DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday delivered her annual Condition of the State address to a joint session of the Iowa Legislature.
The speech is an opportunity for the governor to reflect on past successes and outline priorities for the coming year.
However, this year's speech started on a somber note as Reynolds addressed the recent shooting at Perry High School, during which a gunman killed 11-year-old boy Ahmir Jolliff and injured seven students and staff members. Reynolds addressed the tragedy just minutes into her speech, commending law enforcement for their response to the event.
"It’s impossible to understand why things like this happen," she said. "The senselessness of it shakes us to our very core. Yet even in the darkest hour, light and hope break through. That was certainly the case on that day."
Early in her speech Tuesday evening, Reynolds highlighted her successes from last session. In 2023, the governor, along with Iowa Republicans, succeeded in pushing through an ambitious agenda, including a controversial school choice law that allots $7,600 a year to eligible students to put toward private school tuition and related costs.
"Educational freedom isn’t about public versus private; it’s about what’s best for each individual child," Reynolds said. "It’s about understanding that there isn’t just one way to educate our kids."
But Reynolds' education agenda didn't end in 2023: During Tuesday's address, she announced a proposal that would change the responsibilities of Area Education Agencies (AEAs), making them solely responsible for focusing on students with disabilities. All other oversight would be moved to the Department of Education.
Furthermore, under the governor's proposal, school districts would control their special education funds, rather than being required to send them to the AEAs.
Rounding out her educational agenda, Reynolds called on lawmakers to invest an additional $96 million to increase teachers' starting pay by 50% to $50,000 and set a minimum salary of $62,000 for teachers with at least 12 years of experience.
"These investments will put Iowa in the top-five states for starting pay and help recruit more of the best and brightest to join the teaching profession," Reynolds said.
Notably, the governor did not mention the sweeping education law passed by Iowa Republicans that would remove books with "sex acts" from school libraries and restrict gender identity and sexual orientation instruction in schools. An Iowa judge put parts of that law on hold in December after two separate lawsuits were filed against the state.
Watch the full speech
Reynolds also highlighted July's special session, during which Republicans passed the "fetal heartbeat bill". The law is currently facing legal challenges, meaning abortion in Iowa remains legal up until the 20-week mark of pregnancy.
"As we continue to fight for the law in the courts, I want to thank you for putting Iowa firmly on the side of life," Reynolds said.
She noted her commitment to creating "a robust culture of life", proposing to expand Medicaid coverage of postpartum care to 12 months, rather than two, for new moms who make less than $42,000 a year. She also announced a new initiative, Thrive Iowa, an initiative designed to "leverage faith-based organizations and private sector networks to connect individuals and families to support outside of government assistance."
Toward the end of the address, Reynolds praised Iowa legislators for continuing to cut income tax rates. She proposed a bill that would reduce the income-tax rate to a flat 3.65% that would take effect this year. Next year, the rate would fall to 3.5%.
The adjusted rates are significantly down from the most recent income-tax bill, which established a flat rate of 3.9% set to phase in gradually by 2026.
"This bill represents a total savings of almost $3.8 billion for taxpayers over the next five years," Reynolds said. "And it gets there by cutting taxes for every Iowan who pays them."
In closing, Reynolds looked ahead to the Iowa caucuses, saying the world will recognize Iowa is a state "on the rise".
"In an uneasy nation, Iowa stands out as a fixed point of prosperity and stability. As a reminder that remarkable people can always be trusted to build remarkable things," Reynolds said. "It’s because of them—because of Iowans—that the condition of our state is truly strong, and our future is truly bright."