Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

The proposal passed through a streamlined legislative process Tuesday in the Iowa Senate, leaving it just a few legislative steps away from the governor’s pen.

Hall said he opted against challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds because he had concerns about being able to commit the necessary financial resources and because he didn't believe he had high enough name recognition in the state.

It's part of an effort to learn why Gov. Kim Reynolds took the unusual step last October of rejecting two nominees for an open judgeship.

Legislators try to “level the playing field” for citizens who visit the Capitol to talk to their representatives by prohibiting lobbying activity in the second floor rotunda between the House and Senate chambers.

As state lawmakers consider tax cuts, an Iowa senator claims, “Data has long shown the states with low or no income tax grow more quickly than states with high, punitive tax rates.” Academic consensus is less certain.

The Iowa Department of Human Services saw a 37 percent increase in dependent abuse reports from the first half of 2020 to the second half of 2021 with 5,800 cases.

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics Podcast: No-name plates, campaign fundraising, the only sure things – ethanol and tax cuts, and checking in on the kids.

Eight Iowa school districts are violating a judicial order by not reinstating face mask requirements, says a letter sent Friday from the ACLU’s state chapter to those district.

Current federal law prohibits states from enacting daylight saving time permanently, but “who know how long it will be before Congress decides to allow us to do it?” Iowa Rep. Sexton wondered.

“It’s the wild, wild west out there,” lawmaker says.

Against the backdrop of debates over billions of dollars being planned for tax cuts for Iowa workers and businesses, state lawmakers are now beginning their work on setting state funding for K-12 public schools for the next school year.

Requiring fuel retailers to sell ethanol-blended products will not only spur demand for Iowa corn-based ethanol and produce savings for motorists, but promote its use beyond the state’s borders, backers said during debate in the Iowa House.

K-12 education policy was front and center via myriad proposals that were considered Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol.

Under a proposal approved by the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, a person could be compelled to testify against a spouse who allegedly threatened them or a third party or if communications were disclosed to a third party.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that “everything is on the table” when it comes to three competing tax plans that will ultimately have to become one.