LE MARS SCHOOL BOARD
The Le Mars Community School Board meets this evening. First on the agenda tonight is information on school district financing of potential infrastructure projects. Action items on tonight’s agenda include a number of resignations and contracts. A date will be set for a public hearing on the schools districts property tax levy for the new fiscal year.
ELECTION BILL
An elections reform bill was passed last week by the Iowa House. Rep Tom Jeneary of Le Mars says a majority in the House wanted to tighten up an already sound Iowa law.
The bill includes several election policies, such as use of voter ID, even for absentee voting.
One of the rules used during covid will be dropped from the voting law.
The bill also includes identity protections for certain voters, and tightens deadlines rules for submitting absentee ballots. The bill was approved by the House and moves on to the Senate.
HOUSE PASSES BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON SMUGGLING OF IMMIGRANTS IN IOWA
Smuggling of immigrants who are in the country illegally — to conceal them from law enforcement — would become a crime in Iowa if a bill that’s passed the Iowa House becomes law. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says the human smuggling that’s happening is horrific and inexcusable and a direct result of the chaos on our southern border. Representative Mark Thompson, a Republican from Clarion, says human smuggling is a disgusting business and unfortunately the bill is needed because some of the demand comes from Iowa businesses. Democrats in the House voted against the bill. They immigration policy is a federal issue.
DRY SPRING
Still dry heading into planting season, but the state Agriculture Secretary, Mike Naig, has reason to be optimistic.
Naig is optimistic favorable planting weather will arrive this spring.
Iowa has had excellent yields last year, despite the drought.
HOUSE APPROVED TAX BREAK FOR BEEKEEPERS
A bill being considered in the legislature would eliminate the state sales tax on Iowa beehives. Beyond honey production, hives are often sold or rented so the bees can polinate fields or orchards. Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids guided the bill through the House this week.
The bill passed the House unanimously — after Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque rattled off some puns.
According to the state apiarist (ay-pee-AIR-ust), there are around half a million beehives in Iowa and about a dozen beekeepers raise bees on a commercial scale, with thousands and thousands of hives. Iowa currently ranks 16th in honey production.
BILL REQUIRES THAT IOWA HOME BUILDERS INSTALL RADON REDUCTION SYSTEMS
The Iowa House has unanimously passed a bill that would require radon mitigation systems in newly constructed homes in Iowa.
Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa says radon is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the move could help reduce Iowa’s rising cancer rate.
Wilz says it’s far less expensive to install what are called passive radon control systems in a home as it’s built rather than putting one in an existing home.
According to Wilz, good home builders are already meeting this requirement.
Representative Austin Baeth of Des Moines is a doctor of internal medicine.
In 2022, lawmakers passed a requirement that schools do frequent and thorough testing of radon gas levels in all Iowa school buildings and develop radon reduction plans.
