BW INSIGHTS

2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 5 Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.13.2023

State funding for Iowa’s K-12 public schools was increased by 3 percent on Tuesday when Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 192 into law. The Senate passed the bill last week with a 34-15 vote, and the House passed the bill on Tuesday morning with a 59-40 vote. With the new law, the state will see an increase of $222 per student, resulting in... Read More

2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 4 Summary

By BrownWinick | 02.08.2023

The Legislature continues to move tort reform through the chambers. House Study Bill 114 proposes to limit non-economic damages to $1 million in lawsuits involving commercial vehicles; along provisions addressing employer liability for hiring practices. The bill passed through the subcommittee on Monday, and the Senate’s version, Senate Study Bill... Read More

2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 3 Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.27.2023

The pace at the Capitol definitely picked up this week with many bills swiftly passing out of subcommittee and Committee. The first funnel is on March 3 and we typically see this pace closer to this first important deadline. This is in part a reflection of Leadership telling Committee Chairs to keep bills moving and so many new members anxious to... Read More

2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 2 Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.20.2023

The Governor’s priority education savings accounts bill took huge steps forward this week in both the House and Senate. On Tuesday, the House held a public hearing to allow both supporters and opponents of the bill to advocate on the bill. More than a hundred individuals signed up to speak for up to two minutes each. The bill, now House File 68... Read More

Government Relations Update - 12-15-22

By BrownWinick | 12.19.2022

The Revenue Estimating Conference (“REC”) comprised of a three-member panel (Kraig Paulsen, David Underwood, and Jennifer Acton) met Wednesday (12.14.22) as part of their standard schedule of meetings to estimate future state revenues. A summary of the information discussed during the meeting is below, along with the attached spreadsheet... Read More

Government Relations Update - Iowa General Election Summary - 11-9-22

By BrownWinick | 11.15.2022

Iowa Republicans enjoyed a strong election night as they swept the federal races and nearly swept the statewide contests. U.S. Senator Charles Grassley was re-elected to his eighth term and all four GOP congressional candidates prevailed. Additionally, Governor Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg handedly defeated Deidre DeJear and Eric Van... Read More

Government Relations Update - 2022 General Election - 11-02-22

By BrownWinick | 11.04.2022

As the 2022 general election is less than one week away, candidates across the state are making their final push for support. At the federal level, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R) is running for his eighth term in the U.S. Senate. He is being challenged by retired Navy Admiral Mike Franken (D). A recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll... Read More

Government Relations Update - 06-08-22

By BrownWinick | 06.09.2022

Primary election results for numerous statewide and legislative races are in. In federal election news, Mike Franken defeated Abby Finkenauer to become the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Franken will challenge current U.S. Senator Charles Grassley who defeated Jim Carlin in the Republican primary. Additionally, Zach Nunn won a three-way... Read More

Government Relations Update - 05-25-2022

By BrownWinick | 05.25.2022

The 2022 Iowa legislature adjourned sine die early this morning capping an extended 136-day session. The final gavel fell at 12:10 AM in the Senate and at 12:16 AM in the House. The final two days of session included the passage of a handful of remaining policy bills and the entire state budget. All the budget bills fund various departments of... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 19 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.20.2022

After weeks of limited activity, the Senate Appropriations Committee convened Wednesday signaling the end of the 2022 legislative session is near. The Committee passed ten bills, nine of which were budgets. Most of the budget bills passed with agreed-to amendments between the Senate and House. Negotiations continue on the largest budget, Health... Read More