Category archives for: State News

House bill requires training on open meetings laws, raises fines for violations

The Iowa Capitol

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 22, 2024 A bill raising fines for violating open meetings or records laws and requiring education for elected and appointed officials was approved in the Iowa House Thursday with bipartisan support. House File 2539 passed 92-2, with Reps. Phil Thompson and Brian Lohse voting against the measure. The […]

Senate passes bill allowing state agencies to hire private accountants

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand talks with community members on the Oskaloosa Square this past week.

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 19, 2024 The Iowa Senate approved a bill Monday allowing state agencies to employ private accountants to conduct annual audits instead of the state auditor’s office. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and Democrats opposed the measure, arguing it will decrease government accountability. Senate File 2311 passed 31-16 and it […]

Governor’s income tax cut bill moves forward, but other proposals still in play

Under Iowa's Golden Dome, the Iowa Legislature is now hitting it's stride in the 2012 session

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 19, 2024 Republican lawmakers gave initial approval Monday to the governor’s individual income tax cut bill, though Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, said other tax proposals could also move forward. Senate Study Bill 3038 received approval in a Senate subcommittee. It would speed up and expand  2022 legislation […]

Your guide to which bills survived the first legislative ‘funnel’ (and which didn’t)

The State Capitol in Des Moines. (Photo by Katie Akin/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 16, 2024 Most of the priority bills proposed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican legislators made it through the first major deadline for the 2024 legislative session. But the details of many of those major bills are still subject to change in coming weeks. In her Condition […]

House Education Committee passes school funding, teacher pay bills

The legislative session has just started under Iowa's golden dome (photo by D.Hubbard)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 15, 2024 In the final day before the first legislative deadline, House lawmakers passed a school funding proposal for the upcoming school year — as well as a measure to increase teacher salaries. The House Education Committee on Thursday passed House Study Bill 712 on Iowa’s State Supplemental […]

Funnel week: Hands-free driving, public lands bills among dozens clearing committees

The Iowa Capitol as seen Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 13, 2024 Lawmakers passed dozens of bills through committee Tuesday to keep them available for discussion as they near the first deadline of the 2024 legislative session. It’s “funnel week” at the Iowa State Capitol. That means most bills must be approved by a committee by the end […]

Mariannette Miller-Meeks: The Tax Relief Package is a Major Win for Iowa Businesses and Families

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks

I voted for the H.R. 7024, the “Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act.” This consequential legislation supports families and communities, invests in small businesses, and builds on the successes of the 2017 GOP Tax Reform. The bipartisan legislation came about after negotiations between the Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-8) and […]

USDA Partners with Iowa to Award Over $3 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

United States Department of Agriculture

WASHINGTON, February 9, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Iowa under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Iowa are working together to offer over $3 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build […]

Former Iowa state ag secretary Bill Northey dies at age 64

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey address Eggs & Issues on February 25, 2017.

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 5, 2024 Bill Northey, who was Iowa’s top agriculture official for more than a decade and a leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, died recently at the age of 64. His death was publicly announced Monday by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, of which he was chief […]

Iowa House Democrats propose increase in minimum wage, expansion of sales tax holiday

Money and Debt

by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 1, 2024 Democrats in the Iowa House unveiled several bills Thursday that they said were aimed at improving the economic well-being of Iowans, including proposals to increase the minimum wage and expand the state’s sales tax holiday. The bills also included proposals to eliminate a waitlist for disabled […]

         

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