It’s among the proposals from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office ahead of the Iowa legislative session that starts later this month.
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It’s among the proposals from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office ahead of the Iowa legislative session that starts later this month.
Iowa House Republicans say they want to act proactively in 2026 with a “tough on crime” package aimed at repeat offenders, bail reform and sentencing — even as recent data show Iowa crime trending downward.
Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, Iowa House Democrats rolled out a property tax relief plan Monday that includes a 4 percent property tax cap, rebates for homeowners and renters, and a property tax freeze for seniors.
Also in the notebook, Gov. Kim Reynolds establishes a task force on nuclear energy in Iowa
Republicans insist the state’s finances are in good health and everything is proceeding as they planned when they lowered Iowans’ state income taxes. Democrats are sounding alarms over the state spending more money than it is taking in.
This year, Iowa lawmakers will return to the drawing board on providing property tax relief to Iowans, which is expected to be a main focal point of the 2026 legislative session after last year’s efforts to address the issue failed to take off.
A southeast Iowa hospital where a long-term care resident died after being put to bed while struggling to breathe is now facing a potential $10,000 fine.
The state recently allocated $1.5 million to volunteer firefighters, emergency medical service providers and reserve peace officers through a program that requires a local match. First responders can receive an up-to-$500 benefit each, but the amount depends on how many departments apply.
The start of a new year also means the start of new laws in Iowa, including fines for handling a cellphone while driving, a statewide ban on ranked choice voting and an overhaul of state business tax incentives.
Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a year-end special election, denying Republicans from reclaiming two-thirds control of the chamber.
Starting Thursday, Americans in five states — including Iowa — who get government help paying for groceries will see new restrictions on soda, candy and other foods they can buy with those benefits.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on Tuesday confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a multi-species backyard flock in Dallas County, marking Iowa’s 10th detection of the H5N1 virus in domestic birds this year.
Ten Iowa entities have been notified they will receive grants of up to $1 million each for opioid addiction prevention and treatment, according to state documentation provided to The Gazette on Tuesday.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources invites Iowans to visit a state park on New Year’s Day. If you check in online you are eligible for a prize drawing. There are also guided hikes at many state parks on Thursday.
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