State Government

Subpoenas are expected to be issued early next week as part of the investigation into conduct that led Gov. Kim Reynolds to reject two nominees for an open judgeship. The committee is seeking documents and testimony from people involved the judicial nominating process.

A proposal to enable parents to start legal proceedings against schools or educators who distribute books or materials the parents deem obscene advanced Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol. Also advancing was a bill that would require Iowa, ISU and UNI sports teams to schedule games against each other.

The bill, one of three GOP tax relief plans under consideration, would phase in a four-year gradual reduction in Iowa’s personal income tax rate from the current top rate of 8.53 percent for the highest wage earners to 4 percent for all taxpayers.

Republicans who support a bill that seeks to limit public land buys say the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and county conservation boards shouldn’t be competing with farmers trying to buy timber for cattle grazing. Democrats say its more likely developers or other farmers snapping up land.

Iowa elections’ recount procedures would be streamlined, funding from private groups to help elections operations would be prohibited, and an additional signature requirement for votes cast by mail would be added under a new proposal being considered by state lawmakers.

Senate Study Bill 3134 would limit the amount of money the state and counties may pay for land and, in some cases, removes tax benefits for land donors. Lawmakers who are farmers seem concerned about farmland converting to public land, but conservation groups said Iowa already has one of the lowest shares of public land in the nation.

The goal, the bill’s sponsor said, is to make sure that “Iowans have access to their memories.” However, critics said the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union and others have indicated they may end their relationships with Iowa PBS if the station cannot protect its content.

Majority Republicans in the Iowa Senate are proposing a state budget of just more than $8.2 billion. Also, a ban on the use of eminent domain — the practice of the government claiming private land for private business projects — passed the first step of the legislative process, but only with hesitant support.

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday indicated she would likely sign into law a ban on transgender girls from competing in girls athletics in Iowa, should state lawmakers send such a bill to her.

The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to dismiss a petition seeking stricter rules for new animal feeding operations built in the karst terrain of northeast Iowa.

There’s a lot of money at stake, a lobbyist told lawmakers. An estimated 2 billion cans and bottles covered by the bottle bill are sold in Iowa each year. That represents $10 million in deposits or 200 million nickels.

If enacted, applicants would have to complete an authentication process to confirm their identity. In addition, HSB 698 would require the Department of Human Services to cross-check information about Iowans enrolled in a food assistance program or Medicaid using federal databases.