The full 2025 Session Timetable can be found here.
Last week was the first week beyond the scheduled 110th day of the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session, and legislators made significant strides toward adjournment. On Thursday, the chambers released a joint budget agreement; with the FY 2026 budget coming into focus, we anticipate adjournment in the near future. Agreements have yet to be reached on the topics of eminent domain and property taxes, which still may be addressed before the legislature adjourns.
As it relates to an adjournment timeline, the House has gone home until Monday, and the Senate debated on Friday before returning to their districts. The legislature to return on Monday and attempt to wrap up the 2025 session.
There was limited floor debate this week as leadership and budget chairs worked behind the scenes to reach a budget agreement. The House voted on 11 bills, sending 5 to the Governor and 6 to the Senate. The Senate issued a short calendar for floor debate on Friday, ultimately only passing one bill; the House released a debate calendar for Monday which includes a handful of appropriations bills.
Budget Compromised Reached
Last week, the House and Senate released a budget compromise, settling on total spending for FY 2026 at $9.425 billion. The agreed-upon budget target is an increase of $478.1 million over the current year’s spending level of $8.947 billion or an increase of 5.34% over FY 2025
The current breakdown in the Appropriations Committee is as follows:
Notably, this budget agreement includes several priorities funded through the Sports Wagering Fund, including:
- $14 million for Paraeducator Pay
- $5 million for Special Education Division in the Iowa Department of Education
- $8 million for the Public Safety Equipment Fund
- $1.5 million for Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP)
The House began moving appropriations bills through the committee process Thursday; most of the appropriations bills have moved through full committee in the Senate. Appropriations bills will be amended on the floor when there is a final deal.
Property Tax Update
As one of the top issues on both sides of the aisle, legislators continued to discuss property taxes this week. On Wednesday, the Senate held a subcommittee on SSB 1227, and the full Ways and Means Committee approved the bill with amendment. The bill has been renumbered SF 651, it now incorporates the amendment language, which provides the following:
- Phasing out the residential rollback by increasing it to 75% valuation in assessment year 2027 and then increasing by 2.5% annually to 100% valuation until assessment year 2036.
- A homestead exemption calculated at 25% of the properties assessed value, up to a $125,000 exemption.
- Buying down the foundation levy from $5.40 to $4.48662 (rather than the originally proposed $2.97).
SF 651 is now eligible for debate on the Senate floor, however Senator Dawson has suggested he is still working to improve the legislation. The House has not yet passed this bill out of their Ways and Means committee.
2026 Election Watch
This week, both House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst and Senator Sarah Trone Garriott announced their campaigns for Iowa’s Third Congressional District held by incumbent Representative Zach Nunn. These two state-level elected officials are the two frontrunners for the Democratic nomination for the seat.
Former state representative Nate Willems announced his bid for the Democratic nomination for Iowa Attorney General in 2026. Incumbent Attorney General Brenna Bird is currently considering running for Governor after Kim Reynolds announced her retirement, but no announcements have been made regarding a final decision.
After news of a campaign filing a few weeks ago, current Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer officially announced her run for State Auditor. The office is currently held by Rob Sand, who is considering running for Governor in 2026.
House Leadership Change
In light of the announcement that Representative Jennifer Konfrst will run for Congress, leadership in the minority party at the statehouse pivoted. Representative Brian Meyer, the current House Democratic whip, of Iowa House District 29 in southeast Des Moines was elected as the next minority leader of the Iowa House. Representative Konfrst will step down from the position after the legislature adjourns to focus on her congressional race.
Senate Concurrent Resolution Related to Obergefell v. Hodges
In the final days of session, Senator Sandy Salmon introduced SCR 3, which asks the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. This case legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. Iowa was one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009, six years before the federal ruling. Because this resolution was filed by a single senator, it is unclear whether it will move, especially as legislators work to finalize budgets before adjournment. This resolution has received national media attention, and several elected officials have publicly expressed their opposition to the resolution.
What’s next?
The House is done with debate for this week, and the Senate will debate on Friday before returning to their districts. While things are fluid and ever-changing, it appears that the legislature will return on Monday and attempt to wrap up the 2025 session.
The full 2025 Session Timetable can be found here.
