Governor Kim Reynolds says the state is taking steps to expand child care options AND ensure low-income students can get school lunches even as schools in the state are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The U-S-D-A has given Iowa a waiver, so Iowa schools can continue to provide meals to low-income students on a “grab and go” basis. The governor also announced late yesterday that a 23rd case had been confirmed, in a Dallas County resident.

The Iowa Legislature has suspended its 2020 session for at least 30 days and given Governor Kim Reynolds new authority to use nearly 20 million dollars from the state’s Economic Emergency Fund to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, lawmakers voted to lift all limits and let the governor shift money around within the current state budget, if needed.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, says as an added precaution, the plan sets aside enough money to keep state government operating until September 1st.

Following hours of private negotiations and meetings, senators began voting on the plan at about 10 p.m. The House ended the legislature’s marathon day at 12:13 a.m today.