Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

Also, Senate Republicans approved legislation adding work requirements for Medicaid recipients

However, due to federal restrictions, 18- to 20-year-olds would still be prohibited from buying a handgun from a federally licensed firearm dealer in Iowa, but would be allowed to purchase pistols and revolvers through a private sale.

Also, new Iowa House Rep. Blaine Watkins — elected to replace Rep. Martin Graber — is sworn in

Iowa House lawmakers unanimously passed legislation Monday strengthening the state’s open meetings laws, which a Scott County lawmaker behind the bill says stems from issues in the Quad-Cities.

Both chambers have now signed off on the governor’s proposal, which she unveiled during her annual Condition of the State address in January.

Outdoor recreation is Iowa’s top source of tourism and accounts for $8 billion annually in economic output, according to a recent study.

An analysis by Investigative Midwest found that a substantial share of Iowa’s rivers and lakes labeled as impaired have remained in poor condition for at least a decade, highlighting persistent pollution risks for swimmers, boaters, and others who regularly use these waters.

Also in the Capitol Notebook: House passes bill requiring age verification for porn sites

Also in the Capitol Notebook: Black Caucus urges public to speak out over anti-DEI measures

Iowa’s four most populous counties – Polk, Linn, Scott and Johnson – would no longer receive state economic development funding under a bill advanced by House lawmakers Wednesday.

Children should be allowed to testify in Iowa courts remotely, rather than being forced to face their alleged abusers — on that, Iowa lawmakers agree. But lawmakers disagree on how exactly to ensure that protection, which was erased by a recent Iowa Supreme Court decision.

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.