Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

House File 115 would require Iowa colleges and universities to establish policies prohibiting students, faculty and staff on nonimmigrant visas from “publicly espousing terrorist activity related to an ongoing conflict or ... persuading others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity related to an ongoing conflict or to support a terrorist organization unless it is the policy or practice of the United States to support such activity or organization.”

A so-called anti-SLAPP law is moving farther in the Iowa Legislature than it has in the past; it would allow Iowans to request expedited dismissal of a lawsuit on First Amendment grounds

Also, Iowans protest bill that would shield pesticide companies over failure to warn consumers about health risks of their products

Tax exemptions provide an incentive to qualifying landowners to preserve their woodlands, but bills introduced in the Iowa Legislature last year and again this year seek to change the state’s Forest and Fruit Tree Reserve program.

Committee chair thinks that’s ‘a major problem’

Also, a special election has been set to fill a vacant Iowa House seat after the death of a state lawmaker

Opponents say it targets drag shows and venues

Shortly after an analyst from a high-profile conservative policy group two weeks ago presented lawmakers with evidence that more than 20 programs across Iowa’s public universities have a negative “return on investment,” a member of the Board of Regents contacted her with questions.

Also, 3 people charged after protests at Iowa Capitol

The prospects for proposed carbon capture pipelines in Iowa remains unknown; more certain is the will of advocates and Republican lawmakers in the Iowa House to prevent those pipelines from using eminent domain to secure Iowa land.

Lawyers for a book publisher that is challenging Iowa’s book ban law called it a “statewide, one-size-fits-all statute that eliminates discretion by school librarians,” while lawyers for the state characterized it as an appropriate and lawful attempt by lawmakers to control the materials publicly funded schools are offering their students.

This week on the podcast: Cedar Rapids casino update, the pesticide tort reform bill is back and Iowa House Republicans’ higher education committee is in full swing

After more than a decade of trying to bring a casino to Linn County, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted 4-1 to grant a gaming license to build a planned $275 million casino and entertainment center near downtown Cedar Rapids.

Schools would be required to prohibit students from having phones during instructional time under a bill from Gov. Kim Reynolds that was advanced by lawmakers.

Under a bill being considered in the Iowa Senate, Bayer -- the maker of glyphosate-based Roundup -- would be shielded from lawsuits claiming the company failed to warn consumers of health risks if the product label complies with federal labeling requirements.