Governor Kim Reynolds delivered her first Condition of the State Address Tuesday.

Iowa’s 43rd governor discussed a wide range of issues legislators will likely tackle this session. Reynolds says the first bill she wants to sign as governor will be legislation aiming to improve the state’s water quality.

“My hope is that a water quality bill is the first piece of legislation I sign as Governor,” she said.

State Senator Ken Rozenboom is the chair of the Natural Resources committee, and tells KNIA/KRLS News a bill was passed in the senate at the end of the 2017 session, and awaits review of the Iowa House.

Reynolds also addressed the rest of her agenda for 2018, including tax reform, expansion of broadband internet, addressing issues with Iowa’s health insurance markets, fixing managed Medicaid, expanding mental health care, reducing the number of opioids prescribed in Iowa, a 1.5% increase to state supplemental aid, expanding savings accounts to private K-12 education, and to pass the Future Ready Iowa Act.

Also, Reynolds discussed expansion of apprenticeship programs at high schools in Iowa and the need for skilled workers in Iowa. Pella High School is currently working with Vermeer, other business partners, and the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council to implement a welding apprenticeship program at the Career Academy of Pella next fall.

Stay tuned to KNIA/KRLS throughout the 2018 Legislative Session for details from Iowa’s capitol.