Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

A year after enacting stricter requirements for Iowans who receive unemployment, a new Republican bill would require Iowans to conduct more job searches in order to earn benefits.

The proposal, which is opposed by Republicans, would also expunge previous, non-violent marijuana convictions and expand the state’s medical cannabis program.

A hearing Monday on Iowa school districts’ processes for reviewing and removing school library books and materials some parents and community members deem obscene devolved into testy exchanges between Democrats and Republicans

Iowa property owners are off the hook for about $130 million in taxes they would have otherwise paid under an erroneous assessment formula, but local governments are left holding the bag under legislation signed into law Monday by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

While the proposal restates existing law, county attorneys worry it could enable the AG to undermine their work

Also, Senate axes retail birth control from health care bill

A proposed bill would prevent earned or good time credit from being applied to mandatory mininums for habitual, repeat and violent offenders.

The House bill would require pipeline companies to obtain 90 percent of the miles along their proposed route through voluntary easements before being granted eminent domain authority.

Proponents of the legislation said it’s needed to help contain insurance costs for hospitals, and to help recruit and retain doctors, especially in rural areas of the state.

A proposal to fix a state error in how property taxes are calculated -- which cities, counties and other local governments say will leave them in a lurch -- is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk after House lawmakers passed the bill Wednesday.

Also, Gov. Reynolds says she will sign into law the caps on medical malpractice jury awards

Iowa law enforcement officials would be prohibited from enforcing federal gun laws and regulations, and state agencies could be fined up to $50,000 for violations

Representatives from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, as well as people who have experience working in and receiving care from crisis pregnancy centers, said at a news conference Wednesday the proposed $1.5 million increase in funding to the 55 centers in the state would further erode reproductive health care.

Iowa lawmakers once again are moving forward a bill that would restrict the ability of cities to use traffic enforcement cameras along state interstates and highways.

Representatives of Iowa’s public schools, cities, counties and assessors warn it will lead to public service cuts.