By The Iowa Statesman   If nothing else, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is brave. With school districts preparing to layoff teachers and other support staff, unsure how much state funding they will receive in the coming fiscal year — their budgets are to be certified today — he announced a […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Tuesday afternoon, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed the following three bills into law: • House File 488: An act to establish the Iowa Reading Corps, to be administered by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. • Senate File 267: An act to establish the confidentiality […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Iowa used to be first-in-the-nation is than just its quadrennial presidential caucuses. It used to be the best in the nation, and the envy of the world, in education. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, and whether you’re siding with Republicans […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The omnibus gun bill proposed earlier this session was supposed to be a miraculous achievement in improving Second Amendment rights in Iowa. It had broad bipartisan support in both the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, and the Democrat-controlled Senate. It had support from Second Amendment advocates […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   A state legislator’s on religious freedom sparked an outcry from the other side of the aisle mere minutes after Monday’s Iowa Religious Freedom Day came to an end. State Rep. Steven Holt (R-Denison) to up the matter of religious freedom during points of personal […]

From Press Release   State Sen. Jake Chapman (R-A) said he was pleased with Monday’s turnout in support of religious freedom at the Iowa Statehouse. Senator Chapman, who was the event’s primary organizer, was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and citizens from across Iowa who are interested in […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today will present the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Governor’s Cup ROTC Award for outstanding achievement to ten students from The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake University, University of Dubuque, Buena Vista University, University of […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad has announced that he will sign House File 488 at 3:50 p.m. this afternoon in the Governor’s Formal Office of the Iowa State Capitol. House File 488 is an Act relating to the programs of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service […]

From Press Release   Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced the launch of Give Back Iowa, a six week challenge running from April 14-May 31 to engage Iowans in employer supported volunteering. “Give Back Iowa complements my ‘Call to Service’ initiative to increase the number […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Friday, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed Senate File 227 into law. The bill states, in part, “…the school calendar shall begin no sooner than August 23.” It also imparts financial penalties on districts that start school before that date. The bill passed the Iowa House […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   As Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) noted during Thursday morning’s floor speech, next week begins the most restrictive portion of the session calendar as it relates to bills that are eligible for debate. As a result, the Democrat-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House each […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Religious freedom is very likely to be one of the most important issues of the 2016 election cycle. And, it’s an issue that doesn’t necessarily correspond to one party or the other; it’s an issue that impacts everyone. Iowa Religious Freedom Day will be the […]

From Press Release   U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today announced an extended dead, now April 15, for a new fellowship program in his state offices for Iowans with recent military service.  Grassley encourages these veterans to consider and apply for the program. “This program will help these veterans gain […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa Senate confirmed the appointment of 16 of Gov. Terry Branstad’s appointees on Wednesday. The Iowa Constitution requires all gubernatorial appointees must be confirmed by a two-thirds vote – at least 34 members – of the Senate. Many appointees may be confirmed “en bloc,” […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   A few weeks ago, the Iowa House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted the omnibus gun bill, House File 527, in a bipartisan 75-24 vote. That bill was ignored by the Senate, which instead adopted its own bill that only legalized the production, purchase, and possession of […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following six bills into law: House File 455: an Act requiring the submission of a corporate governance annual disclosure to the commissioner of insurance by certain insurers of insurance groups, and including penalties and applicability date provisions. House File […]

Bob Eschliman Editor   As the 2015 legislative session winds down to its final weeks, the number of new bills being created as slowed down tremendously. But, the number enrolled bills – those adopted by both chambers and sent to Gov. Terry Branstad for his signature – has substantially increased. […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Local school districts with larger numbers of immigrant students will soon see funding from the State of Iowa – at the expense of districts that do not. Senate File 472, if adopted, would increase the additional weighting of English Language Learner students from 0.22 […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa House of Representatives unanimously adopted a bill that amends the process by which the compensation of county officers is established. Senate File 167 was amended and adopted by the Iowa Senate last week, and prohibits county boards of supervisors from authorizing separation allowances […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has announced he will sign Senate File 227 at 1 p.m. Friday on the west steps of the Iowa Statehouse. SF 227 establishes Aug. 23 as the earliest school start date, with the exception of elementary and middle schools with year-round […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa Senate unanimously approved a bill Monday meant to provide local school districts with greater flexibility to leverage their construction debt. Beginning with the upcoming school year that starts July 1, Senate File 485, if adopted, would allow school districts to impose a Physical […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), is returning to Iowa for a two-day swing this week. The 2012 winner of the Iowa Caucus will visit the Des Moines area, as well as Mount Pleasant. During his stops, he will be holding private meetings with concerned […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Last month, The Iowa Statesman reported on a number of bills being considered that would alter or amend Iowa’s individual income tax provisions. House Ways and Means Committee chairman Tom Sands (R-Wapello) issued a statement this week that one of those provisions moved out of […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Friday, the Legislative Service Agency released a special audit report of the Iowa Department of Public Health that found need for process changes in four semi-autonomous boards under IDPH’s authority. The audit, conducted by the Auditor of State’s Office and reported to the LSA in […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today that they will lead trade missions to South Korea and Brazil respectively.  Both trips are aimed at expanding trade and investment opportunities and are being coordinated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Brazil is Iowa’s […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Using procedural processes to ensure they survived the final legislative funnel for this session, the Democrat-led Iowa Senate and Republican-led Iowa House of Representatives protected 52 bills this week. Thursday, the Senate quickly moved 16 bills to the unfinished business calendar. They were: Senate File […]

From Press Release   The Iowa Army National Guard’s finest warriors gathered at the Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center March 20-22, 2015 to compete in the annual Best Warrior Competition. The three-day competition tested the Soldiers’ physical, mental and professional skills. Eleven privates first class and specialists competed for […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Last month’s vote on Senate File 257, the transportation funding bill that, in addition to increasing fees, increased Iowa’s motor fuel tax by than 45 percent, hasn’t sat well with many Iowans. And, as a result, it’s reopened old wounds for many grassroots Republicans. […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest county population estimates, effective July 1 of last year. The new estimate found Iowa’s population has grown to 3,107,145. In 2010, the official Census declared the state’s population as 3,046,355. The data has been compiled and […]

Bob Eschliman Editor   Iowa Firearms Coalition is certain that the Omnibus Gun Bill is not yet dead, even though the final legislative funnel dead is effectively at the end of business today. Monday, the Senate adopted Senate File 427, which gutted most of the provisions of the sweeping gun […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Wednesday morning, Education Democrats in the Iowa House attempted to bring a bill to the floor that would primarily expand the “academic indicators” for which students will be measured via the Iowa Core Curriculum. State Rep. Todd Taylor (D-Cedar Rapids) made a motion at the […]

Bob Eschliman Editor   For legislators who are fighting for specific pieces of legislation, time is running short. While the official legislative dead to clear the second and final legislative “funnel” is the end of business Friday, in reality, there won’t be much – if any – business conducted Friday. […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   At its meeting last Thursday, the Iowa Public Information Board adopted a new policy regarding the referral of complaints that are outside its jurisdiction. IPIB is a nine-member board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, of which no than three members […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Loing on the surface, the Iowa Senate – in a broad, bipartisan way – voted to undo a than 30-year-old injustice inflicted upon Iowa gun owners. But, that’s just on the surface. In adopting Senate File 427 on a 46-4 vote Tuesday, the Senate […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa Senate to up a few matters of “old business” during the late morning session Tuesday. First, it adopted Senate File 345, which is part of Gov. Terry Branstad’s comprehensive anti-bullying agenda for 2015. The Senate to up the bill Monday, but hit a […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   During the morning opening of the Iowa Senate on Tuesday, Iowa Senate Majority Leader conceded defeat on Senate File 227, which will set the earliest school start date as Aug. 23. SF 227, a compromise bill that allowed for continuation and expansion of year-round calendars […]

By The Iowa Statesman   The Iowa House of Representatives got a lot done Tuesday, but that didn’t include passing any new pieces of legislation. The chamber quickly moved through its morning formalities, and then quickly adjourned for the day after just five minutes. Representatives had a number of committee […]

By The Iowa Statesman   In response to the news that a wiccan priestess from Cedar Rapids has been invited to give the morning invocation in the Iowa House of Representatives on Thursday, April 9, a group of central Iowa Christians will hold a “Prayer at the Capitol” event that […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) apparently has had his fill of listening to pro-life conservatives who want to talk about bringing the House’s abortion prerequisites bill up for a vote. Under current Senate rules, the majority party’s leader dictates what bills may […]

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following bills into law: House File 131: an Act concerning the definition of beer for purposes of beer brewers and wholesalers. House File 202: an Act relating to licensure of retired volunteer dentists and dental hygienists. House File 266: […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has announced he will sign the “sledding bill” into law during a special bill signing ceremony at 2 p.m. tomorrow in his office. House File 570 is an Act providing for an exemption from municipal tort liability for claims arising from […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   A bill meant to toughen Iowa’s anti-bullying laws, a signature piece of Gov. Terry Branstad’s 2015 agenda, hit a momentary snag Monday in the Senate. Senate File 345 proposes a number of amendments to existing Iowa Code that were enacted in 2007 as they relate […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Friday is officially the last day legislation may pass out of committee and still be considered for adoption by either chamber of the Iowa General Assembly. But while that is the official dead, bills that have not passed out of committee by the end of […]

From Press Release   The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators has confirmed its -up of potential presidential candidates who will attend the eighth annual “Homeschool Day at the Capitol” on Thursday, April 9. “There was strong interest from a number of potential and likely candidates and we’re very happy […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   © The Iowa Statesman   Questions about mileage expenses have forced the resignation of U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL). Now, the expenses of an Iowa legislator has raised similar questions. State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R-Wilton) was first elected to his seat in the Iowa House […]

By The Iowa Statesman   Fridays in the Iowa House of Representatives are short and sweet. Most legislators, in both chambers, use the day as a “traveling day” to return to their districts for the weekend to meet with constituents and to host legislative forums. But, when there is business […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa House Ways and Means Committee has introduced a bill similar to one introduced last month in the Iowa Senate that would establish a metered water excise tax. House Study Bill 229 exempts from the state sales tax the sales price from the sale […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa Senate voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a bill that would provide a limited property tax exemption for “eyesore properties” that are repaired by their owners. Senate File 480 would authorize a city or county to provide a property tax exemption for up to […]

By Bob Eschliman Editor   The Iowa House of Representatives voted unanimously Thursday to adopt four bills. Among them was a bill to expand the distance from funerals and memorial services, funeral processions, or burial services in which protests are prohibited. As originally constructed, House File 558 would have created […]