State Government

Also in the Capitol Notebook: Senate amends bill for admission at UI medical and dental colleges

Only election results decided by a margin of 1 percent or less in Iowa would be recounted under legislation headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk.

For a third consecutive year, Iowa lawmakers are trying to agree on legislation that would determine how more than $50 million in opioid settlement funds to the state should be spent.

Republicans have yet to produce a formal challenger, although Linn County GOP will soon host its own nominating convention.

New laws and anticipation of more changes are driving LGBTQ Iowans to update birth certificates, do estate planning and finalize adoptions for their children.

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.”

The bill, Senate File 75, requires counties that house a public university to elect county supervisors by districts, rather than having members elected at-large. Further, special elections will now be required to fill most board vacancies in Iowa’s largest counties.

Reynolds, 65, has been governor since 2017, when Gov. Terry Branstad stepped down after being named U.S. ambassador to China by President Donald Trump.

Revised plan includes doubling the proposed homestead property tax exemption to $50,000 from $25,000.

Also in the Capitol Notebook, a bill advanced out of committee would help service organizations like American Legion with VA claims

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.

Firefighters and family members of firefighters who died from cancer have spent multiple years advocating for the coverage beyond the 14 current forms of cancer now covered.