BW INSIGHTS

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 8 Summary

By BrownWinick | 03.04.2022

The legislature shifted this week from subcommittee and committee work to floor debate. The next major deadline is only two weeks away - March 18, the second funnel. This is the deadline by which policy bills must advance out of both a Committee and the floor in the originating chamber and clear a Committee in the other Chamber. Many bills fail to... Read More

Sanctions Related to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

By BrownWinick | 03.04.2022

On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladamir Putin recognized the independence and sovereignty of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR). Russian military forces mobilized to the DPR and LPR. The same day, February 21, 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 7 Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.28.2022

Governor Kim Reynolds has been tapped to give the GOP response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address next week. U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy announced the decision in a joint release Tuesday. “Governor Kim Reynolds’ brave, bold, and successful leadership for Iowans has put... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 6 Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.22.2022

The first funnel week has come and gone, with a total of 118 subcommittees held in just four days: 41 in the Senate and 77 in the House. The focus will now shift to floor debate as only a handful of bills have reached the full chamber for consideration. The next major funnel requires a bill be voted out of the first Chamber and move through... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 5 Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.14.2022

The first MAJOR deadline for the 2022 General Assembly is next Friday, February 18. That is the date by which “most” bills must be out of the Committee of origin. There are exceptions to this rule however for Ways and Means, Appropriations, and Leadership bills. Next week will be a hectic one at the Capitol with many bills yet to be filed,... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 4 Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.04.2022

Countdown to funnel week! The first funnel week is fast approaching - February 18 is the date by which bills must be moved out of the Committee of origin. Like almost every legislative rule there are exceptions. The speed of bills being released, and subcommittees scheduled will increase over the next several legislative days. However, activity... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 3 Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.28.2022

Activity ramped up this week with over 120 subcommittee meetings at the Capitol. Although it seems like there are a lot of bills introduced so far this session, the 2022 session is down by about 400 bills in comparison to past sessions. Senate Republicans introduced the Senate’s version of a comprehensive tax reform proposal, SSB 3074. Over a... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 2 Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.21.2022

With the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, this was a short week for lawmakers. On Tuesday, House Resources Chairperson Representative Ann Meyer announced her focus for the 2022 session will continue to be on expansion of mental health care in Iowa. Meyer has introduced bills to fund additional psychiatric residencies in Iowa, allocate... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 1 Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.14.2022

Iowa lawmakers returned to Des Moines this week to convene the second legislative session of the 89th General Assembly. As Republicans enter the sixth year of a ‘GOP trifecta’ they will continue to drive the state’s policy agenda for the 2022 session. On Monday, leaders from both parties in the Senate and House welcomed members back to the Capitol... Read More

Government Relations Update - 01-10-2022

By BrownWinick | 01.10.2022

Iowa legislators reconvened today in Des Moines to kick off the 2022 legislative session. Traditionally, the first week of session is largely ceremonial highlighted by the Governor’s Condition of the State address. Governor Reynolds’ address is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 11th. It can be viewed on Iowa PBS’ website (LINK) or streamed... Read More