How will the Iowa Legislature improve mental health care?

Good morning, and happy Thursday!

Iowa lawmakers are looking at ways to address the state's mental health needs by adding new psychiatric beds and expanding programs aimed at attracting mental health workers.

House Republicans have proposed bills that would add nearly four dozen new beds at Iowa's state-run mental health institutions, fund new psychiatric residencies and add $1 million to a loan repayment program for mental health providers.

And those bills are seeing bipartisan buy-in from Democrats, who say the state is overdue in tackling mental health needs.

“We are finally taking the steps that people with mental health and those families have been waiting for, they’ve needed and we’ve talked about and talked about, but we’ve kind of kicked the can down the street,” said Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo.

Meanwhile, on the campaign trail...

Democrats face a major funding gap in the governor's race. Democrat Deidre DeJear has just $8,500 in the bank as she mounts a campaign against Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and her $4.8 million war chest.

This is Stephen. If you're reading this, I've survived the -20 to -30 degree overnight wind chill and am back at the Capitol. Please send coffee recommendations to sgrubermil@registermedia.com.

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How will the Iowa Legislature improve mental health care?