IOWA LEGISLATURE
Iowa Democratic leader calls for GOP lawmaker to be punished for comments on election fraud and Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Iowa House Minority Leader Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, has called on Speaker Pat Grassley to remove a committee chairman for what he called a series of false social media posts. ...
Watch: Hear from Linn legislators in League of Women Voters virtual forum at 10:30 a.m. Saturday
The League of Women Voters of Linn County hosts the first legislative forum of the 2021 Iowa Legislature session, inviting Linn County legislators and residents to participate. ...
Gun rights constitutional amendment moves ahead in Iowa Legislature
DES MOINES - Opponents of an amendment that would write the right to keep and bear arms into the Iowa Constitution said the language goes too far in protecting Iowans' gun rights, but proponents pushed ahead with the proposal Thursday, saying the matter should be decided by voters. ...
Bill would bar Iowa universities from spending nonstate money without state government approval
The state's public universities could not spend millions of dollars in federal grants, private gifts and other sources unless state lawmakers give their permission each year, according to a measure advancing in the Iowa Legislature. ...
Iowa House rejects call for mandatory masks, remote hearings
DES MOINES - House Republicans have refused to adopt rules requiring face coverings at the Capitol or to allow members to participate in committee meetings and floor votes from outside the Statehouse during the coronavirus pandemic. ...
Iowa highway deaths increase despite lower traffic volume
DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Transportation is setting an ambitious goal to reduce highway fatalities to a level not seen in nearly 100 years. ...
Gov. Reynolds proposes school choice - charter schools, private school scholarships, ability to transfer out of districts
DES MOINES - Two major education pushes favored by Gov. Kim Reynolds and majority GOP legislators - expanding school choices for Iowa parents and students and providing 100 percent in-person instruction for those who want it - will start getting Statehouse consideration next week. ...
Amendment declaring no right to abortion sent to full Iowa House
DES MOINES - The Iowa House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to approve a resolution for a constitutional amendment that opponents call the first step toward a state ban on abortion. ...
Iowa legislators eye laws regulating automated delivery vehicles on sidewalks
DES MOINES - A House subcommittee has begun paving the way for autonomous delivery vehicles in Iowa neighborhoods. ...
Republican lawmakers reject proposed mask mandate at Iowa Capitol
DES MOINES - Republican state lawmakers on Tuesday rejected Democrats' proposals to require face masks in the Iowa State Capitol during this year's legislative session. ...
Iowa House panels advance gun, abortion constitutional amendments
Constitution Day isn't until Sept. 17. However, Tuesday was constitutional amendment day at the Iowa Capitol as proposals to let Iowans vote to create a state-level Second Amendment and reject a Supreme Court finding of a right to an abortion advanced. ...
Iowa GOP lawmakers again propose bill barring university faculty tenure
Republican state lawmakers are pushing again to eliminate tenure at Iowa's public universities, which already have been reporting fewer tenured faculty for years even without a mandate to eliminate the academic freedom protection. ...
Fact Checker: Pat Grassley's wrong that he can't require masks at Statehouse
Hundreds of unmasked people entered the Iowa Statehouse rotunda Monday, the opening day of the new legislative session, to protest mask requirements put in place to protect against COVID-19. ...
Person tests positive after visiting Iowa Capitol
CEDAR RAPIDS - Five days into the Iowa legislative session lawmakers and staff have been alerted that someone 'associated' with the House has tested positive for COVID-19. ...
Public debt in Iowa grows but still among nation's lowest
DES MOINES - The outstanding debt for state and local governments topped $17.9 billion for the fiscal year that ended last June, the state treasurer reported Friday. ...
Ban on 'gay panic defense' again moves forward in Iowa House
Legislation 'short-circuited' by COVID-19 has been reintroduced that would prevent a defendant from using a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity as a mitigating factor if charged with murder or any violent crime. ...
Bill that would reinstate limited death penalty advances in Iowa Senate
DES MOINES - Republicans on a Senate subcommittee on Thursday advanced legislation that would reinstate a limited death penalty for Iowans aged 18 or older who are convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a minor despite overwhelming opposition from people who tuned into the remote he ...
Gov. Reynolds names new chief operating officer, moves Paul Trombino to Homeland Security
Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday named Paul Trombino as director of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. ...
Iowa National Guard busy at home, abroad in 2020, commandant reports
In 2020, more Iowa National Guard members were deployed overseas than any time during the previous 10 years. ...
Were Gov. Reynolds' claims in Condition of the State true? Our Fact Checker team grades her
In her Condition of the State speech Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds hit on Iowa's accomplishments and challenges in 2020 and highlighted her goals for 2021. ...
Despite glitch, Iowa lawmakers optimistic about broadband expansion
Discussion during the inaugural meeting of the Iowa House Information Technology Committee - formed to address technology issues in Iowa - was limited because the members attending virtually were stuck in a listen-only mode. ...
Gov. Kim Reynolds proposes raising public university funding $45 million over two years
The $15 million increase in state funding for Iowa's three public being proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds falls short of what the universities were hoping for, but the Board of Regents is nonetheless appreciative. ...
Hear from local legislators in forums hosted by Linn, Johnson League of Women Voters
CEDAR RAPIDS - The League of Women Voters in Linn and Johnson counties will host legislative forums starting Jan. 23 to provide opportunities for dialogue between legislators and constituents. ...
$3 million state grant will improve access for new BAE Systems facility
The Iowa Transportation Commission on Wednesday awarded $4.45 million in funds to three projects, with a Cedar Rapids street project getting a lion's share of the funding. ...
Gov. Kim Reynolds proposes $8.1 billion budget
DES MOINES - Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday proposed an $8.1 billion state spending plan for fiscal 2022, a 3.7 percent increase that would fund priorities in broadband expansion, K-12 and higher education and mental health programs for adults and children. ...
Gov. Kim Reynolds: Help both social justice and police
DES MOINES - Gov. Kim Reynolds pledged Tuesday to further the cause of social justice while protecting Iowa's law enforcement officers. ...
Watch at 6 p.m.: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds gives Condition of the State address
Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will address a joint convention of the 89th Iowa General Assembly at the Iowa Capitol beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday. ...