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 the year. The rest of the week consisted of procedural matters, bill introductions, and the Condition of the State, Judiciary, and National Guard speeches. Politicians, journalists, and campaign staff have descended on the state in anticipation of the Iowa Presidential Caucuses, which will take place on Monday, January 15.
Major topics for the 2024 legislative session include:
The full text of each leadership address can be found below:
House of Representatives
Includes:
- Speaker Grassley
- Majority Leader Windschitl
- Minority Leader Konfrst
Senate
Includes:
- Majority Leader Whitver
- President Sinclair
- Democratic Leader Jochum
The legislature will pause on Monday, January 15 to observe the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and for the Iowa Caucuses, which will be held around the state (see more on that below). Iowa Republicans have caucus meetings at 1,657 caucus sites, where they will meet to attend to party business, but most importantly to cast their ballot to nominate a presidential candidate.
Condition of the State
On Tuesday, Governor Reynolds delivered her 2024 Condition of the State—find the full text of her remarks here. The Governor began her speech by recognizing the tragedy of the school shooting in Perry, Iowa on January 4. She recognized law enforcement and first responders for acting quickly and thanked Principal Dan Marburger for heroically putting himself in harms way to defend his students. After a moment of silence, she moved into a few highlights from 2023, including the Future Ready Iowa Act, and later, the government realignment project.
Governor Reynold’s top priorities are:
- Elevating Education for Every Student
- Teacher raises/Merit Teacher Incentive Fund
- Literacy training program
- Reform Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs)
- Preparing the Next-Gen Workforce
- Reinvesting $30 million to create the Workforce Opportunity Fund
- Core credit for “work-based learning” programs
- Refocusing Last Dollar Scholar program
- Updating student teaching requirements
- Cutting Taxes
- Accelerate and enact the flat income tax at a reduced rate of 3.65%, retroactive to January 1, 2024.
- In 2025, the rate would fall again to a flat 3.5%, effective January 1, 2025.
- Supporting Health and Well-being
- Align Iowa’s MHDS regions
- Investing opioid settlement funds in drug prevention, treatment, and recover
- Extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months
- Paid paternal leave for state employees
- Access to hormonal contraceptives
- Protecting minors from online pornography
- Holding Government Accountable
- Implementing recommendations of Boards and Commissions Review Committee
- Regular review process for administrative rules and regulations
- Protecting Iowa’s Farmland
- Strengthen Iowa’s laws regarding foreign ownership of land
Simultaneously, the Governor published her Vision for Iowa, the Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025. The entire text of the Condition of the State and the proposed budget can be found here. A complete Iowa Budget Report can be found here.
The Governor’s proposed General Fund Appropriations for FY 2025 are as follows:
Iowa PBS broadcasted a Democrat response immediately following the Condition of the State, hosting House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst to give her comments on the Governor’s speech. Representative Konfrst outlined the major priorities for this session, including legalizing marijuana, protecting reproductive freedom, and action on affordable childcare and affordable housing. She said the Governor’s proposals on the AEAs are “short-sighted” because, in addition to special education, the AEAs offer important mental health and behavioral services to schools. On the topic of the Governor’s income tax cut proposal, Konfrst said 500,000 Iowans will not benefit and they should not be left out.
Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum released a statement as well:
“Iowans are looking for opportunity and accountability – not more partisanship and culture war. It’s time for Governor Reynolds to offer an agenda for middle-class Iowans, not insiders and special interests. In 2024, Iowa Senate Democrats are offering a better deal for Iowans. We invite the governor to work with us on an agenda that increases opportunity, defends freedom, and holds the powerful accountable to working Iowans and middle-class families.”
Condition of the Judiciary and Condition of the National Guard
On Wednesday, Chief Justice Susan Christensen delivered her Condition of the Judiciary. Each year she chooses a theme, and this year’s theme is Building Connections with an emphasis on the three branches of government being held together by the same framework—the Iowa Constitution—and connecting with constituents. The Chief Justice will be holding office hours in the Supreme Court chamber at the Iowa State Capitol on Mondays from January 22 to March 11 at noon.
The Chief touched on the priorities of the Judicial Branch in her speech, which include:
- Juvenile Justice Court Services, expansion of the diversion program.
- A 4.3% increase in funding for the Judicial Branch to cover salaries and benefits of FTEs (95% of the operating budget).
- Salary increases for judges (judicial pay is set by statute).
- Returning the Judicial Retirement System to a fixed contribution rate.
- Building connections with the public through Court on the Road and with elected officials through Trial Court Show & Tell.
- Bolstering indigent defense with increased funding, and tools like remote proceedings and other creative ways to incentivize young lawyers to practice in rural areas (e.g. student loan forgiveness, stipends, tax breaks).
- Establishment of lactation rooms in all 100 courthouses for jurors, staff, attorneys, and litigants.
- Addressing the court reporter shortage through opportunities like Home Base Iowa.
On Thursday, Major General Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General of the National Guard, delivered his first Condition of the Guard: We are always ready! We live here, we work here, we serve here. Major Osborn highlighted the people—soldiers and airmen—who serve; the readiness of the Guard; the modernization of Guard facilities; communication as a priority of the guard—to integrate with communities across the state; and expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the legislature.
Legislative Workflow
Scheduled for just 100 days, the second year of the General Assembly (even years) is shorter than the first year, which means the legislature operates on an expedited legislative timeline (deadlines are established in Iowa Code and by chamber rules). Lawmakers were eager to get in substantive work between the ceremonies and pomp and circumstance of week one. Almost 200 bills were introduced in the first week, with the House introducing 96 bills and the Senate introducing 93 bills.
The legislature will observe the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, January 15, and gavel back in for week two in the afternoon of Tuesday, January 16. Week two brings the first legislative deadline, with individual bill requests due on Friday, January 19; the funnels are shifted up in the calendar as well, with the First Funnel falling on February 16 (week six), and the Second Funnel falling on March 15 (week ten).
The full 2023 Session Timetable can be found here.
Governor Priorities
Along with her Condition of the State, Governor Reynolds introduced her tax bill in both chambers HSB543/SSB3038. The goals of the Governor’s Tax Reduction bill:
- Effective this year, accelerate and enact the flat income tax at a reduced rate of 3.65% retroactive to January 1, 2024.
- Next year, reduce the flat rate even further to 3.5%, effective January 1, 2025.
- Modernize the cash reserve and economic emergency funds to index to the current needs of the state.
Iowa Caucuses
All eyes are on Iowa leading up to the Presidential Caucus on Monday, January 15. Presidential hopefuls have been circling the state for the past months hoping to win over voters. Some have even boasted completion of the “Full Grassley,” meaning a campaign stop in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. Drake University hosted the CNN Presidential Debate on Wednesday night between Governor Ron Desantis and former Governor Nikki Haley, while former President Donald Trump attended a Fox News town hall at the Iowa Events Center. Voters Monday night will determine the direction of the campaign season, as the Iowa Republican Party holds the First in the Nation status.
Turnout is a major topic of concern due to the blizzards and winter storms pummeling the state. The temperature is expected to be four degrees below zero that night, with snow and wind potentially making roads treacherous.
The Republican caucuses start at 7 PM and most sites will open their doors at 5 PM; you can find your caucus site here. Democrats will also caucus on Monday night, you can find your caucus site here.
You can participate in the caucus if you meet these requirements:
- You must be eligible to vote in the state of Iowa.
- You will be 18 years old by November 5, 2024. That means if you’re 17 and turn 18 between the date of the caucuses and the general election, you can caucus.
- You must be registered as a Republican to participate in the Republican caucus or as a Democrat to participate in the Democratic caucus. If you’re registered under a third party or no party, you won’t be able to caucus, unless you change your registration to Republican or Democrat, which you can do on caucus night.
Image source: NBC News
