State Government

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.

Medical marijuana sales in Iowa have leveled off as Iowans flock to cheaper, largely unregulated consumable hemp products, regulators said Friday.

A bill Republicans say will strengthen protections for religious expressions in Iowa that Democrats contend would give legal cover to discriminate against LGTBQ Iowans and others is headed to Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk.

Iowa DNR Director Kayla Lyon told organizers she no longer will let conservation officers or other department employees spend as much paid time at the event and asked organizers to remove the agency’s name and logo from all marketing materials, boat trailers and other equipment.

Police support bill that would require state approval before cities install devices

Also, the Iowa House passes legislation that would cap tuition and limit diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the state’s three public universities

House Republicans said the bill was necessary to teach Iowa students about the high points of American history and the achievements of the country’s major historical figures. They said students have been taught disproportionately about the negatives in American history.

The Iowa House on Thursday passed a bill that reorganizes the funding and oversight of Iowa’s area education agencies, the first major milestone for the proposal after lawmakers spent the past two months weighing changes to the state’s special education network.

Iowa House Republicans passed a bill late Wednesday night that would create a new permitting process for Iowa school districts to arm trained staff. Under the bill, identities of school staff issued a weapons permit would be confidential and not subject to disclosure under Iowa’s open records law.

Also, Iowa Senate Republicans once again advanced a proposal to require all businesses use the E-Verify program for verifying employees’ U.S. residency status