Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

Also in the Capitol Notebook: Iowa’s default speed limit would increase under Senate bill

Iowa House Republicans continued their efforts to reform higher education policies in the state by passing a series of bills Tuesday aiming to — among other things — further curtail diversity, equity and inclusion programming across not only Iowa’s public universities but its private campuses as well.

During a rally in the Iowa Capitol rotunda, landowners and pipeline opponents urged the Legislature to follow in the footsteps of South Dakota, where Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden recently signed a law banning the use of eminent domain in that state to gain easements for carbon dioxide pipelines.

Cellphones should not be allowed in students’ hands during class or in drivers’ hands while on the road, Iowa state lawmakers decreed Tuesday as they moved the proposals closer to becoming state law.

Also, Senate Republicans once again approved bills banning citizen police review boards and adding a gubernatorial nominee to district judicial nominating commissions

The group hopes to expand the 3 Dimensions of Education program to a total of 22 Iowa schools and 13,640 student by 2030.

Deere and Co. would have to give back money from state tax credits after it laid off workers last year under a bill in the Iowa House.

State lawmakers once again are working to make Iowa’s election recount laws more consistent, while also considering other changes to elections laws.

Also, House lawmakers advance bill to extend biofuels tax incentives

Also, lawmakers in the Iowa House voted Wednesday to expand legislation that would provide professional right-to-carry permits for judicial officers, members of the Attorney General’s Office and state lawmakers.

About a quarter of Iowans would no longer pay co-pays and deductibles for supplemental and diagnostic breast exams under legislation that unanimously passed the Iowa House and advanced Wednesday in the Iowa Senate. But insurers say health care costs would rise for everyone.

“The proposed revisions clarify expectations regarding university management and oversight of institutional social media accounts,” according to a summary of those policy revisions, which came back before the board for approval in February. “The universities are generally expected to refrain from issuing statements on political, social, or public policy matters.”

LGBTQ Iowans shared a message of hope and perseverance in the face of legislative attacks against transgender Iowans during a rally Tuesday. About 150 people gathered in the Iowa Capitol Rotunda in a show of solidarity during LGBTQ Day on the Hill.

Also in the Capitol Notebook: Iowa House passes anti-SLAPP legislation

Also, Johnson County supervisors would be elected by districts, rather than at-large, under legislation passed by the Iowa Senate