March 28, 2024

Opening week of the 86th General Assembly

The 86th Iowa General Assembly is underway.

This year’s session is scheduled to be 110 days long ending on May 1. During that time, the Legislature will be tackling a variety of issues that affect every Iowan.

I will be returning to four of the five committees that I served on in the last General Assembly (Vice Chair of Government Oversight, Judiciary, Vice Chair of Local Government, Public Safety). The new committee assignment for me will be Environmental Protection.

The first week of session is typically ceremonial and used for setting up the organization of our respective committees. The first day of session began with every House member taking the oath of office for our two-year term.

During his opening address, Speaker Kraig Paulsen called upon the Government Oversight committee to launch an investigation into delays surrounding the opening of the new maximum security prison in Fort Madison.

The 800-inmate Iowa State Penitentiary was supposed to open last spring but remains under construction and the Department of Corrections is unsure when it will be completed.

The $132 million project has been bogged down by a myriad of construction problems, including a failed geothermal heating system, a floor that had to be completely ripped out, and a HVAC system that is inadequate to meet the needs of the facility. To add insult to injury, the project’s contractor has since declared bankruptcy.

As vice chair of Government Oversight, my hope is that we can conduct a thorough, bipartisan investigation that addresses the root of the problem and protects Iowa taxpayers from any further mismanagement of state money, especially on projects of this magnitude.

On the second and third days, the House and Senate convened a joint session to hear the Condition of the State and Condition of the Judiciary addresses from Governor Branstad and Chief Justice Cady respectively.

In his address, Governor Branstad emphasized our need to focus on infrastructure needs; safer and more secure schools and communities; revitalized parks, trails, and museums; and increased government transparency.

Chief Justice Mark Cady highlighted the need for better security at Iowa’s courthouses citing an incident last September in Maquoketa. Justice Cady also noted the judicial branch’s successes in digitizing court documents over the last four years.  He noted that Iowa’s paperless court system will be operational in all 99 counties by the end of June.

I will again be holding town hall meetings in each of the three counties in House District 28. Be sure to check my schedule for one that is closest to you. On Friday, I will be at the Monroe City Hall at 5 p.m. and the Sully Community Center at 7 p.m.

If you are unable to attend one of my scheduled forums, please feel free to contact me with your issues or concerns as they arise. You may do so either by phone, 515-281-3221, email greg.heartsill@legis.iowa.gov or when visiting the Capitol. I appreciate and welcome your comments and feedback. Also, if you would like to subscribe to my weekly e-newsletter, please send a quick note via email and I’ll put you on the list.

I am honored to be your representative in the Iowa Legislature. Until next time, God bless.

Iowa Rep. Greg Heartsill (R-Columbia) represents Iowa House District 28.