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
Five weeks beyond the 100th calendar day of the session, the 2022 session of the 89th General Assembly of Iowa has adjourned sine die. Originally slated to end on April 20, stalled negotiations on Education Savings Plans...more
We are now 30 days beyond the scheduled 100th day of session. The legislature had been on a bit of a hiatus for the last two and a half weeks, gaveling in and out as required by Constitution/rule…until this week. Progress...more
Week 17 was more of the same. The second full week of overtime, this week came and went without an agreement on the Education Savings Accounts (ESA) issue which continues to drive the delayed adjournment. It remains unclear...more
Officially into overtime, legislators are now working without receiving per diem and without assistance from their clerks. At the end of week 16, the lack of agreement on the Education Savings Accounts (ESA) issue continues...more
Tuesday, April 20 marked the scheduled 100th day of session, and with it, per diems expire for legislators. We are now officially into overtime. It is difficult to discern when the legislature will adjourn sine die. Chambers...more
Week 14 was very similar to week 13. Small steps were made toward adjournment, but resolutions on the major outstanding issues remain elusive and the budget process continues to be on hold (except for the Transportation...more
Week 13 closes and uncertainty increases about the end of the 2022 legislative session. Initially, leadership forecasted an early adjournment. Hopes of adjournment by Easter continues to fade. Optimistic but realistic,...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
As week 11 comes to end, by Monday, March 28, there will be 23 days left until the April 19 scheduled adjournment date, which is about 16 legislative workdays. For the first time this session, this week brought a sense of...more
The legislature met their second legislative funnel deadline this week. This means that policy bills that did not receive floor approval in their originating chamber and advance through committee in the opposite chamber are...more
With the end of Week Nine, we are official beyond the halfway point of the scheduled legislative session. This week also marks one week until the second legislative funnel, which is scheduled for next Friday, March 18. There...more
Week eight marks the halfway point in the legislative session and two weeks until the session funnel on Friday, March 18. This week brought the most floor action we have seen all session, with over 50 bills advancing through...more
Week seven brought major legislative action. The legislature passed historic tax reform on Thursday, a major priority of Governor Reynolds and leadership in both the House and the Senate for 2022. These recent developments,...more
The Iowa legislature met its first major milestone of the 2022 legislative session. Today brings the close of the first legislative funnel. This means that for bills to remain “alive” and eligible for further action, the...more
The headline of week three: tax, tax, tax – both the Senate and the House introduced their tax proposals this week. Also this week, two notable trends continued to develop and emerge...more
Week 2 of the legislative session was shortened by the MLK Jr. holiday weekend as well as travel difficulties caused by the weekend winter storm. Bill introductions continue to ramp up, with 152 bills introduced this week...more
The 2022 session of the 89th General Assembly began Monday, January 10.
Legislative Branch Developments
Makeup of the 89th General Assembly
Republicans maintain their majority in both chambers. House Republicans...more
On Thursday, October 28, the second Iowa special legislative session concluded with the legislature approving the second Legislative and Congressional District Plan (SF621) and Covid Vaccine Exemptions (HF902). Governor...more
On Thursday, October 21, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) delivered its second redistricting plan, including the second set of maps, to the Iowa legislature....more
The Legislative Services Agency (LSA) delivered its second redistricting plan, including the second set of maps, to the legislature at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 21. A short time later the maps were released for the public...more
Today, October 5, 2021, the Iowa Senate rejected the first Legislative and Congressional District Plan. The plan, SF620, failed to pass 18-32, thus triggering the need for the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) to prepare a...more
On Thursday, September 16, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) delivered its first Proposed Redistricting Plan Report, to the Iowa legislature. The U.S. Census Bureau determined the total resident population of Iowa as of...more