From the Desk of Senator Blake

I want to take some time to honor my colleague, Senator Claire Celsi. She recently passed away this month after spending a few weeks in hospice care. The news came as a shock to us all when we heard the news of her passing, and it leaves a huge hole in our caucus and the Senate.

Claire was one of the fiercest advocates in the Senate. She always spoke her mind, even if the topic was controversial or unpopular. She ardently supported the marginalized communities of Iowa. In particular, she was passionate about elderly Iowans in nursing facilities and making sure they received dignified care and respect.

I only had the chance to briefly serve with her this year, but I’ll take cues from her zealous spirit and continue her legacy moving forward.

Thank you, Claire, for your service to Iowa. Your family is in Alaina and I’s thoughts and prayers.

Revenues Plummet as Books Close on FY25

Back during the legislative session, after weeks of delays, the Iowa Department of Management finally gave us a glimpse into the governor’s long-term fiscal strategy by releasing the administration’s five-year revenue projections. Those projections showed the governor was planning on spending more money than the state took in for at least the next five years.

What we know now, as the books finally close on FY25, is that those five-year projections paint a rosy picture compared to the state’s fiscal reality.

The final FY25 revenue number, released this month, came in at $8,939.2 million, or $195.4 million less than the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) estimated in March.

We knew at the end of the last legislative session that Republican lawmakers were taking Iowa down a deficit spending road by creating a $900+ million hole in the current FY26 budget. New estimates released in the past week show that deficit hole for FY26 will actually be closer to $1.3 billion.

In the past two fiscal years, Iowa’s state revenues have dropped by more than $1.6 billion. As our revenues continue to shrink, the state will have to pull billions of dollars from our reserve funds to balance the budget, breaking Republican lawmakers’ own rules against using one-time funds for ongoing expenses and spending more money than we take in.

The majority party will argue that this is “part of the plan.” But what is that plan exactly? Bleed our reserves dry while we sit and hope for economic growth that has yet to materialize? Their “plan” would have Iowa continue to cover ongoing deficit spending by drawing from our reserve funds through at least FY30, with no real end in sight. Every new set of estimates is worse than before, and our reserves won’t last forever.

The facts are worrying. Iowa’s economy is worsening. New analysis from Moody’s lists Iowa’s economy as in or nearing a recession. We were one of only two states whose GDP shrank in 2024, and we saw the worst GDP contraction in the country in the first quarter of 2025. WalletHub recently ranked Iowa last in the nation in economic activity and 48th in economic health. We have lagged behind the rest of the country in economic growth for 31 consecutive quarters – the entire time the state has labored under the Republican trifecta at the statehouse. The agriculture economy on which we’ve relied for so long is suffering the consequences of irresponsible federal tariffs. And the governor’s office confirmed earlier this month that the state’s General Fund will feel the negative effects of changes in federal law to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

We cannot allow the taxpayers to continue footing the bill for legislative Republicans’ poor planning. We need responsible budget management now, more than ever.

Cell Phones, AEAs, and School Funding: A Look at the Response to Our Back-to-School Survey

I want to thank all of you who took time to respond to our Back-to-School survey over the past several weeks. We’ve received some excellent feedback from students, parents, teachers, and administrators about what the new school year looks like in your communities. I want to share a few of the thoughts and responses that stood out.

The response to the new student cell phone restrictions, passed earlier this year, has been overwhelmingly positive. Several teachers report that students are more attentive and engaged. It seems some school districts struggled with implementation, but on the whole the change appears to have been beneficial.
We received many responses concerned about changes to AEA funding. Teachers and administrators cited diminished access to the support and resources they’d relied on for needs like special education, digital resources, and PT/OT/speech therapies. Some AEA staffers responded saying they have been stretched thin and lost coworkers – many are forced to do too much with too little.
We received so many glowing responses from parents about their kids’ teachers, but those responses were also paired with concerns about teachers being overworked and underappreciated. Teachers wrote in about growing class sizes, unfilled teaching vacancies, increased stress and burn out, and concerns about legislative interference with regards to what they’re allowed to teach.
School funding continues to be a critical issue. We saw many responses about the lack of support for paraeducators and support staff, inadequate infrastructure, tightening budgets, outdated technology, and insufficient support for families.
Private school vouchers remain overwhelmingly unpopular from both teachers and parents.
Parents wrote in about concerns regarding school safety and gun violence.

Remember to Vote This November!

In less than a month, Iowans will head to the polls to elect members of their local city councils and school boards, and I want to make sure you’re prepared to participate!

Let’s start with the most crucial detail: Election Day. If you plan to vote in person, polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4. You can find your polling place using this link.

Early in-person voting began on October 15. You can vote early at your county auditor’s office or at a satellite voting location. You can find more details about early in-person voting here and here. For more information about satellite voting locations, contact the county auditor’s office. You can find contact information for your county auditor here.

Absentee voting also began on October 15 – please remember that the absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 20 and your ballot must be received by the time the polls close on Election Day in order to be counted. Here is a link for the absentee ballot request form. If you have any questions about voting absentee, you can contact your county auditor’s office.

If you’re unsure about your voter registration status, you can use vote.org or the Secretary of State’s office to check. Iowa also offers same-day voter registration on Election Day – you can find more information on that option here.

While city councils and school boards may not get the same headlines as other political candidates they can have a tremendous impact on our local communities. I encourage you all turn out on November 4 and make sure your voice is heard!

Quick Updates

The 2026 Iowa STEM Teacher Award: Now in its 12th year, the Iowa STEM Teacher Award recognizes one full-time, licensed PK-12 teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions whose passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics motivates their students to develop a lifelong interest in STEM fields. The six selected recipients will each receive an award of $1,500 for their classrooms and $1,500 for personal use. Nominate a teacher by visiting educate.iowa.gov/STEM/TeacherAward and completing the nomination form by Wednesday, Oct. 22. The award recipients will be announced in early 2026.
Among the Worst States for Teachers: Despite our state’s ongoing need to recruit and retain talented teachers, a new report from WalletHub ranks Iowa among the least friendly places to grow as an educator. While several of our Midwestern neighbors rank in the top 10, Iowa ranks 43rd.
Youth Cyber Summit: On October 29, 2025, on college campuses across Iowa, visit the Youth Cyber Summit to connect with talented young presenters, explore interactive booths, and attend exciting sessions. Visit the Iowa Cyber Hub website for more details, including locations, a summit agenda, and other resources.
2026-27 FAFSA Forms: The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available online. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants, work-study funds, and loans, to help pay for college and other postsecondary options. Any student interested in continuing their education, regardless of income, should complete the FAFSA.
Dyslexia Awareness Month: October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, when parents and educators engage in raising awareness, challenging misconceptions, and advocating for individuals with dyslexia. The month is filled with events and campaigns to celebrate this common learning difference. Visit the International Dyslexia Association and Decoding Dyslexia of Iowa for additional resources and opportunities.
Work-based Learning: New data shows that more Iowa high school students than ever are participating in work-based learning experiences, with 45% of all high school seniors having at least one work-based learning experience while in high school. Student participation is up nearly 20 percentage points over the last two years, increasing from 31.7% in 2024 and 25.5% in 2023. More information on career-connected and work-based learning is available at Career-Connected Learning webpage.
Wildland Fire Assistance Grants Available: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), working in coordination with the US Forest Service, has grant money available for Iowa’s rural fire departments to help battle wildfires. The grant provides 50% reimbursement for wildland fire equipment with a maximum reimbursement grant of $4,500. Funding assistance can be used for wildfire suppression equipment, slide-in units, hoses, nozzles, adapters, portable tanks and pumps, personal protective equipment, and communications equipment. Apply online by Oct. 31.
Registration Renewals for Off-Highway Vehicles: The registrations period for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-road utility vehicles (ORVs), off-road motorcycles (ORM), and snowmobiles opened Sept. 1 and closes Dec. 31, 2025. To renew a registration, visit any County Recorder’s office, or go to the Iowa DNR’s online licensing site: gooutdoorsiowa.com. For information on OHV registration, renewals and nonresident permits visit: iowadnr.gov/things-do/highway-vehicles/registration-fees & iowadnr.gov/snowmobiles.
Fall Fun in Iowa: Iowa has so many fall activities to celebrate local traditions and create memories with your family! Start planning your autumn excursions today with these great resources: Iowa State Park Passport to discover your new favorite parks and track your outdoor adventures. Travel Iowa to find all the must-visit fall attractions, festivals, and scenic drives. MyCountyParks.com to find a fun local program for the whole family. Project Learning Tree's Nature Activities for Families to explore trees in the woods, a local park, or your own backyard!

Contact Senator Matt Blake at [email protected] or follow him on social media.
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