(Radio Iowa) – The governor has another week to sign or veto the remaining bills passed by the 2024 Iowa legislature. She’s already approved a billion dollar tax cut AND the state spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The nearly nine BILLION dollar state budget is four-point-two percent higher than the current year’s spending level. The budget for the state’s court system includes a five percent salary increase for Iowa judges.

The governor has signed bills that divert 10 million dollars from Iowa’s Area Education Agencies to set up a new division in the Iowa Department of Education to oversee the A-E-As. As many as 62 new state employees will be hired for the Division of Special Education.

The budget for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources includes a quarter of a million dollars to address accessibility issues at state parks.