Government : HELLO HOUSE DISTRICT 75 FROM THE STATE CAPITOL!

The Iowa State House legislators are very busy now, debating and voting on several bills each day. I’m getting a very good education on how to make our state even better with common sense laws and trying to make our government more helpful and not a hindrance.

One very important bill that was passed to Governor Reynolds and signed into law was Senate File 519. Unfortunately, this was needed to protect farmers from people who choose to cause economic or physical harm of the animals or crops or by stealing intellectual property.

The House and Senate also passed an amendment that started the process of allowing the voters of Iowa to place on the ballot the 2nd Amendment. We are one of only six states that do not have in our Iowa Constitution the right to keep and bear arms. It is very much overdue and hopefully the people of Iowa will have the final say on this if it passes in the next General Assembly.

We are working on House File 623, which requires the Iowa Medicaid program to offer at least one form of medication-assisted treatment which has shown to be effective to reduce opioid abuse and dependence. Also, House File 532, if passed, will help retain Iowa doctors to work in rural areas after their training.

A stat that’s not well known is most of our bills through the first funnel date – almost 91%, have bipartisan support, and many passing unanimously. Please let me know if you have any comments or concerns: thomas.gerhold@legis.iowa.gov or via U.S. Mail at: 1007 East Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50319, or call 515-281-3221. Thanks, and be safe out there!