Government & Politics

Lawmakers plan to use surplus to cover an estimated $900M shortfall.

Also in the Capitol Notebook, a bill that would create licenses for palliative care centers is headed to the governor.

Marion City Council members on Thursday approved the sale of the airport runway to 530 Investments LLC for $500,000. The city bought the runway and a fixed base operations building in 2015 for $1.67 million and invested an additional $1.8 million into a 2020 runway extension.

Iowa House Democrats on Thursday chose Rep. Brian Meyer, a Democrat from Des Moines, to lead the caucus after minority leader Jennifer Konfrst steps down at the end of the 2025 legislative session to run for Congress.

The Iowa City Council gave its approval Tuesday on the first reading of the rezoning of 5.49 acres on the north side of Iowa City to allow for development of an 84-unit apartment complex.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bills including one that says when regents have to set tuition.

“Healthy Kids Iowa” -- a new program announced Wednesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds -- will provide qualifying families with $40 worth of food per child per month in June, July and August. It replaces a summer food program that Reynolds opted out of. It would have provided $29 million in federal food assistance funding for an estimated 240,000 children in the state.

At least one key lawmaker believes a property tax reform bill still has a chance to pass into law before Iowa legislators complete their work for the year, which could happen soon.