Most. This is what democracy looks like. Zg i will governor kim■ reynolds gave her state of address from the capital in des moines. She began by addressing the Perry High School mass shooting that occurred five days before which a sixthgrader in the School Principal died along with the School Principal himself. Several proposals including increasing starting salaries. This is about 50 minutes. [applause] thank you. Thank you. Madam president , mr. Speaker, lieutenant governor, legislative leaders and members, justices and judges, my fellow iowans. Last week the unthinkable happened in iowa when shots were fired in the halls of Perry High School. Taking the lives of an 11 yearold and injuring seven others. Our hearts are still heavy and our prayers continue for the victims and their families and for the entire perry community■c it is impossible to understand why things like this happen. The senselessness of it shakes us to our veryst hour, light and hope break through. This was certainly the case on that day. Principal Dan Marburger was nearby when the shooting began. Despite the danger, he put himself in harms way risking his life to protect his students dan sustained multiple gunshot wounds at close range. His unflinching bravery saved life that morning. Dan is a hero and we pray that he is back where he belongs soon with the students who are so lucky to have him. I also want to recognize the courageous action of the local Law Enforcement officers, First Responders and state and federal agents who were on the scene that day. The first officers arrived just minutes after the shooting began and immediately entered the building. Within 30 minutes of that schools calls for help and army of more than 150 officers and First Responders from across the metro and surrounding communities arrived on the scene to assist. Officers who heard the dispatch while bartel called everyone found it. How focused they were. How well theyi Work Together in the midst of such a tragedy. This is who iowans are and what we deal. Whether in person or in spirit, iowans showed up that day and perry and will be there every day through their recovery. Please join me in expressing our gratitude to the brave men and women who courageously serve that day [appla■t i was Law Enforcement officers, first resnders and Perry Service members live up to their oath to protect their communities and citizens every day. These jobs demand service above self and great personal sacrifice. This past year officer kevin kram of the Algona Police tony a firefighter with the Iona Fire Department gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Please join me in a moment of silence to honor these two Fallen Heroes and their famillld by the tragic events and perry. Thank y this is the seventh time i have addressed this body to report on the condition of the state. The first time the workforce was one of the top issues. At that time only about 58 of all iowans in the workforce have Education Training beyond high school. The result was thousands of high quality jobs thousands of iowans missing out on a rewarding career. To gather we set out to increase that number■, by 2025. I introduced the acton a few months later it passed the legislature with unanimous support. Tonight i am happy to say that we reached our ambitious goal and wei did it ahead of schedul. I want to be clear this is not mission accomplished. The work of connecting iow employers will continue this session. Reaching this milestone serves as a powerful lesson in how real change happens. Born in this order and bipartisn legislation. We laid the foundation but elected leaders are not the ones that got it done iowa, the teachers, administrators, business owners, Community Colleges and countle students and adult learners. They are the ones that created the new culture. Education like never before. They created apprenticeship programs and brought the workplace into the classroom. They mentor young iowans and encourage your friends to go back to school in support of their loved ones dreams. Iowans took the tools we gave them and built something extraordinary. To those that have contributed, thank you. You are one of t many reasons i can stand before you tonight. The condition of our state as strong. [applause] s. [applause] everything that we do in building should follow that same pattern. Set a vision, build the infrastructure and turn it over to the people iowa for what they do best. School choice is yet another. Last year we made it our top priority to give all of our children a quality education that meets their needs. That meant giving families as et we did. In the face of intense pressure to keep the status quo, we passed one of the boldest i kicking off a national resolution. We laid the foundation and regardless of the income can decide what is best for the chilen. The new educational freedom is already changing lives. I heard from a family whose autistic son is thriving in a catholic school. It is about public versus private, its for each indi■vidual child. There is an just one way to educate, this is why am happy to announce the state board of education on eight new public Charter Schools including schools that focus on career training. Public School Districts extend their to attract everything. Efforts to deliver products and Public School and after hearing about the altar and the great things they are doing, i understand why. It really does go to show the choice really can lift our votes. Our education policies are working because together the lockets islands in charge of the children. [applause] [applause] [applause] by locking in educational freedom system however longstanding we must be guided in the same vegetables. Another longstanding. Special education is what we call the area of education agency. They operate without any oversight and provide special education support. This type of system. And little room for accountability. Parents, teachers, School Advice leaders and staff, its clear while some are doing great work, others are underperforming. Aea will is well beyond this reading complex organizations and they are below the National Average and they were nine of 12 national assessments. I would spend 83 hundred hours more in the National Average. Tonight am announcing legislation to change this. Aea will focus solely on students as they should. The department of education and most important it will now control the special education firm. Districts to share. And me each of those students. I know they are not parents with so let me directly to you. The claim is categoricallylse. We are simply giving control for those who work directly on a daily basis. The transformational change and do what is right for our children. [applause] being read as a key component is a key tovery child success. Holding steady is in good or bad especially with this learning. Children who cant read by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school with and it dramatically increases Illegal Drugs and having poor health. Iowa thirdgraders are reading th persistence. About 50 of california legislators but something is clearly not working. Really only stay in the country that doesnt require in Early Literacy for licensure. Over the last few decades, but what we know works, sounding out letters, phoni■rcs. Many educators. Teachers reading to High School Students who dont speak english is the priority language. And has done amazing things. Evidencebased grounded in the scientific reading, reading proficiency of des Moines Hoover by 25 . As she herself puts it, shes getting the students one of the most fundamental■o human rightsn education and i agree. In recognition of her success, and has been made iowa teacher of the year. Shes here with us tonight so please join me in recognizing her outstanding efforts. [applause] would you spread what shes doing to every school in our state to make teaching techniques are grounded. We are well on our way through a partnership of learning state is providing a t program to all elementary schools. This has readingco, im confident you will do the same. Nearly 2000 teachers and the i training for the registered start. But every other state does that our teachers have. Making the fnd requirement for education majors. A top priority in every iowa classroom. [applause]■s whatever advancements we make to our education system, successful always depend on great teachers. Aside from parents, teachers are some of the most influential figures. To be the best, set them on the path and impart the love ofleare for the better. Something to aspire to. One of the highest callings one could have. p it sends the message. Tonight i am announcing the legislature to 96 million in new money to pay by 50 to 50000 and a minimum salary4 teachers with at least 12 years of experience. In addition, im allocating 10 million for meritbased Grant Programs that will reward teachers to help their students succeed. These will put iowa in the top five states and help recruit more of the best and brightest to join. [applause] a rare special session a lot of fetal heartbeat bill for the first time. As an act conviction. I want to thank you for putting iowa and. Passing the heartbeat bill weir proving every i would counts. They have what they ends meet. Today postpartum care, i am proposing to extend recovery for new moms for 2000 a year. Get off to a good start. 2n■÷ Government Support is the firsto step on the road selfsufficient c. From faith communities and nonprofits and so many wonderful organizations, they are doing work every single day to amplify andrk facilitate. I am thrilled to announce iowa, a remarkable initiative for faithbased organizations and networks to connect individuals, families to government assistance. < countless lives will surely change for the better. [applause] in the aftermath the influence of social media around the state. One■ of those projects have a Pivotal Moment for iowa beers. This, a nonprofit open and recovery. ■acx with us tonight is ceo andrew■a allen and we are especially proud to andrew, siblings who recently graduated wit program. Shared battle against Substance Abuse disorder is alltoofamiliar for families struggling for the opioid pandemic. Todays proof in the midst of deprivation there is hope. Please join me in recognizing them and [applause] [applause] theres so more work to be done. Inowa there is little to no coordination for Mental Health in 19 Substance Use. Its a problem becausever 25 with serious Mental Health challenges, our state cares about eating iowa the support they need the dedication shortchanged by a fractured system that makes it almost impossible. Too better serve iowa, i am proposing Substance UseMental Health region into seven new unified behavioral health. The restsater investment on the ground and conductivity between providers, districts and important treatment delivered to iowa when and where. [applause] s Center Customer service for islands we produce from 65 days. To top it off, we made these while at the same timenment. This legislation, 21 agencies from a cabinet positions and saved millions in the first year. Thats a just numbers. Motor vehicle enforcement officer with the department of and realign state government. As part of standard underwent a tactical course. Because of the new role in the situation. He was directed for a critically injured victim. He saved a life. [applause] [applause] while weve made a lot of progress, theres one more area, boards and commissions the alignment passed last year with representation from the legislature to review a 256 boards and commissions. After for public meetings, engagement and review o 1300, the committee submitted the final in september. For my proposal, recommendations of eliminating 111 obsolete boards which is a decrease of 33 streamlining those that remain. This is the first boards and review in 175 year history. It seems a little long. This requires we evaluate every five years to ensure they are meeting the needs of each one. The discrete a policy and to outsource to others. This will continue to play an important role. This is the best way in this bill empowers us the people of iowa expect. [applause] efficient and effective government in a way that helps goals. Thats why we turned our system into a system with the facts. An average less than ten weeks on n 56 years and turns out good things happened when we promote work. [applause] [applause] so many islands are drawing a paycheck instead of government check, unemployment is full. We can reduce Unemployment Insurance payment employers make half. The result will be significant for employers of all sizes, saving more than a hundred miles over five years. These business can create more increased salaries into their communities. This will greater prosperitys throughout our state. [applause] states are generally focused on connected policies on whats happening in our the last few years sometimes because the federal government t constitutional duties. Thankfully how are men and women in uniform continue to answer the call and step in for National Leaders september, 109 National Guard soldiers and 31 state troopers and special agents from the department of Public Safety were deployed to the u. S. Border in texas to support operations lone star. They work with the Highway Patrol of any criminal activity following 1200 at the rio grande. Points of entry, h smuggling and apprehended nearly 3000 illegal migrants. They have theppvisit the borderg deployment. One of the soldiers i hope to told me operations l him the gre in his country is ever known. Because of the mission, every older who served at the border did so voluntarily. Many are here with us tonight so please join me heartfelt gratitude for what they do each and every day. [applause] , the crisis on the southern border isnt the only threat was states of the player role. China continues to grow more and buying American Land is one of the this new battle. Some of the strongest laws in the country ownership of land. A model for their own policies. We cannot let it undermine the agriculture dominance we have that our farmers have worked so hard. Working in conjunction with secretary of agriculture made attorney general and we developed a bill to further protect farmland and foreign interests. Legislation will enhance reporting an increase penalties provide more transparency under foreign ownership. ■i lets make sure american soil remains in american hands. [applause] [applause] you know what wouldnt be a condition of the state without talking about your the government called taxes. When we started this journey in 2018, our income tax rc . Ate was the sixth highest in the nation at 8. 98 it was clear we needed to make a change. That year we legislation that cut rates even more important that would guide us over the next five years. A sense of responsibility to the people of iowa. They deserve a government that exercises and disciplines strengtho live within its means and humility to collect only what it needs. This approach has served us well. Weve delivered two more majore, eliminating incomes and made more money to farm families and we did so while continuing to make investments key priorities. Our most recent income tax bill established flat rate of 3. 0 en 2026. It was an aggressive policy and responsible in this time i. This would break the government one called it a recipe for disaster. Two years later it is clear to go further and faster. State revenue ending the year with 1. 83 billionot mean we are extending enough. Taking too mui was hard earned money,. [applause]■u ■p x look back the last year when i look at the results of our hard rk, i know weve made a difference the drives me to do it again is on the rise and or one of the most affordable states in the country. ■ young professional homeownership its like to be in a state, cut taxes and reward economiand inns educational to parents and and t community runs deep. She is has been recognized as one of the best states in the ,in this nation, i will stand out with prosperity and stabilit■ y as a reminder that remarkable people always be trusted to build remarkable things. Its because of that, the condition of our■ cb state and r future is truly bright. Thank you, god bless you and god bless the great state of iowa. [applause] friday night watch he stands 24 trail, a weekly roundup he stands Campaign Coverage and discover where candidates are traveling across e saying to voters. A firsthand account, updated poll numbers from a fundraising data, watch cspan 2024 campaign trail. Friday night 7 00 oclock eastern on cspan, all minus cspan. Org or download as a podcast on cspan now, free mobile app or wherever you get your podcast. Cspan, unfiltered view of politics. House Homeland SecurityCommittee Meets torrow agast oleander mayorkas mark republicans accused him of refusi to uphold the law and the handling of immigrati the impeachment articles to the fu hou. Live coverage 10 00 a. M eastern on. Also on cspan now, free mobile video app and online at cspan. Org. Discovered the heartbeat of democracy cspans voice is 2024 as we engage voters nationwide asking what issue is most important to you■]q in election. To represent minnesotas district in congress and running in the dem