DES MOINES, IOWA – The tone is set for every legislative session after the Iowa Governor delivers the Condition of the State speech. 

Governor Kim Reynolds gave her 8th speech in the office on Tuesday night. She began by outlining her legislative accomplishments over the last several years, highlighting income tax cuts and other tax code changes; along with her work to consolidate agencies in state government. She started outlining new policies for the year ahead by announcing a new arm of state government. 

“I like to say that we were doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing,” said Reynolds, “And to build on our success, I’m launching our own State DOGE to find even greater savings and efficiency in both state and local government.” 

Reynolds announced that Emily Schmitt, general counsel of Sukup Manufacturing will be leading that effort. The Governor’s Office told members of the media that the state’s expectation is to see a sharing of ideas from the federal government agency to report back to the state and the state will help streamline government at a local level. 

“We want to make sure that, again we are looking at Iowa policy, we’re looking at Iowa’s government and not just taking the Trump administration and trumpeting it here in Iowa,” said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, (D) District 32 from Windsor Heights. “Iowa doesn’t need more Donald Trump from Kim Reynolds.”

Governor Reynolds continued on, looking back at the year of hardship for Iowans who were impacted by the severe weather over the last year. 

“I will never forget the devastation and heartbreak,” said Reynolds. “But I also witnessed Iowans lifting each other up. Volunteers clearing debris, residents comforting neighbors, and local officials and first responders working around the clock. Many of whom had their own homes and businesses destroyed, yet they put others first.” She shared stories of bravery from Iowan first responders, pausing to thank some who were in attendance for the speech on Tuesday.

Reynolds then discussed education measures for the session ahead. She talked about raising the minimum teacher salary last year and the 28,000 students who are using educational savings accounts. She then led into discussing a bill that would identify students who are struggling in math and would link them with the personalized care they need. 

Several school districts have implemented a version of a cell phone ban in buildings. Reynolds is spearheading her own bill that applies to the whole state, saying educators have communicated to her that smartphone distraction is consistently at the top of the list. 

“That’s why I’m proposing legislation that requires schools keep instructional time free from digital distractions, at a minimum,” said Reynolds. “Of course, there will be common sense exemptions, like during an emergency. But the evidence is in and it’s time to act.”

Reynolds also announced her support for a distracted driving bill that would require Iowans to put their cell phones down while on the road. Both of the bills around cell phones are most likely going to be receiving bipartisan support.

“The Senate passed it last time,” said Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner, (D) District 45 from Ames when referring to a distracted driving bill. “I would also add that it will save lives and it’s been a law enforcement priority for some time.”

“I look forward to talking with the Governor about that,” said Senate President Amy Sinclair, (R) District 12 from Allerton when discussing the cell phone in schools bill. “What it sounded like to me was a ban on cell phones being accessible except for emergencies during instructional time.”

She shifted to childcare, saying it has long been a priority for her administration, announcing a statewide solutions fund to which individuals and businesses can donate to enhance the childcare workforce wages, to help out regional funds that exist already. Another early education policy point she announced was a program called Early Childhood “Continuum of Care”, where the funds could be used to pay for the costs of children from school to childcare. The goal is to give parents peace of mind that children are cared for throughout the workday, adding that partial days make it complicated for working families. This program will run in a three-year grant format for preschool programs and childcare providers to integrate services. 

The lack of healthcare professionals in the state is something that lawmakers have been discussing and trying to tackle for the last couple of years. Reynolds on Tuesday announced that the loan repayment program is receiving $10 million to consolidate the program and opening it to anyone who commits to practicing in rural Iowa for five years. 

Reynolds is also directing HHS to launch a program in partnership with the University of Iowa and Braodlawns to secure $150 million in federal funds to create 115 new residency slots each year at the 14 different teaching obstacles across the state. 

In other health-related programs, Reynolds also announced a new partnership between HSS and the University of Iowa to establish a dedicated team of epidemiologists to research factors that may play a role in Iowans getting diagnosed with cancer. She is asking for $1 million from the state to prop up that program.  

This comes while Reynolds said that the state will be seeking federal approval to have more flexibility with Medicaid rates. Announcing that Iowa will apply for a federal waiver to institute work requirements for able-bodied adults on Medicaid, crediting the incoming Trump administration that would accept or reject the waiver. 

The Reynolds administration also looks to rework unemployment taxes, proposing to reduce unemployment insurance payments that are made by employers in the state by half. 

“That will result in nearly $1 billion in savings, which will flow through businesses of all sizes to communities all across our state,” said Reynolds. Reynolds’ Office told members of the media the hope is those dollars will be reinvested back into the employees. 

“I don’t think that we need to be talking about giving corporations another tax cut right now,” said Leader Konfrst.

“I want to look at, you know, see those numbers and make sure that the fund stays sustainable long term, whatever we’re doing on tax cuts,” said Speaker of the Iowa House Pat Grassley, (R) District 57 from New Hartford. “As long as the fund can maintain sustainability, if it’s one more thing we can provide for being competitive as a state, I think it’s something we should consider.”

To wrap up the speech Reynolds addressed energy in the state.

“In the coming weeks, I’ll be putting together a task force that will make recommendations for how we can move forward with nuclear energy,” said Reynolds. She also said that communities face structural barriers in building new utility facilities. Reynolds said that the state will ask that the federal government allow Iowa to use tax-exempt bonds every year for communities to use for energy and water infrastructure projects. 

The governor did not discuss a plan for lowering Iowans’ property taxes, as that conversation will take place all throughout the session between her office and the Iowa House and Senate leaders. Reynolds also did not include over-the-counter birth control, but still supports it according to her office. Reynolds has tried for the last several sessions to get this passed out of the Statehouse, but failed to get it through both chambers.