Week 15 was very busy at the Capitol, with bills and amendments flying back and forth between the chambers. The headline was the Senate debate Monday night, which lasted until 4:50 am the following morning. The coffee...more
Signs of spring are all around the Capitol this week: the grass is green, the Tulip Courts have graced the presence of the Capitol, and doors in the basement of the Capitol have been propped open allowing for warm fresh air...more
Week 13 was quiet at the Capitol, with very little floor action and minimal committee work. During week 13, the Senate could only consider House bills, House joint resolutions, and unfinished business, and the House could...more
Week 12 brought the second major milestone for the legislature, the second funnel; despite this deadline, the week had an eerily slow pace. Highlights included the Governor signing two more bills and the Senate introducing a...more
The first day of spring was Monday, bringing new life to the Capitol in Week 11. As the weather continues to warm, farmers will be eager to start planting crops; we will keep you apprised of the soil temperature in the state,...more
The excitement around basketball was palpable in the Capitol this week. The Drake Bulldogs, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Iowa State Cyclones are all sending their men’s and women’s teams into the first round of the NCAA tournament. The...more
Post-funnel, the legislature’s focus narrowed to the bills that are still “alive.” Only legislation that has been voted out of committee in its chamber of origin is eligible for further consideration. As we noted last week,...more
At the end of Week 8, the Iowa legislature met its first major milestone of the 2023 legislative session. Friday brought the close of the first legislative funnel—and this first funnel was eventful....more
The theme of this session seems to be Wednesday/Thursday winter weather. Yet again winter weather hit Wednesday and remained icy into Thursday. Legislators have been bundling up to get to the Capitol to work on session...more
Week 5 brought movement on major legislation, including annual education funding and medical malpractice limits. The legislature kept up its rapid pace, with 69 bills introduced in the House and 59 introduced in the Senate....more
Week four brought more bill introductions and the continued rapid pace of committee work. We are four weeks from the first funnel deadline and expect committee work to continue moving bills through full committees to become...more
The 90th General Assembly convened for the 2023 legislative session on Monday, January 9. Monday consisted of short organizing sessions in the House and Senate and speeches by leadership in both parties. Priorities set by the...more
The 2023 session of the 90th Iowa General Assembly began Monday, January 9....more
Legislative activity came to a close last week, as Governor Reynolds signed the remaining enrolled bills into law, completing action on all of the approved legislation from the 89th General Assembly. Governor Reynolds...more
Primaries were held in seven states across the nation on Tuesday, June 7, including here in Iowa. Primaries set the matchups for the fall general election....more
Just shy of two weeks after adjournment of the 2022 Iowa legislative session, the attention of the political world (and for those on the ballot, hopefully, enough voters to keep them on the ballot in the general election)...more
What are the two leading indicators as to when the Iowa General Assembly will adjourn for the year? The appropriations process and soil temperature. Let’s discuss that below....more
The Legislature convened on Monday, January 15, with new COVID-19 protocols controlling access in the Capitol. The opening of the General Assembly began with remarks by leaders in both chambers and joint conventions for the...more
The 2021 session of the 89th General Assembly began today, Monday, January 11.
The Makeup of the 89th General Assembly -
Republicans maintain their majority in both chambers. House Republicans picked up six seats in...more
Governor’s Desk-Bill Status Report -
After an 11-week recess and a number of long days and late nights, the “second” session of the 88th General Assembly of Iowa adjourned sine die Sunday, June 14, 2020, almost two months...more
After an 11-week recess due to COVID-19 and a number of long days and late nights, the “second” session of the 88th General Assembly of Iowa adjourned sine die at 1:40 p.m. Sunday, June 14, 2020, almost two months after it...more
Legislative Branch Update -
The General Assembly returns Wednesday, June 3, to resume the 2020 legislative session. When they reconvene, the House and Senate will amend joint rules to accommodate the unprecedented second...more
Candidate Filing Deadline -
Next Friday, March 13, is the filing deadline for the June primary. This is a critical deadline to watch because we will know the field of candidates (other than write-in) for all the...more
In 1979, after a legislative session that didn’t end until July, the Iowa General Assembly decided it needed a way to better organize the work it was doing. What resulted was a legislative process now referred to as “The...more
At the close of the first third of the 15-week legislative session, bills are being sent to the Governor for her signature, the House and Senate have each passed their respective education funding level bills, the Governor’s...more