Approved by Iowa State Senate mackenzie Despite Democratic opposition to Snow's lack of teaching experience, he was appointed secretary of the Iowa Department of Education.
Snow was appointed by Reynolds in June 2023 after Chad Aldis resigned from the position he had been appointed to three months earlier. Mr. Snow served as Virginia's deputy secretary of education before leaving to take a position with the Iowa Department of Education.
Democrats expressed concern that Snow has only held positions at state and national education agencies and does not hold a teaching license in any state.
“mackenzie Mr. Snow is a courteous, articulate and intelligent man,” Sen. Herman Quilbach, R-Dahms, said during a floor debate on Snow's nomination Tuesday. “However, unfortunately, she lacks the experience, training and leadership qualities she has as director of the Iowa Department of Education.”
Republicans argue she has enough experience to lead educational institutions, with extensive experience leading state and national education agencies.
Sen. Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center, said Tuesday: “I don't know Coach Snow very well, but as I've gotten to know her a little bit through this process and have had many conversations with her, I know she's smart.” Told. “You will find her to be knowledgeable, personable, data-driven, proactive and approachable.”
Snow was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday in a 35-15 vote, with only Republicans supporting him.
Snow also served as director of the New Hampshire Department of Education's divisions of academic and assessment, special education, career development, adult education, health and nutrition.
Mr. Snow, who holds a bachelor's degree in political science, served as special assistant to the president on the White House Domestic Policy Council, senior adviser at the Office of Management and Budget, and director of policy at the U.S. Department of Education during the Trump administration.
Snow was one of 13 governor appointees confirmed by the Iowa Senate on Tuesday.
Most approvals were unanimous, but the appointments of Douglas Hoisington to the Medical Board and Catherine Lucas to the Civil Service Relations Committee received party-line votes. Iowa Corrections Director Beth Skinner received three no votes from Democrats.
Governor's mental health system redesign passes House of Representatives
In a near-unanimous vote, Iowa House of Representatives members voted to consolidate Iowa's 32 mental health and substance abuse districts into seven new behavioral health districts.
The bill, House File 2673, would transfer disability services currently provided in mental health districts to the Iowa Health and Human Services Aging and Disability Network.
The bill would also disband three state commissions, including the Tobacco Use, Prevention and Control Commission, the Mental Health and Disability Services Commission, and the Commission on Aging.
Related: A closer look at Iowa Governor Reynolds' proposed restructuring of the mental health system.
Reynolds proposed changes in his State of the Nation address in January, saying the bill would realign resources in these areas to improve mental health.
House passes governor's reading bill
Iowa House of Representatives also nearly unanimously approved Reynolds' reading comprehension bill with changes Tuesday.
The revised strike rewrites the changes from the governor's proposed bill.
- Requires accredited educational programs at Iowa universities to administer a reading test similar to the Massachusetts reading assessment as a teaching tool, rather than as a requirement for licensure or graduation.
- Requires school districts to notify parents if a student's reading proficiency is inadequate.
- Requires school districts to retain students who do not have proficiency in reading at the request of parents.
- Requires school districts to develop individualized plans to move students who are struggling to read proficiently up to grade level.
The bill passed the Iowa House of Representatives 92-3, with several Democrats voting against it.
Governor signs Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Senate File 2095) into law on Tuesday.
The bill passed the Iowa House of Representatives on a 61-33 vote on February 29 and was sent to the governor's desk.
The bill would require the government to prove a compelling interest when filing a lawsuit against a party claiming that government action is an expression of religious freedom.
“Thirty years ago, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was passed nearly unanimously at the federal level. Since then, religious rights have come under increasing attack,” Reynolds said in a news release Tuesday. Stated. “Today, Iowa, just as 26 other states have done, has enacted legislation to protect these unalienable rights that uphold the ideals that are the very foundation of our nation.”
Maisie Stilwell, communications director for Planned Parenthood of Iowa, said the bill targets minorities such as LGBTQ+ Iowans, abortion rights and religious minorities.
“Let me be clear: this is not about protecting religious freedom,” Stilwell said in a news release. “But rather, it is part of a larger and more harmful campaign to advance a political agenda against the rights of LGBTQ+ people, women, and other marginalized communities, and is viewed as an attack rather than a protection.” It should be done.”
