The 90th General Assembly reconvened this week for the 2024 legislative session amid a record-setting snowstorm in central Iowa. On Monday, leadership in both parties gave opening-day speeches outlining their priorities for...more
The 2024 session of the 90th General Assembly began today, Monday, January 8. All House and Senate members returned to the Capitol for the second year of the General Assembly. The day began with the opening gavel in both...more
The Iowa Legislature is not in session, but work continues in the interim – a deadlocked decision from the Iowa Supreme Court, newly elected Senate Minority Leader, and most new 2023 laws are effective July 1....more
Today, April 28, is the final day of paid work for Iowa lawmakers, their clerks, and Capitol staff. The House and Senate pages decorated boxes for the legislators they assisted this year to help them clear their desks for the...more
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
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
Yet another legislative week was shortened due to winter weather. The snowfall sent many legislators home Wednesday night, making for a quiet Thursday. The House introduced 93 new bills this week, and the Senate introduced...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
The headline of Week three: Governor Reynolds signed her top legislative priority into law. The highly debated Educational Savings Accounts plan passed the House and Senate after a late night of debate Monday night, landing...more
Week 2 of the Iowa legislative session was shortened by the MLK Jr. holiday weekend. The winter storm late this week also cancelled several committees and subcommittees on Thursday further abbreviating an already short week....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
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 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