State officials have announced they are changing the way they calculate the state’s COVID-19 percent positivity rate, which will cause the rate to drop. Governor Kim Reynolds announced the state will not move forward with plans to contract with Microsoft to build a centralized COVID-19 vaccine registration system. She also has a bill approved by the legislature on her desk that would increase funding for PreK-12 schools next year by 2.4 percent. Plus, Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have advanced bills to shorten Iowa’s early and mail voting period from 29 days to 18 days. IPR’s State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric explains the proposals also bans county election officials from sending out ballot request applications.