Farm Bureau, college students visit Capitol

It was a busy week at the Capitol, as we had people from the Iowa Farm Bureau, and it was Community College Day on the Hill and also 2nd Amendment Day.

We had people promoting the American Heart Association, Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, the Iowa State Police Association and the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

We passed 17 bills on the House floor that will now go to the Senate. Among them are the following:

House File 173, which increases penalties for drivers failing to maintain control causing bodily injury or death. This passed unanimously.

HF 180, which requires people convicted of grooming … register as a tier 1 sex offender. Five democrats voted against this.

HF 182, which updates the Iowa Drug Code to federal law for controlled substances, such as different forms of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Passed unanimously.

HF 330, which removes age and benefit limits from the autism coverage requirements of health plans in Iowa. Passed unanimously.

HF 392, which gives all accredited high schools the opportunity to apply for a year-round school calendar, like [preschool through eighth grade] is now. Passed with only one against.

HF 318, which requires insurers to provide the same cost-sharing for supplemental breast exams and diagnostic breast exams as they do for mammograms. Passed unanimously.

All of these and the rest of today’s passed with overwhelming support from the 99 House members, as do most of the bills we debate each year.

There will be a special election March 11 for Iowa House seat 100, filling the seat for our fellow legislator Martin Graber, who passed away Jan. 31.