Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

The odds of Cedar Rapids finally getting a casino took a hit Thursday when state lawmakers advanced legislation that would prohibit any new casinos in Iowa for at least five years.

Iowa driver's licenses would list citizenship status under a bill aiming to home in on verifying voters' citizenship status at the polls.

Iowa cities, counties and school districts would be prohibited from using taxpayer funding to pay statehouse lobbyists under legislation considered in the Iowa Senate.

Hoping to shield Iowa’s public universities from potential backlash to policy changes enacted by lawmakers, Republicans pushed forward a bill that would allow them to sue private entities that review the quality of colleges.

The proposed bill would ban Iowa’s regents institutions from having general education curriculum that teaches “identity politics” or claims systemic racism, sexism, oppression or privilege are inherent in U.S. and Iowa institutions.

As legislators this week continue their consideration of a group of bills aimed at reshaping higher education in Iowa -- taking aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion programming, curricular offerings, and accrediting agencies -- one lawmaker on Wednesday called on Iowa’s community colleges to consider offering bachelor’s degrees.

Democrats Tuesday flipped seat in the Iowa Senate in a special election held to replace Republican Sen. Chris Cournoyer, who was named as Iowa's lieutenant governor, but Democrats still will be far outnumbered in the chamber.

The Department of Public Safety proposal comes more than a year after fatal shooting at Perry schools.

Also, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to provide paid family leave to state workers got its first legislative approval

In responding to a House proposal that would require the University of Iowa to establish a new “School of Intellectual Freedom,” a UI lobbyist on Tuesday announced campus plans to create a new “Center for Civic Dialogue and Leadership.”

Increased tax credits for home schooling, exemptions for blood lead testing for home-schooled children and implementing gender-neutral term requirements for world language instruction for all students were among the education-related proposals in a bill considered Monday.

House lawmakers on Monday advanced legislation to create a five-year moratorium on new state-licensed casinos in Iowa. The move comes as the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission nears a decision at its Feb. 6 meeting on whether to grant a license for a Linn County casino.

Also, legislators considered a bill that would enhance penalties for individuals who wear a hood in an effort to conceal their identity while committing a crime.

Amie Wichtendahl of Hiawatha hopes her election serves as a ‘repudiation’ of anti-trans stereotypes

Under the proposed legislation — the full language of which has not been released — all Iowa school districts would be required to adopt by July 1, 2025, minimum standards for restrictions on personal electronic devices.