Iowa Senate Republicans announce committee chairs

Unlike Iowa House, senators will not have Education Reform Committee

The Iowa Senate chambers are seen at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines. The Senate Republicans, who increased their majority in the midterm election, on Thursday announced their committee chairs for the upcoming legislative session. (The Gazette)

Iowa Senate Republicans on Thursday announced the list of Senate committee chairs for the upcoming legislative session.

The Senate Republicans added a Technology Committee but will not have an Education Reform Committee. House Republicans added that new committee this week, chaired by House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford, to consider “bills containing significant reforms to our education system.”

The new Technology Committee will deal with “information technology, telecommunications, cybersecurity and other related policies,” according to a news release.

The Senate Republicans also renamed the Human Resources Committee to the Health and Human Services Committee and renamed the Labor and Business Relations Committee to the Workforce Committee.

“The first supermajority in the Iowa Senate in five decades is ready to deliver results for Iowans,” Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, said in a statement. “I am eager to get to work with my fellow Republican senators to help Iowans combat inflation, reduce barriers to job creation and continue to implement our historic income tax cuts.”

Republicans picked up seats in the midterm election and are set to hold a 34-16 supermajority in the Senate. The majority gives them control of decision-making in the chamber and the ability to prevent Democrats from blocking gubernatorial appointments that require a two-thirds majority to be confirmed.

The chairs of the 17 Senate committees will decide which bills will be considered in committee before going to a full floor vote.

The 2023 legislative session begins Jan. 9.

Senate Democrats have not chosen who will serve on the committees, though that should happen in early December, a spokesperson for the caucus said.