A 1,500 page bill filled with proposed changes to the State Government is set for the signature of Governor Kim Reynolds. State Senator Ken Rozenboom says the wide changing provision under Senate File 514 consolidates 37 state agencies into 16 instead and cuts positions that are currently unfilled. Rozenboom argues the updates to the structure of state government are important and overdue.

“As government grows, it just gets clumsy and cumbersome and inefficent, and the governor is making the first real attempt in 40 years to clean that up.”

Opponents — mainly Democrats, expressed during debate their worry that agencies changing so drastically may impact the services they provide and that the current legislation gives the Governor even more power over agencies previously that held more independence from that office.

A Legislative Services Agency estimate shows the bill will eliminate approximately 200 open full-time positions; the governor’s office claims no current employees will be let go. Their office estimates the changes will save $215 million over four years, while the LSA had more modest numbers projected.