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 Revenue Estimating Conference forecasted Iowa’s revenues for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, predicting a slight decline but emphasizing a strong overall budget. Governor Kim Reynolds is required to use this estimate as the...more
Local elections were held across the state last Tuesday, including races for mayoral seats, city councils, school boards, and bond referendums. In order to be official, each county board of supervisors must certify the...more
The Iowa Boards and Commissions Review Committee (BCRC) held their final meeting this week to approve their final recommendations. The Committee submitted the Final Report with Findings & Recommendations to the Governor and...more
On Thursday, Iowans had the opportunity to provide input on the recommendations the Boards and Commissions Review Committee (BCRC) released last week. Out of 256 current boards and commissions, the BCRC recommends that 52 are...more
On Tuesday, the Boards and Commissions Review Committee (BCRC) created in the Governor’s realignment bill (Division XIX of SF5514) met to discuss and deliver their preliminary recommendations. After reviewing the...more
Earlier this month, Governor Reynolds called Iowa legislators back for a “special session” after the Iowa Supreme Court upheld a permanent injunction blocking the “fetal heartbeat” law approved during the 2018 General...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
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
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
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 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