Reynolds' 2025 vision includes healthcare changes, improved disaster response and state 'DOGE'

During her Condition of the State speech on Tuesday night, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her top priorities for the 2025 legislative session. They include streamlining the state's response to natural disasters, improving access to quality health care and launching a state DOGE.

WE FACED DEVASTATING TORNADOES AND HISTORIC FLOODING THAT LEFT FAMILIES, FARMS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES REELING. GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS SAYS HELPING IOWANS RECOVER FROM THOSE DISASTERS IS ONE OF HER TOP PRIORITIES. THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SHE FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS IN LAST NIGHT’S CONDITION OF THE STATE SPEECH. SHE COVERED EDUCATION, ENERGY AND GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. BUT WE WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR’S DISASTER AID PLAN. ��vlog CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER IS LIVE AT THE STATEHOUSE TONIGHT. WITH THAT, AMANDA. LAURA AND JODI, THERE’S A LOT THAT’S IN THIS PLAN. THE GOVERNOR SAYS SHE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE FLOODS AND TORNADOES THAT DEVASTATED OUR STATE LAST YEAR. AND NOW SHE WANTS TO MAKE CHANGES SO THAT THE STATE IS BETTER PREPARED TO RESPOND TO STRONG STORMS IN THE FUTURE. I’LL NEVER FORGET THE DEVASTATION AND THE HEARTBREAK IN MONDAY’S CONDITION OF THE STATE ADDRESS. IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS REFLECTED ON THE NATURAL DISASTERS THAT RAVAGED THE STATE LAST YEAR. WE FACED DEVASTATING TORNADOES AND HISTORIC FLOODING THAT LEFT FAMILIES, FARMS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES REELING. IN RESPONSE, REYNOLDS SAYS SHE WANTS TO STREAMLINE HOW THE STATE RESPONDS TO NATURAL DISASTERS. HER PROPOSAL WOULD SEND FUNDING TO DISASTER AID PROGRAMS CREATED AFTER LAST YEAR’S STORMS, AND WOULD SET UP A NEW REVOLVING LOAN FUND. THE BILL WOULD ALSO GIVE THE GOVERNOR AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER CERTAIN EMERGENCY FUNDS. IN THE CASE OF DISASTER, AND IT WOULD ADD $2 MILLION TO THE NUISANCE PROPERTY AND ABANDONED BUILDING FUND. THAT WOULD HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES TEAR DOWN DISASTER DAMAGED BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEYOND REPAIR. IT TOUCHES PRETTY CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME. GREENFIELD IS IN MY DISTRICT. REPUBLICAN SENATE PRESIDENT AMY SINCLAIR PRAISING THE GOVERNOR’S PLAN. I SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE DEALING WITH THOSE DISASTER RESPONSES IN A RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE WAY. DEMOCRATS SAY THEY, TOO, WELCOME WORK ON DISASTER RELIEF. BUT HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JENNIFER CARNFORTH SAYS SHE’S ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT RISING INSURANCE COSTS. PEOPLE ARE SITTING DOWN TO CLOSE ON THEIR HOME AND FINDING THAT THEIR INSURANCE RATE HAS DOUBLED SINCE THEY GOT THEIR ESTIMATE. THAT’S BECAUSE OF THESE THESE DISASTERS. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP FAMILIES ADDRESS THAT REALLY QUICKLY? RISING INSURANCE BILL THAT THEY’RE SEEING? I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT. SOLUTION IS, BUT I WOULD LOOK TO THE GOVERNOR TO HELP US FIGURE THAT OUT, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING OF US. THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL DOES INCLUDE ADJUSTING SOME INSURANCE REGULATIONS, LIKE CAPPING FEES AND REQUIRING PEOPLE TO HELP DECIDE THE VALUE OF A LOSS. APPRAISERS AND UMPIRES BE LICENSED, ACCORDING TO THE STATE WEBSITE. THE GOAL IS TO, QUOTE, BETTER PROTECT CONSUMERS AND HOMEOWNERS FROM UNFAIR PRACTICES. $18.6 MILLION 11.6 MILLION IS THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO FULLY FUND THE DISASTER PROGRAMS AND GET TO THE APPLICATIONS THAT THE STATE RECEIVED FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE HIT BY THOSE STRONG STORMS, THE OTHER 2 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARDS COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM TEAR DOWN BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEYOND REPAIR. LIVE FROM THE STATEHOUSE AMANDA ROOKER ��vlog EIGHT NEWS. IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. ALL RIGHT, AMANDA, THANK YOU. WELL, IF YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT’S CONDITION OF THE STATE, YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL ADDRE

Reynolds' 2025 vision includes healthcare changes, improved disaster response and state 'DOGE'

During her Condition of the State speech on Tuesday night, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her top priorities for the 2025 legislative session. They include streamlining the state's response to natural disasters, improving access to quality health care and launching a state Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE.Disaster ReliefIn her speech Tuesday, Reynolds addressed several natural disasters that devastated the state last year. "We faced devastating tornadoes and historic flooding that left families, farms, businesses, schools, and communities reeling," Reynolds said. "To put it into perspective, Iowa was granted three presidential disaster declarations in just two months."Now, the governor wants to make changes to ensure that Iowa is prepared to respond to strong storms in the future.Her proposal requests $11.6 million to fully fund disaster aid programs created after last year's storms. The bill would also give the governor authority to transfer certain emergency funds in the case of disaster and would set up a new revolving loan fund.And it would add $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund to help local communities tear down disaster-damaged buildings that are beyond repair.In response to Reynolds' proposal, House and Senate Democrats said Tuesday night that they welcome work on disaster relief but are also concerned about rising insurance costs."People are sitting down to close on their home and finding that their insurance rate has doubled since they got their estimate. That's because of these disasters," House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said. "What are we doing to help families address that really quickly rising insurance bill that they're seeing? I don't know what that solution is, but I would look to the governor to help us figure that out, because that's what constituents are asking of us."The governor's proposal does include adjusting some insurance regulations like capping fees and requiring people who help decide the value of a loss, appraisers and umpires, to be licensed.According to the state website, the goal is to "better protect consumers and homeowners from unfair practices."Health careReynolds is also proposing major changes to the state's healthcare system. Her proposal would give the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services more authority over the approval process to build new health care facilities or improve current ones. It would also add a new health care economist to help with that and review Iowa's healthcare economyIn her speech Tuesday night, Reynolds said she also wants to help recruit and retain more doctors in high-demand fields.Her plan would consolidate Iowa's loan repayment programs and double the state's investment to $10 million. That money would be available to anyone who commits to practicing in rural Iowa for five years, even if they're trained somewhere else.Reynolds also proposed a new program that would partner with the University of Iowa and Broadlawns. It would use $150 million of federal funding to create roughly 115 new residency slots at 14 teaching hospitals across the state."With a typical three-to-four-year residency rotation, that would mean around 460 new physicians being trained right here in Iowa," Reynolds said Tuesday. "That's a game changer for rural communities and our entire state. And on maternal health, Reynolds said she wants to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for certified midwives and add doula services as a covered Medicaid benefit. Her proposal would also increase reimbursement rates to OBGYNs and physicians for complicated or high-risk pregnancies.DOGEReynolds also announced Tuesday that Iowa is getting its own DOGE or Department of Government Efficiency. Emily Schmitt, the general counsel of Sukup Manufacturing, will lead the new advisory body."I'm launching our own state DOGE to find even greater savings and efficiencies in both state and local government," Reynolds said Tuesday. "Because to pass meaningful property tax reform, we also need to be lean at the local level."Reynolds said this will build upon the work she's done reorganizing state government. She said that the effort to cut and consolidate state agencies and streamline services has saved taxpayers $217 million in the last 18 months. More Condition of the State coverage

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Disaster Relief

In her speech Tuesday, Reynolds addressed several natural disasters that devastated the state last year.

"We faced devastating tornadoes and historic flooding that left families, farms, businesses, schools, and communities reeling," Reynolds said. "To put it into perspective, Iowa was granted three presidential disaster declarations in just two months."

Now, the governor wants to make changes to ensure that Iowa is prepared to respond to strong storms in the future.

Her proposal requests $11.6 million to fully fund disaster aid programs created after last year's storms. The bill would also give the governor authority to transfer certain emergency funds in the case of disaster and would set up a new revolving loan fund.

And it would add $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund to help local communities tear down disaster-damaged buildings that are beyond repair.

In response to Reynolds' proposal, House and Senate Democrats said Tuesday night that they welcome work on disaster relief but are also concerned about rising insurance costs.

"People are sitting down to close on their home and finding that their insurance rate has doubled since they got their estimate. That's because of these disasters," House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said. "What are we doing to help families address that really quickly rising insurance bill that they're seeing? I don't know what that solution is, but I would look to the governor to help us figure that out, because that's what constituents are asking of us."

The governor's proposal does include adjusting some insurance regulations like capping fees and requiring people who help decide the value of a loss, appraisers and umpires, to be licensed.

According to the state website, the goal is to "better protect consumers and homeowners from unfair practices."

Health care

Reynolds is also proposing major changes to the state's healthcare system.

Her proposal would give the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services more authority over the approval process to build new health care facilities or improve current ones. It would also add a new health care economist to help with that and review Iowa's healthcare economy

In her speech Tuesday night, Reynolds said she also wants to help recruit and retain more doctors in high-demand fields.

Her plan would consolidate Iowa's loan repayment programs and double the state's investment to $10 million. That money would be available to anyone who commits to practicing in rural Iowa for five years, even if they're trained somewhere else.

Reynolds also proposed a new program that would partner with the University of Iowa and Broadlawns. It would use $150 million of federal funding to create roughly 115 new residency slots at 14 teaching hospitals across the state.

"With a typical three-to-four-year residency rotation, that would mean around 460 new physicians being trained right here in Iowa," Reynolds said Tuesday. "That's a game changer for rural communities and our entire state.

And on maternal health, Reynolds said she wants to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for certified midwives and add doula services as a covered Medicaid benefit. Her proposal would also increase reimbursement rates to OBGYNs and physicians for complicated or high-risk pregnancies.

DOGE

Reynolds also announced Tuesday that Iowa is getting its own DOGE or Department of Government Efficiency. Emily Schmitt, the general counsel of Sukup Manufacturing, will lead the new advisory body.

"I'm launching our own state DOGE to find even greater savings and efficiencies in both state and local government," Reynolds said Tuesday. "Because to pass meaningful property tax reform, we also need to be lean at the local level."

Reynolds said this will build upon the work she's done reorganizing state government. She said that the effort to cut and consolidate state agencies and streamline services has saved taxpayers $217 million in the last 18 months.

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