Des Moines, Iowa — The 2023 Iowa legislative session has ended.
The Republican majority approved a series of GOP priorities like state funding for private school expenses and curbs on what books are allowed in public school libraries, A bipartisan property tax relief plan cleared the legislature this week. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says those issues were at the top of the GOP’s list for 2023.
House Speaker Pat Grassley began talking about school choice in 2020 and he says with 24 new Republicans in the Iowa House this year, the plan came together.
Democrats say Republicans have left two billion dollars in the taxpayer relief fund and even more tax revenue remains unspent and House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says it could have been used on key priorities, like water quality.
Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls says the GOP pursued divisive policies this year.
Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, Governor Kim Reynolds is signing the property tax changes that passed the legislature this week with the support of Republicans and nearly all Democrats. Lawmakers say the goal is to ensure this spring’s assessments don’t lead to massive property tax increases in September of next year.
