Today is Friday, the 82nd day of the 105-day session.

BILLS INTRODUCED

Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, introduced Senate Bill 5912, which would expand income eligibility for state-funded family-planning services to people who earn up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

Keiser said she expected the proposal to save the state money over time because it would prevent unintended pregnancies, which often create costs to public programs.

Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, introduced House Bill 2044, which would allow private card rooms to use electronic scratch-ticket machines. Currently, those are allowed only at casinos owned by tribes.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

Today is the last day for fiscal committees in the House and Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees to vote on opposite-house bills. Proposals that are necessary to implement the state budget are exempt from the deadline.

The House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on House Bill 2033, which would consolidate several state programs into a new Department of Heritage, Arts and Culture, and House Bill 2028, which would eliminate the Executive Ethics Board and transfer its responsibilities to the Public Disclosure Commission.

It also is scheduled to vote on House Bill 2029, which would transfer most of the responsibilities of the criminal Sentencing Guidelines Commission to the Department of Corrections, and House Bill 2035, which would require the state printer to compete with private companies for some state government printing jobs.

Both the House and Senate have floor sessions planned at 10 a.m.