Significant Budget Progress During the Second Funnel
What made this second funnel week so unique is that, except for the Standing Appropriations bill, which is usually the last bill through the chambers, all the budget bills have been introduced and many of them have been acted upon in committee or on the floor (see table below). Typically, the budget process does not get started in earnest until the policy process (the second funnel) has been completed. The result of this is that the legislature will be heading into week 13 well ahead of where it usually finds itself in the budgeting process. This does not necessarily mean that there will be an early adjournment, it just means that once the final decisions are made on the budget, both chambers will be able to act very quickly to adjourn for the year. The target adjournment date is May 3rd, the 110th day of session.
Budget Bills
|
Budget
|
House
|
Senate
|
Status
|
|
Education
|
HF758
|
|
Passed House (58-38) 4/4; to Senate.
|
|
Transportation
|
|
SF600
|
Passed Senate (46-0) 4/2; to House.
|
|
Admin & Reg
|
HF759
|
|
Passed House Full Approps 4/1; to House floor.
|
|
Ag & Natural Resources
|
|
SF609
|
Passed Senate Full Approps 3/28; to Senate floor.
|
|
Economic Development
|
|
SF608
|
Passed Senate Full Approps 3/28; to Senate floor.
|
|
Infrastructure
|
HSB251
|
|
Passed House Full Approps 4/4; to House floor.
|
|
Health and Human Services
|
HSB253
|
|
Passed House Full Approps 4/4; to House floor.
|
|
Justice System
|
|
SSB1255
|
Passed Senate Full Approps 4/3; to Senate floor.
|
|
Judicial Branch
|
|
SSB1254
|
Passed Senate Full Approps 4/3; to Senate floor.
|
United Health Care No Longer an MCO In Iowa
Last Friday, in a very surprising development, the Governor’s office announced that United Health Care would no longer be under contract with the state of Iowa. United Health Care is one of the three managed care organizations (MCOs) serving Iowa’s Medicaid patients. The practical effect of this decision is that over 400,000 Iowans who were covered by United Health Care will need to find coverage by June 1. The long-term impacts of this are unclear, but it is likely to impact discussions of the Health and Human Services budget, as well as related policy matters still pending in the legislature.
Bills Sent to Governor
