The 2021 Iowa Legislative session starts next week and one state senator is looking forward to starting his first term.

Jesse Green of Harcourt is Iowa District 24 Senator, which includes Greene County. The freshman senator believes several topics will be examined by the Iowa Senate this year. Among the important topics are broadband internet access and increasing mental health funding. Green notes that he wants to talk with constituents about the internet issues that are in the 24th District and research ways to get cooperatives access to additional funding. As for increasing mental health funding, Green says Governor Reynolds proposal is a one-cent sales tax increase, and to offset that she wants to give income and property tax relief. 

Another important topic is revising the state’s election laws.

“We need uniformity within our recount system. So that each county recounts in the same fashion. I’ve heard from quite a few auditor’s how instead of ending the election at 9 o’clock (pm) we need to end it at 8 o’clock, that’s been kind of a common message that I’ve been hearing from the ground up.”

Green adds that the state’s budget will be another topic for lawmakers to decide on, but he says it’s comforting to know that the Revenue Estimating Conference, the individuals that estimate the state’s possible revenues each quarter, have predicted a three-percent increase in revenues. He says that helps to put them in a better position than some other states. The 89th Iowa General Assembly begins January 11th.