Chronicle Editorial

House bill hopes to attract new families to Iowa
 
     April showers have continued into the month of May. Despite the scattered rain, I hope you have been able to find some time to enjoy the warmer temperatures and new greenery that is springing up across our state. 
     This week the House passed legislation that strengthens Iowa’s middle class and helps retain and attract young families.
     HF 631 will help Iowans interested in purchasing their first home, save money in order to do so. The bill establishes a new homebuyers savings account that will help first-time homebuyers save money for a down payment.
     HF 631 allows first-time homebuyers to set up a savings account in order to finance the purchase of a home and allows them to deduct a portion of that savings, $3,000 per person or $6,000 per married couple, from their state income taxes for up to 10 years. If the funds are used for any purpose other than the purchase of a home, the account holder is subject to a penalty. 
     By providing an incentive for saving, HF 631 will increase home ownership in our state, reduce foreclosures, and increase financial security for Iowa families. We know that when families buy homes, they make purchases for their homes, benefiting our economy. They also grow deeper roots in, and engage more fully in our communities. That’s good for Iowa. The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and has been sent to the Senate for their consideration. 
     We also passed a bill that will help extend access to high-speed data in all areas of our state. By facilitating the construction of cell towers throughout the state, HF 655 will help streamline the process to install the infrastructure needed for high-speed wireless networks. 
     Internet connectivity and the opportunities that come with it, is one of the most transformative advances of our lifetime. Having reliable access to high-speed Internet is critical to economic development. By enabling the build-out of infrastructure necessary for access to high-speed Internet, this bill will play an integral role in connecting every Iowan to this powerful tool. 
     If ensuring reliable connectivity to every Iowan is going to be a reality, wireless access is going to be necessary to get that done. With so many advances being made in the field of technology, I’m more confident than ever we can achieve this goal. HF 655 passed the House with bi-partisan support. It has now been sent to the Senate, where I am hopeful it will soon be considered.
     I always appreciate hearing your thoughts and feedback.  If you have any questions, comments, or would like to raise a concern, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-4618. I look forward to hearing from you!