our state. 

However, when the pandemic hit, new issues arose and existing problems we had not seen came to light. I never imagined we would need to pass laws to let kids go back to school, allow family members to visit loved ones in the hospital, or keep workplaces from mandating vaccines for their employees. But we did. I am proud of the leadership our state showed during this time. It was this leadership that paved the way for the legislature to pass these bills, leading the nation by being the first state in the country to get our kids back in the classroom and being named the fastest state in the country to recover economically from the pandemic.

Several years ago, one of my friends and colleagues retired from the Iowa Senate. When I asked him why, part of his response was that he felt like Iowa Republicans had accomplished more Republican priorities since taking the majority in 2017 than most Republican legislators dream of accomplishing in their career. While I can see why he thought that at the time based on past sessions, just wait until he looks at what we have done in the 2023 session. 

While it is beginning to feel like we often hear the word “historic” when talking about the accomplishments of the Iowa Legislature, the 2023 session has truly been historic in seeing some of my own priorities accomplished. We have passed policy I never believed I would see cross the finish line when I was first elected. Parental choice in education has always been a passion of mine. Parents have a right to educate their children in the way that supports their values system. And if the district school available to them doesn’t meet that need, our state has an obligation to support them as they make an alternative choice. This year Iowa passed HF 68, creating a pathway to universal school choice in our state. We also passed SF 496 to ensure parents know their rights when it comes to transparency in our educational institutions. Parents should be able to trust that their school administrators and educators will always do the right thing for their children. Transparency will strengthen that trust.

Additionally, we passed a historic property tax transparency and reform bill. When attending forums and listening to my constituents, the number one issue I hear about is property taxes. With the major increase in assessments recently released, we knew real change was needed in our system. HF 718 provides over $100 million in property tax relief, making it the most comprehensive property tax reform bill ever. The bill will automatically reduce tax rates when assessments rise, restore basic levy limitations to control government spending, and simplify a complex system while still maintaining local flexibility and decision making for community priorities. 

In addition to these accomplishments, this session has also seen bills that prevent fraud in our welfare systems, prevent sexually explicit materials from being available to kids in our schools, ensure we maintain a balanced budget, and create more access to health care solutions for rural Iowans. To top it all off, Iowa has been named one of the top ten overall best states by US News and World Report. So while we have heard the word “historic” used before, the word accurately describes the positive change Iowa has seen and will continue to see under the Republican trifecta. I am proud to have served District 12 in the Iowa Senate and honored to serve the entire state as Senate President during this historic session of the Iowa legislature.

Historic Property Tax Agreement Passes Iowa Senate

Record property assessment increases caused exhausted taxpayers to demand state action to reform and control property taxes. According to a survey conducted for Iowans for Tax Relief 67% of Iowans support the legislature setting limits on how much local governments can tax and spend. A Des Moines Register poll showed 58% supported a similar concept. Today, the Iowa Senate Passed HF 718, a property tax reform proposal to limit the cost of local government spending, automatically reduce tax rates when assessments rise, provide clarity for taxpayers on local budgets and spending, and consolidate and simplify 15 property tax levies. House File 718 passed 49-0.

“I am proud to add yet another historic accomplishment to protect the taxpayer,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver. “Iowans feared big property tax increases with their new assessments. This bill fixes it.” 

“Senate Republicans have spent the last several months working on a thoughtful, long-term proposal to provide real, permanent property tax relief for Iowans,” said Senator Dan Dawson. “House File 718 is the most comprehensive property tax relief to be passed by a legislature and, I believe, passed in a single legislative session. I am proud of the bill that is passing today and the monumental effect it will have on the lives of hard-working Iowans.”

Iowa Senate Passes $100 million in Property Tax Relief

Today, the Iowa Senate passed SF 569, an estimated $100 million property tax relief bill, while simultaneously preserving the Taxpayer Trust Fund to remain on the path to reduce and eliminate the state income tax. 

“Iowans from river to river have opened their property assessments this year to shock and dismay,” said Senator Dan Dawson. “20%, 30%, even 50% increases in valuations have left property taxpayers angry and looking for relief. Senate Republicans heard them. Today’s resulting reform is real relief now and structural relief for the future.”  

“In 2021, the Iowa Legislature moved the cost of mental health services from property taxes to the state general fund. Less than half the counties in Iowa passed those savings to the property taxpayer,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver. “Unlike past efforts to provide property tax relief, SF 569 is not a tax shift. It is $100 million in relief and controls the growth of local government spending. It avoids the pitfall of pouring water into a bucket with a big hole in the bottom.” 

SF 569 provides $4.5 million in relief by eliminating two levies and $57 million in relief by changing the veterans and seniors property tax credit to an exemption. It also creates $45.4 million in relief through city and county levy reform as estimated by the Iowa Department of Management. 

The bill automatically reduces levy rates when assessments rise so taxpayers are protected from massive rate increases and also to control local government spending. It increases transparency by changing notice requirements and providing clarity on local budgets.  

Opening Day Remarks of Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver

Below are the opening day remarks of Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, as prepared for delivery:

Madam President, Minority Leader Wahls, colleagues, friends and family,

Welcome to the 2023 legislative session. 

Six years ago I was proud to address this body as a member of the new majority party and the President of the Senate for the first time. In those comments, I talked about the optimism of this chamber and its goals, to bring bold solutions and create new opportunities in our state. 

I said, “When this session ends and people remember the 2017 session, let them say that this was the year that positively changed our state forever. Let them say this was the year an economic revival began in Iowa. Let them say that 2017 was the year the legislature dared to dream big.” 

Continue reading Opening Day Remarks of Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver

Opening Day Remarks of Senate President Amy Sinclair

Below are the opening day remarks of Senate President Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, as prepared for delivery:

Good morning colleagues of the Senate, friends, family, and people of the State of Iowa. Welcome to the first session of the 90th General Assembly. As I look around, I see many new faces filling the desks of the Senate Chamber, and I want to congratulate the 14 new Senators sworn into office today. 

Continue reading Opening Day Remarks of Senate President Amy Sinclair

Whitver Announces Committee Assignments

Today, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, released Senate Republican committee assignments for the 90th General Assembly.

“After Iowans have validated our agenda by putting Senate Republicans into the supermajority for the first time in half a century, our caucus is ready to continue to deliver results for this state,” said Whitver. “We will implement pro-growth solutions to combat the destructive Biden agenda and help Iowans keep more of what they earn, continue to reduce barriers to job creation, and empower parents in their children’s education.”

Due to the make-up of the Iowa Senate, committee sizes have been adjusted. The new numbers are reflected below.

Agriculture 11 Republicans, 5 Democrats

Senator Driscoll, Chair
Senator Rozenboom, Vice Chair
Senator Alons
Senator Costello
Senator Edler
Senator Green
Senator Gruenhagen
Senator McClintock
Senator Shipley
Senator Sweeney
Senator Zumbach

Appropriations 12 Republicans, 6 Democrats

Senator Kraayenbrink, Chair
Senator Zumbach, Vice Chair
Senator Rowley
Senator Lofgren
Senator Koelker
Senator Taylor
Senator Costello
Senator Edler
Senator Garrett
Senator Green
Senator Reichman
Senator Guth

Commerce 12 Republicans, 6 Democrats

Senator Brown, Chair
Senator Bousselot, Vice Chair
Senator Dawson
Senator De Witt
Senator Dickey
Senator Gruenhagen
Senator Klimesh
Senator Koelker
Senator Rowley
Senator Schultz
Senator Webster
Senator Westrich

Education 11 Republicans, 5 Democrats

Senator Rozenboom, Chair
Senator Taylor, Vice Chair
Senator Cournoyer
Senator Evans
Senator Garrett
Senator Gruenhagen
Senator Kraayenbrink
Senator Salmon
Senator Sinclair
Senator Westrich
Senator Zaun

Ethics 3 Republicans, 3 Democrats

Senator Shipley, Chair
Senator Costello, Vice Chair
Senator Evans

Government Oversight 4 Republicans, 2 Democrats

Senator Sinclair, Chair
Senator Klimesh, Vice Chair
Senator Gruenhagen
Senator Kraayenbrink

Health and Human Services 9 Republicans, 4 Democrats

Senator Edler, Chair
Senator Costello, Vice Chair
Senator Alons
Senator Evans
Senator Garrett
Senator Guth
Senator Rowley
Senator Salmon
Senator Sweeney

Judiciary 12 Republicans, 6 Democrats

Senator Zaun, Chair
Senator Garrett, Vice Chair
Senator Bousselot
Senator Dawson
Senator De Witt
Senator Evans
Senator Reichman
Senator Rowley
Senator Schultz
Senator Shipley
Senator Taylor
Senator Webster

Local Government 8 Republicans, 4 Democrats

Senator Green, Chair
Senator Lofgren, Vice Chair
Senator Driscoll
Senator Guth
Senator Klimesh
Senator Shipley
Senator Webster
Senator Westrich

Natural Resources 9 Republicans, 4 Democrats

Senator Sweeney, Chair
Senator Shipley, Vice Chair
Senator Cournoyer
Senator De Witt
Senator Driscoll
Senator Evans
Senator Green
Senator Rozenboom
Senator Zumbach

Rules and Administration 6 Republicans, 3 Democrats

Senator Whitver, Chair
Senator Sinclair, Vice Chair
Senator Brown
Senator Lofgren
Senator Reichman
Senator Zaun 

State Government 12 Republicans, 6 Democrats

Senator Schultz, Chair
Senator Cournoyer, Vice Chair
Senator Bousselot
Senator Brown
Senator Dawson
Senator Driscoll
Senator Koelker
Senator Kraayenbrink
Senator McClintock
Senator Salmon
Senator Webster
Senator Westrich

Technology 8 Republicans, 4 Democrats

Senator Cournoyer, Chair
Senator Kraayenbrink, Vice Chair
Senator Alons
Senator Bousselot
Senator Koelker
Senator Reichman
Senator Taylor
Senator Webster

Transportation 12 Republicans, 6 Democrats

Senator Klimesh, Chair
Senator Dickey, Vice Chair
Senator Bousselot
Senator Brown
Senator Cournoyer
Senator De Witt
Senator Koelker
Senator Lofgren
Senator Rozenboom
Senator Shipley
Senator Webster
Senator Zumbach

Veterans Affairs 8 Republicans, 4 Democrats

Senator Reichman, Chair
Senator Salmon, Vice Chair
Senator Alons
Senator Costello
Senator Dawson
Senator Edler
Senator Lofgren
Senator McClintock

Ways and Means 12 Republicans, 6 Democrats

Senator Dawson, Chair
Senator Koelker, Vice Chair
Senator Bousselot
Senator Brown
Senator Cournoyer
Senator Dickey
Senator Driscoll
Senator Klimesh
Senator Rowley
Senator Schultz
Senator Sweeney
Senator Zaun

Workforce 8 Republicans, 4 Democrats

Senator Dickey, Chair
Senator McClintock, Vice Chair
Senator Driscoll
Senator Guth
Senator Kraayenbrink
Senator Rowley
Senator Schultz
Senator Taylor

Appropriation Subcommittees

Administration and Regulation  3 Republicans, 2 Democrats
Senator Rowley, Chair
Senator Guth, Vice Chair
Senator Webster

Agriculture and Natural Resources  3 Republicans, 2 Democrats

Senator Zumbach, Chair
Senator Sweeney, Vice Chair
Senator Shipley

Economic Development  3 Republicans, 2 Democrats

Senator Lofgren, Chair
Senator Dickey, Vice Chair
Senator Gruenhagen

Education  3 Republicans, 2 Democrats

Senator Taylor, Chair
Senator Cournoyer, Vice Chair
Senator Evans

Justice Systems  4 Republicans, 2 Democrats

Senator Garrett, Chair
Senator Westrich, Vice Chair
Senator McClintock
Senator Salmon

Health and Human Services 4 Republicans, 2 Democrats

Senator Costello, Chair
Senator Edler, Vice Chair
Senator Alons
Senator Klimesh

Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals  3 Republicans, 2 Democrats

Senator Koelker, Chair
Senator Bousselot, Vice Chair
Senator De Witt

Other Committee Assignments

Administrative Rules Review

Senator Klimesh, Co-chair
Senator Brown
Senator Bousselot

Public Retirement Systems

Senator Kraayenbrink, Co-chair
Senator Lofgren
Senator Schultz

International Relations

Senator Sweeney, Co-chair
Senator Alons
Senator Koelker

Whitver Announces Committee Chairs

Today, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, announced the Iowa Senate committee chairs for the 90th General Assembly.

“The first supermajority in the Iowa Senate in 5 decades is ready to deliver results for Iowans,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver. “I am eager to get to work with my fellow Republican Senators to help Iowans combat inflation, reduce barriers to job creation, and continue to implement our historic income tax cuts.”

Agriculture 

Senator Dawn Driscoll, R-Williamsburg

Appropriations

Senator Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Ft. Dodge

Commerce

Senator Waylon Brown, R-Osage

Education

Senator Ken Rozenboom, R-Pella

Ethics

Senator Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway

Government Oversight

Senator Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton

Health and Human Services (Human Resources has been renamed Health and Human Services)

Senator Jeff Edler, R-State Center

Judiciary

Senator Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale

Local Government

Senator Jesse Green, R-Boone

Natural Resources and Environment

Senator Annette Sweeney, R-Alden

Rules and Administration

Senator Jack Whitver

State Government

Senator Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig

Technology (The Technology Committee will focus on information technology, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and other related policies.)  

Senator Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire

Transportation

Senator Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville

Veterans Affairs

Senator Jeff Reichman, R-Montrose

Ways and Means

Senator Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs

Workforce (the Labor Committee has been renamed the Workforce Committee)

Senator Adrian Dickey, R-Packwood 

Appropriations Subcommittees

Administration and Regulation

Senator Dave Rowley, R-Spirit Lake

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Senator Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan

Education

Senator Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center

Economic Development

Senator Mark Lofgren, R-Muscatine

Health and Human Services 

Senator Mark Costello, R-Imogene

Justice Systems

Senator Julian Garrett, R-Indianola

Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals

Senator Carrie Koelker, R-Dyersville

Other Committee Chair Assignments

Administrative Rules Review

Senator Mike Klimesh, vice chair

International Relations

Senator Annette Sweeney, vice chair

Whitver Reelected Senate Majority Leader

Sinclair chosen as Senate President-select to help lead GOP supermajority

Senate Republicans reelected Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, as Majority Leader. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, was chosen as President-select of the Iowa Senate for the 90th General Assembly. 

“Leading this caucus is a great honor and privilege,” said Senator Whitver. “I am humbled to be reelected as the Senate Majority Leader for the Iowa Senate and lead one of the most productive and conservative caucuses in the country. I am proud of the accomplishments we have had over the last several years, like historic tax reform, controlling spending, and supporting law enforcement. I look forward to working on important issues facing our state.”

Senator Whitver was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011. Through his tenure in the Iowa Senate, he has held leadership positions including Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee and Republican Whip. After the November 2016 election, when Republicans gained control of the Iowa Senate, Senator Whitver was elected as the Iowa Senate President by his colleagues. In March 2018 he became Senate Majority Leader.

“I thank my colleagues for the opportunity to be the President of the Iowa Senate,” said Senator Sinclair. “This role is critical to the success of our caucus and the Senate as a whole. I appreciate the trust they have put in me, and I look forward to continuing the progress we have made to make Iowa the best state in the country.”   

Senator Sinclair was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2013. She has served as the Majority Whip since 2018 and served as the chair of the Senate Education Committee. She has also been a member of several important committees in the Senate, such as Ways and Means, Commerce, and Judiciary.