Update From the House for District 80 – March 16, 2019

Holly Brink (District 80) signs her Oath of Office on Monday, January 14, 2019.

by Rep. Holly Brink

Hello Friends,

After all of our preparation since the beginning of the session, we have finally come to the point where every state representative of Iowa makes their case for their constituents back home: the House floor debates. From Monday to Thursday, we engaged in spirited conversations over several bills that would work to improve our state. Through our open debates, we covered a great array of legislation, each affecting numerous different governmental facets.

During the debates, I brought my first bill to the floor, House File 570. The intent of the bill is to eliminate the eligibility cap for individuals enrolling for brain injury waivers for home and community-based care services. In doing so, individuals in dire need for this care will no longer be denied due to enrollment caps. I am proud to have led this bill and all the good it will do for Iowa.

The most lively and significant of these debates were led by my colleagues Representative Matt Windschitl (R) of Harrison and Dustin Hite (R), fellow representative of Mahaska. What is important about these two pieces of legislation is that each seeks to promote and preserve the First and Second Amendment rights within Iowa. Representative Windschitl brought Senate Joint Resolution 18 to the floor for discussion. What makes this legislation different is that once the resolution has made its passage through both the House and Senate, the process can begin to draft Second Amendment provision for the Iowa constitution. Once it has been made, it will make its way to the ballots in the next elections cycle so that the citizens of Iowa can vote on the provision’s ratification for the Iowa constitution.

Representative Hite’s bill dealt with the preservation of the freedom of expression on our state’s college campuses. House File 661, if enacted, would allow student organizations to maintain a certain level of autonomy from their institutions, allowing students to continue expressing and communicating their views and beliefs amongst their peers in an open forum. While the law would allow students to continue their public actions, they would still be accountable to their institution as to keep an administrative balance.

I am appreciative of my colleagues for leading the charge on these two bills as what is ultimately important about their purpose is they enable Iowans to have a choice and voice in their politics. I have enjoyed our debates on the floor, discussing the merits of each bill. After this week, I am left only excited for what is to come next!

Holly Brink
State Representative, Iowa District 80
(641)295-7111
Holly.brink@legis.iowa.gov