Rocky De Witt, a Republican who rose from relative obscurity a decade ago to a seat on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors and then a seat in the Iowa Senate, has died following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Seventy legislators in the Iowa House signed a petition to override Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of eminent domain and property rights legislation, the House Speaker’s Office announced Tuesday. But a special session of the Iowa Legislature remains unlikely given the lack of interest from Republican leaders in the Iowa Senate.
Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair said Thursday she believes state legislation that would limit eminent domain and regulate hazardous liquid pipelines is unconstitutional and will cost the state money, in both legal fees and missed economic development.
Iowa state Sen. Art Staed, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, said he plans to continue to serve in the Iowa Senate in light of the diagnosis.
This week on the podcast: the 2025 legislative session ends, plus candidates emerge for 2026 races.
A slate of Iowa tax credits would be repealed, created or adjusted under legislation making its way through the state legislature as the end of the session nears.
Debate and lawmakers’ votes in the Iowa Senate once again revealed a divide among statehouse Republicans over landowner rights, eminent domain and infrastructure projects
Also in the Capitol Notebook, the Senate advanced a ban on DEI funding for local governments and community colleges
Gov. Kim Reynolds, who appointed Cournoyer last year to the role, said in a statement she is “proud to endorse” Cournoyer’s campaign, calling her “a true fiscal conservative with a strong record of improving government efficiencies and accountability.”
A dozen Republican senators have pledged to hold up the next state budget until its party’s leaders allow for debate and a vote on property rights legislation passed by the Iowa House.
Under a proposal advanced by Iowa Senate Republicans, Iowa Medicaid would no longer cover surgical, hormonal and other procedures related to treating Iowans with gender dysphoria. Critics warn the move could endanger the health and lives of Iowans.
Also in the Capitol Notebook, lawmakers advance a bill to create a state retirement savings plan for Iowans whose employers don’t offer a retirement plan.
House File 299 would require schools and child care centers to include information about obtaining vaccine exemptions in any public communication to parents or guardians following recommendations by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Also in the Capitol Notebook, the Iowa Senate confirmed 3 members to the Iowa Board of Regents
Legislation designed to constrain prescription drug costs and protect rural pharmacies by regulating third-party health care companies known as pharmacy benefit managers is once again moving in the Iowa Capitol.
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