This week the legislature took up several K-12 related measures, but there was not a lot of change related to our priorities. We have updated the bill tracker to reflect things that are no longer “alive” after the first funnel. Since things can sometimes return, we will include them on a separate list and move them back if they re-emerge in a different way. This week, the governor announced her appointment of Iowa Department of Education Director. Governor Reynolds has appointed Chad Aldis, a native Iowan and former student of Camanche, East Central (now Easton Valley), and Clinton Community School Districts, to lead the Iowa Department of Education as director beginning March 15, 2023. Aldis most recently served as vice president for Ohio policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. We look forward to working with Director Aldis!
Just today, the March Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met. The REC determines revenue estimates under Iowa Code Section 8.22A, and is responsible for evaluating the fiscal and policy impacts of program and budget proposals and making this information available to decision-makers. The REC is estimating small decreases in state revenue over the next two years compared to prior estimates. This information will also impact the rest of the budgeting process for this year and next year’s process.