Articles Tagged: IPERS

As property tax relief is expected to be a top priority for lawmakers in both parties during the 2026 Iowa legislative session, state Democratic leaders are split on how to address the issue.

But legislators are ruling out any immediate changes to IPERS.

Plus, the Satanic Temple’s display at the Iowa Capitol is back in the news and Randy Feenstra addresses his lack of attendance at multi-candidate events.

The CEO of Iowa’s public pension system said he does not object to a review of the retirement program for public employees, but cautioned against potential consequences of a voluntary contribution option — one of the recommendations from a citizen task force appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

From a study of public employee salaries and benefits, to teacher bonuses for student achievement and incentives for shared government services, the Iowa DOGE Task Force report includes a number of recommendations for making Iowa government more efficient.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen launched his “99 Strong” statewide tour in Marion on Saturday, pledging to champion skilled trades, parental rights, property tax reform and local control. Steen also vowed to oppose eminent domain for pipelines and defend “Iowa’s culture and values.”

Iowa Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Rob Sand blasted Gov. Kim Reynolds’ efficiency task force as partisan, vowed to veto changes to Iowa’s public pension system, and pushed for more oversight of private school vouchers at a Cedar Rapids town hall.

Plus, two more Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, and how Democratic candidates are talking to voters thus far this cycle.

Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley and other statehouse leaders say they have no interest in pursuing changes to the state-run retirement program for public employees despite a proposal from a state government efficiency panel last week.

A former investment officer with the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System alleges he was wrongly fired after reporting the state’s pension system was routinely overstating its performance, concealing certain expenses and understating its investment risk.

Also, Republicans advanced a measure to ban future guaranteed basic income programs in Iowa.

Another bill would add penalties for cities, counties that regulate firearms

Democrats opposed Gov. Kim Reynolds’ appointments of former House member Erik Helland and Jane Dufoe to the Public Employment Relations Board.

Iowans’ income from retirement programs would no longer be taxed by the state under a legislative proposal from Iowa House Republicans.