Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

Firefighters and family members of firefighters who died from cancer have spent multiple years advocating for the coverage beyond the 14 current forms of cancer now covered.

A rural Iowa county's effort to silence a frequent critic — by threatening a lawsuit against a retired school nurse — might have backfired.

Also, in the Capitol Notebook, Senate Democrats argue for more nursing home protections with four proposed amendments.

General state funding to Iowa’s public K-12 schools will increase 2 percent next school year under an agreement reached by Statehouse Republicans that’s head to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature. House Democrats say it’s insufficient to help public school districts cover costs, and will lead to property tax increases.

Along with fly, ice and sport fishing, Iowans would be able to legally catch catfish with their bare hands under a bill being considered by state lawmakers.

Also in the Capital Notebook: Statehouse Republican leaders have reached a deal on public K-12 school funding for the next academic year

A minor’s ability to legally consent on their own to receiving the HPV vaccine would be removed under legislation passed by the Iowa Senate Monday. Critics argue the bill will contribute to Iowa’s high rates of cancer.

While legislation allowing all Iowa nursing home residents to have cameras in their rooms has failed to advance this session, the technology is being successfully used in one Iowa care facility.

Iowa is one of 31 states in the U.S. that requires vehicles to have two license plates displayed while driving — one on the front and one on the back of the car — with very few exceptions.

Five bills poised to directly affect Iowa’s public universities survived the second “funnel” deadline of the 2025 Legislative session this week — including one to establish a “Center for Intellectual Freedom” at the University of Iowa and another requiring each campus to create at least one three-year bachelor’s degree program.

And how many bills did Republican leaders tuck in their pocket to potentially resurrect in the session’s closing weeks?

Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate said they are carefully monitoring the impact of sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports announced this week by President Donald Trump as they draft the state's budget.

This week on the podcast: legislative forums in Eastern Iowa and the second funnel week at the Iowa Capitol.

Also, in the Capitol Notebook, lawmakers advance a bill allowing psilocybin prescriptions in Iowa if FDA approves the substance.

The issues illustrate the legislative divide between Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate, which was apparent Thursday as legislation neared the second “funnel” deadline of the 2025 session.