The Iowa legislature convened for the 2022 Legislative session on Monday, January 10. Monday consisted of short organizing sessions in the House and Senate and speeches by leadership in both parties. Priorities set by the...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
Budgets and floor debate dominated week 13. Most of the work was packed into Tuesday, April 6, and Wednesday, April 7, with short sessions at the beginning and end of the week....more
4/12/2021
/ Appropriation ,
Broadband ,
Constitutional Amendment ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Diversity ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Property Tax ,
Redistricting ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Constitutions ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform
As this was the first funnel week of the 2021 legislative session, both chambers focused their efforts on committee work. Despite already passing a massive number of bills through committee in the first seven weeks of the...more
As of the end of week six, the legislature had passed more than 1,500 bills out of committee. Week seven saw even more committee action, and legislators continue to advance bills in an effort to meet the upcoming funnel...more
The highlight of this week in Iowa and around the country remains Mother Nature and the unprecedented weather cycle causing major disruptions in the power grid. Here in Iowa, temperatures spent much of the week below zero,...more
2/22/2021
/ Census ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Election Laws ,
Governor Reynolds ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Legislative Committees ,
Pending Legislation ,
Redistricting ,
Severe Weather ,
State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
Week 5 at the Iowa legislature brought a lot of action both in committee and in each chamber. Dozens of bills passed out of House and Senate committees each day this week, which is a much faster pace than any recent session. ...more
Week four brought extensive committee work in both chambers Monday-Wednesday, with a slower day on Thursday due to the snow in Des Moines and across the state, though virtual meetings allowed the Senate to continue to conduct...more
Update: On Monday, January 25, the Governor introduced another bill, SSB1065, which establishes a student first scholarship program for certain pupils attending nonpublic schools.
The legislature did not meet on Monday in...more
1/26/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Education ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Reynolds ,
Private Schools ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Public Schools ,
Relief Measures ,
Scholarships ,
State Constitutions ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Deductions ,
Teachers
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
On December 21, 2020, Congress approved the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Ventures Act. After threatening to veto the bill, President Trump signed the bill into law on December 27....more
On December 21, 2020, Congress approved the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Ventures Act. While the act still needs to be signed by the President before it becomes law, it makes some extensions and...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
Legislators returned to the Capitol Wednesday, June 3, to resume the 2020 session after being paused due to COVID-19 for 11 weeks. The session is expected to adjourn sine die for 2020 on Friday, June 12....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
On Wednesday, May 13, the Iowa House Republicans issued a press release, stating the intention of the legislature to resume the 2020 legislative session at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3. The Legislative Council will...more
This week saw more Governors easing restrictions on economic activity in their states as confidence grows that adequate resources have been marshaled by the government and health care systems to be able to respond to a surge...more
This week, as states around the country began slowly re-opening, the federal guidelines were allowed to expire signaling a shift in focus from quarantine to containment. The second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding...more
Federal Update -
This week, Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law H.R. 266, the interim coronavirus response package (known as Phase 3.5). The bill includes...more
With the Senate failing to reach agreement on additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), they have adjourned for the week planning to continue negotiations throughout the weekend. Majority Leader McConnell...more
Federal Update -
This week, the focus at the federal level was on the next round of funding for the COVID-19 aid package as well as planning for a return of “normality.”...more
On Sunday, March 22, Governor Reynolds issued a third State of Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration that was effective immediately. The declaration provides additional mandatory closures as well as further regulatory...more
Governor Reynolds issued a second State of Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration Friday, March 20, effective immediately. The declaration provides additional regulatory relief to Iowans impacted by the COVID-19 public...more
The Iowa Legislature met Monday, March 16 in a one-day session to officially “pause” the session for 30-days and address several funding issues.
Emergency Measures passed both chambers unanimously; the Governor signed...more
Iowa’s Response to Coronavirus -
As the nation and the world react to the spread of COVID-19, Governor Reynolds’s Office is coordinating Iowa’s response with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) as the lead...more