First Day. The first day of the 91st General Assembly began on Monday, January 13, 2025. The State Constitution directs that session be held annually commencing on the second Monday of January and the Iowa Code directs that the general Assembly convene at 10:00 a.m. It was an exciting day for the newly-elected and reelected legislators who took the oath of office, pledging to uphold the Constitution, both state and federal, and deciding where they would be sitting for the next two years. In a nice family moment, Speaker Pat Grassley was sworn in by his grandfather, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.
Republicans are in the ninth year of unified control - the House, Senate, and Governor’s Office. Leaders in both the House and Senate were formally elected on the first day. In both the House and Senate, the Majority and Minority Leaders are elected from within their respective caucuses. However, the President and President Pro Temp of the Senate and Speaker and Speaker Pro Temp of the House are voted on by the entire body. In practice, this means whichever party has the majority controls the elections.
Senate President Amy Sinclair (R-Allerton) discussed what Republicans have accomplished over the past years while in the Majority. New Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) discussed her party’s goals for session and admonished her colleagues to “get to work.” In his opening remarks, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver (R-Grimes) spoke about his battle with brain cancer and thanked those who have helped him. He also was positive about good policy changes to come during the upcoming session.
On the other side of the rotunda, the House heard from Majority Leader Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley) and Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst (D-Windsor Heights) and newly reelected Speaker Pat Grassley (R- New Hartford). Grassley shared that the outcome of the November elections is proof that the majority party is on the right track.
New this Session. In his opening remarks, Speaker Pat Grassley spoke about the creation of the Higher Education Committee, which is directed to do a comprehensive review of Iowa’s higher education system and recommend changes to meet Iowa’s workforce needs. This new Committee is chaired by Representative Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis). The Speaker also discussed the creation of a new Federal and Other Funds Committee, which will determine how to best spend federal dollars and find efficiencies. The Federal Funds Committee is chaired by Representative Martin Graber (R-Fort Madison). The Senate does not have similar Committees.
First Week. The remainder of the first week was spent with Committees meeting and getting organized. Most of the time, Committees adopt rules followed by the Chairpersons, Vice-Chairs, and Ranking members discussing their priorities for the session and the remaining members introducing themselves. However, the House Health and Human Services Committee, chaired this year by Representative Carter Nordman (R-Dallas Center) hit the ground running with a presentation by Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia and Ryan Page, Director of Child Care on “Investing in Iowa’s Child Care System.”
The House and Senate do not have the same numbers and names for their respective Committees. For instance, the House has a separate Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, but the Senate has only one Committee, Natural Resources and Environment.
During the first week, the House and Senate hold a Joint Convention in the House Chamber to hear from Iowa’s Executive, Judicial, and Military leaders. On Tuesday, the Governor presented her 8th Condition of the State. Governor Reynolds gave a glowing review of the Condition of Iowa mentioning Iowa’s top tier rankings in a number of areas. She highlighted her work over the last few years, emphasizing tax cuts. She also emphasized the difficulties Iowans experienced with tornados and floods this past year and discussed her varied policy proposals for the 2025 session, including:
· Restricting cellphone use during class time;
· Requiring hands-free driving;
· Addressing cancer causes and Iowa’s high cancer rate by appropriating $1 million for UI to study;
· Expanding successful child care programs;
· Expanding medical residencies and revising Medicaid reimbursement provider rates;
· Reducing unemployment insurance rates;
· Creating a nuclear energy task force and addressing energy infrastructure and portfolios;
· Modernizing the energy infrastructure revolving loan programs and instituting low-cost financing for energy and water infrastructure projects; and
· Creation of a new Department of Government Efficiency to look for more savings at the state and local level.
On Wednesday Chief Justice Susan Christensen presented the Condition of the Judiciary Address and on Thursday the Condition of the Iowa National Guard was presented by Major General Stephen E. Osborn.
First Session. The First General Assembly convened on November 30, 1846. The First General Assembly had a total of 58 members. The Senate had 12 Democrats and 6 Whigs and the House had 23 Whigs and 17 Democrats. The first General Assembly adjourned February 25, 1847 after a 57-day session.
One similarity between today and the operation of the legislature from its first session in 1846, is the appointment of officials who stand at the well during debate and run the place behind the scenes. In the Senate, that person is the Secretary of the Senate, currently Charlie Smithson. In the House, it is the Chief Clerk, currently Meghan Nelson. Since the first legislative session in 1846, the members of the legislature have approved persons to operate in this position. Mr. Smithson, who has held this position since 2017, is only the 45th person to hold this position in the Senate. Smithson is in the unique position of having served as the Chief Clerk of the House in 2011-2013 too. Ms. Nelson is the 42nd person to serve as Chief Clerk.
January 14: Legislative committees are getting organized and setting priorities for the upcoming session. Pictured here, the Health and Human Services Committee convened for an introductory meeting, featuring a Child Care Presentation by Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and Ryan Page, Child Care Director.