State Government

Democrats vehemently opposed the bill, arguing it would make it harder for certain Iowans to cast a ballot. Republicans said the bill aims to maintain the highest level of election integrity in Iowa.

UpLift Iowa, a project involving four Central Iowa local governments and a number of businesses and nonprofits, is the only existing guaranteed income program in the state. The pilot program provides 110 residents with monthly payments of $500 that can be spent without restrictions.

Also in the Capitol Notebook: The Iowa House approved legislation that would increase penalties for fentanyl-related deaths.

Should the state adopt into law a bill that passed the Iowa House this week aiming to restructure the Board of Regents and its powers while also capping tuition costs and diversity programming, Iowa’s public universities could take a financial hit in the millions.

Iowa lawmakers already have missed their target for setting state funding for schools by nearly two weeks.

Recap of news from across the state

Iowa County Attorneys Association has two priority bills and support an additional one which enhance protections for victims and witnesses. One increases penalties committing an assault if a no contact order is already in place and another also stiffens penalties for tampering with a witness.

The bill would require the Iowa Transportation Commission to include in its long-range planning plans to make the entire length of Highway 30 four lanes — including a 40-mile stretch between DeWitt and Lisbon, just east of Cedar Rapids, and between Carroll and Ogden in western Iowa.