Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

Unemployment taxes and benefits, opioid addiction treatment funds and a new, state family paid leave program marked a long final legislative day as Iowa lawmakers concluded their work for 2025 early Thursday morning.

Iowa legislators on Wednesday evening were on their way to finishing their work and adjourning the 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature

A slate of Iowa tax credits would be repealed, created or adjusted under legislation making its way through the state legislature as the end of the session nears.

“Healthy Kids Iowa” -- a new program announced Wednesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds -- will provide qualifying families with $40 worth of food per child per month in June, July and August. It replaces a summer food program that Reynolds opted out of. It would have provided $29 million in federal food assistance funding for an estimated 240,000 children in the state.

Democratic Iowa Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran minister from West Des Moines, is looking to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District in 2026. Political forecasters have the district as one of the most competitive in the country.

The impacts of the Trump administration’s DOGE-driven cuts at federal institutions that support arts and humanities are trickling down to museums across Iowa. The grant cancellations could impact direct funding for specific programs alongside indirect funding for things like research on making museums more accessible or on traveling exhibits.

Friday is the 110th calendar day of the 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature. It is the last day that state lawmakers will receive their stipend for daily housing and meal expenses. While their work is nearing completion, here are some of the important tasks that remain.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ tele-town hall Tuesday evening came nearly a week after she committed to hosting an in-person town hall in her southeast Iowa district. She has not held an in-person town hall meeting this year, and protests across Iowa’s 1st Congressional District have called on her to do so.

Both dip into reserves to cover expected revenue decline from state income tax cuts.

If it becomes law, House File 1032 would award matching funds up to $100,000 to grocery stores in rural areas for projects including utility upgrades, equipment, furnishings, professional services and technology.

The bill’s sponsor said events that could qualify for grant funding would be “larger scope, things like PGA, NFL, NBA or NCAA” and “Taylor Swift concerts at Kinnick” to make Iowa competitive with other states trying to attract high-profile events.

Nearly a year after Iowa saw historic flooding and fatal tornadoes, legislation proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds that would help fund and streamline the assistance process for rebuilding after natural disasters is going to her desk for approval.

Legislation adding new requirements to Iowa's open records laws was amended in the Iowa Senate on Thursday to bar the public from accessing Iowa Capitol security camera footage.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate expressed concern Friday about the Trump administration’s pause on federal election cybersecurity programs during an appearance on “Iowa Press.”

While the bills have bipartisan support, House Democrats -- who are in the minority -- say they have been introducing legislation aimed at lowering costs for Iowans since the beginning of the session, and are calling for more relief.