From the Desk of Senator Bennett

Hello Friends!

It’s been a whirlwind here at the Capitol, as subcommittees on bills have started. I’ve had numerous non-controversial bills, which is refreshing. One of note is SSB 3004, clarifying Iowa code with regards to harassment and “revenge porn” to include images produced using deepfake technology.

If you’re not familiar with the term, here’s what you need to know: Artificial Intelligence (AI) can produce images using a person’s likeness without their consent, depicting that person in compromising situations. The falseness of these images is often undetectable to the naked eye. During the subcommittee, we learned that minors are often targets for extortion. Online predators establish relationships online, then produce deepfake images threatening to share the images if their conditions are not met. According to a Scott County Sheriff’s detective, this has resulted in young people ending their own lives. The bill moved out of subcommittee unanimously this week.

I have proposed adding language to this addressing the use of deepfakes in electioneering. I’ll keep you all updated on the progress of that proposal.

This session, I’m also researching and working on a bill to address use of health data by the government. Many people think that data entered into, for example, menstrual period tracking apps, is protected by HIPAA. In fact, this data is not protected. Some may think it farfetched to think that the government would track or purchase app data, but the recent unlawful digital surveillance of Iowa athletes suspected of sports betting is just once tangible case indicating why we need guardrails.

As many states have proposed criminalizing traveling out of state for reproductive healthcare, or driving someone out of state for reproductive healthcare, I believe it’s essential that we explicitly protect our most private, personal information. This bill will likely be more technical than others I’ve worked on, and I’m consulting with experts and other stakeholders, so it may not be ready for primetime this session, but I wanted you all to know what I’m working for on your behalf.

Additionally, we are still working to persuade our colleagues across the aisle to take up SF 2039, capturing available federal funds for summer EBT. These funds ($29 million) would help 240,000 kids over the summer. I encourage you to discuss this with friends and family members and urge them to contact their own legislators. You can find the link to my Instagram post here.

Make Your Voice Heard in Your Iowa Senate

We get it – tracking legislation and keeping up with what’s going on in the Statehouse is daunting, but it’s more important than ever for Iowans to engage with their government and hold lawmakers accountable.

The legislative process can be complicated, but if you peel back the machinations and the jargon, most bills pass through three key stages of review and discussion – and each one offers opportunities for regular folks to get involved and make their voices heard.

Here’s a quick guide to understanding the process and taking every opportunity to make your voice heard.

Step 1: Subcommittee

Subcommittees are where we hear from you.

The first step for most bills under consideration in the Senate is a subcommittee. This is where a small panel of lawmakers review the bill and take public comment. If you want to make your voice heard on the pros or cons of a bill, this is the place to do it!
Subcommittees take place in person at the Capitol, but are usually streamed online as well, with time set aside for public comment.
What do to: If you want to speak on a bill in subcommittee, you can attend in person or participate online. You can also leave written comments for lawmakers to read and consider.
Find scheduled subcommittees here. Click “Agenda” for meeting details and the Zoom link. Click “Comments” to leave a comment.

Step 2: Committee

Committees are where we iron out the details.

If a bill passes out of subcommittee (many don’t!) it’s heard by a full committee of senators. In the Senate, we have 17 standing committees focusing on various policy areas. Each committee has between 6 and 20 members, often with specific expertise in that issue area.
In committee, senators discuss a bill and ask questions of the bill manager.
Senators can also amend the bill in committee — that is, offer changes and additions to it based on what they’ve heard from constituents and experts.
Committees take place in person at the Capitol but are also streamed online.
What to do: Attend in person to show public interest in the issue. Contact senators on the committee to let them know what you think and how you want them to vote. Find committee schedules here. Click here to find senators’ contact information.

Step 3: The Floor

Floor debate is where we make our stand.

A bill that passes committee is eligible for floor debate (although the floor leader decides when and if a bill actually comes up).
If a bill is brought up for debate, the sponsor introduces it and then all 50 senators have a chance to speak and offer amendments to change it. At the end of debate, senators vote on whether or not to pass it.
Floor debate is held in the Senate chamber and streamed online. Watch live here. Click here for archived floor debates.
What to do: The Senate chamber galleries are open to the public. Attend in person or watch online. Contact your senator to make your voice heard.

Step 4: What Happens Next

What happens after the Senate passes a bill depends on whether the bill has also been considered by the House.
If the bill started in the Senate, it moves over to the House for further consideration.
If it’s already passed the House, it moves on to the governor. The governor gets the final say on all legislation, choosing whether to sign it into law or veto it.

The next six weeks will be very busy with bills moving through the subcommittee and committee process. If there’s an issue you care about, now is the time to get involved and make your voice heard!

Quick Updates

Keep up the pressure to save our AEAs. Educators and families all across Iowa are speaking up to save Area Education Agencies from major cuts proposed by Gov. Reynolds. This grassroots advocacy is working, but we can’t stop now. If you have a story about how AEAs have helped your family, reply to this email to share it with me or contact the senators on the Senate Education Committee.
New bill aids school mental health. Iowa must do better to provide mental health resources in our schools, which is why I was proud to co-sponsor SF 2082, which our caucus introduced this week. By taking advantage of increased federal flexibility for mental health services in our state insurance programs, more young students will be able to access the support they need while at school.
Ensuring accountable care. This week, I co-sponsored legislation to hold Medicaid MCOs accountable and improve Medicaid for both members and health care providers alike. I have opposed the privatization of Medicaid since the decision was announced by Gov. Branstad in 2015. Since then, Republicans have failed to provide effective oversight and accountability of the managed care organizations charged with providing care to hundreds of thousands of Iowans. Our bill, SF 2083, provides common sense solutions to several very real issues with our Medicaid program that are impacting Iowans.
Teen driver changes considered. The Senate is once again reviewing the rules for teen drivers. Senate Study Bill 3097 creates a new special minor permit for 14½ year olds who have completed drivers’ education and received an instruction permit. The new permit would allow them to drive up to 25 miles to a place of employment and for one hour before and after a work shift. The bill passed a Senate subcommittee this week, the phase of consideration in the legislative process.
Pothole season. What do you get when you mix snow, ice, and fluctuating temperatures on Iowa roads? Potholes. The Iowa DOT invites you to report potholes on state and interstate highways so that roadcrews can fix them. Reach out to the DOT on Facebook or Twitter and use the hashtag #IAFillUsIn. Be sure to provide specific location information so crews can find them.
Iowa falls short on voter registration. The Iowa Capitol Dispatch reported this week that our state government under Gov. Reynolds has been violating the National Voter Registration Act for years by refusing to provide registration tools to Iowans enrolling in Medicaid. I’m hopeful these revelations will spur the administration to change course and follow the law. Every eligible Iowa voter should have the opportunity to participate in our democracy, make their voice heard, and hold government accountable.
Don’t miss your shot. With rising rates of respiratory illness like COVID and influenza across Iowa, be sure to contact your doctor or pharmacy to ensure you have the most up to date vaccines and protection for your health.

This Week in the Capitol

I had a visit from the Eastern Iowa Young Farmers Coalition, and my constituent, Mari Hunt Wassink. The group “champion[s] the collective interests of young and beginning farmers throughout the state of Iowa.” It was great to learn about programs which will help fresh, locally-grown produce from Mari’s farm, Black Earth Gardens, make its way into our schools and communities. I’m very supportive of local agriculture and I hope to see proposals like the Local Food Procurement and Processing Act move forward.

You can visit and follow Mari’s farm on Facebook.

Thanks for reading,

Liz Bennett

Contact Senator Liz Bennett at [email protected] or follow her on social media.
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