Articles Tagged: Mike Klimesh

But some bills targeting public libraries did not pass the first ‘funnel’

House Republicans want predictability and relief now, the governor wants certainty for taxpayers plus restructuring, Senate Republicans want a rebuild, and Democrats want relief without squeezing local governments as hard. The fight now is how much pain lawmakers think cities and counties can absorb in exchange for lower tax bills.

New Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, said he will take the lead and see the bill through its legislative process, a task that rarely is undertaken by leaders in either chamber of the Iowa Legislature.

He said the legislation would balance the rights of landowners while creating new ethanol markets for struggling Iowa farmers as corn prices drop.

Many Iowa lawmakers have listed rising local property taxes as a priority of their work in the 2026 legislative session.

Renewed action on property tax relief, a tougher approach to repeat violent crime, state spending, affordability and bipartisan calls for cooperation and civility were among the pledges and requests made by leaders during the first day of the 2026 session on Monday.

New Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, is introducing a new proposal in an attempt to break a 5-year legislative deadlock over eminent domain, carbon dioxide pipelines and landowner rights