Content warning: Homophobic and ableist slurs. On March 3, state representative Jeff Shipley posted a photo from the Iowa House floor holding up a box of ivermectin. Specifically, the Republican from Fairfield was holding a box of apple-flavored IverCare paste. The label showed a horse silhouette and a feeding syringe. “OTC ivermectin now being debated […]
Iowa Legislature
Posted inCommunity/News
Republicans defend ‘freedom milk,’ the Big Lie as Iowa Legislature passes final bills of the session
Iowa legislators held a marathon session Saturday and Sunday to finish up the 2026 session, ending with a property tax deal and measures on warrant resolution clinics and abortion medication, as well as a budget compromise. The Iowa House began its final session at 8:31 a.m. Saturday, and gaveled out at 6:11 p.m. Sunday. In […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Senate sends ‘MAHA bill’ with SNAP restrictions, over-the-counter ivermectin to governor’s desk
The Iowa Senate sent Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “Make America Healthy Again” legislation to her desk Monday, a package that includes SNAP restrictions, over-the-counter ivermectin and several school health and nutrition policies. HF 2676, passed 30-16, seeks to make permanent the state’s currently implemented waivers restricting the purchase of unhealthy foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
Posted inStatewide
Iowa House panel passes bill restricting medication abortions
Efforts to pass a bill restricting access to abortion medication earlier in this year’s legislative session stalled, but the bill was brought back and advanced Tuesday by an Iowa House Appropriations subcommittee. HF 2563 would require medications that can induce abortions, including mifepristone, to be administered or prescribed in person. This proposal would limit the […]
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In latest move to restrict powers of local governments, Iowa Legislature passes bill aimed at Johnson County ID program (Updated)
Update: As expected, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed HF 2296 into law. It was one of 21 bills the governor approved on Thursday, April 16, according to a news release from the governor’s office. The Iowa Senate gave final approval on Tuesday to a bill banning cities and counties from issuing local IDs to residents. HF […]
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Iowa can now fully enforce its ‘don’t say gay’ and school book ban law, after appeals court vacates injunctions
Iowa can now enforce all parts of SF 496 — commonly known as the “don’t say gay” bill because of its provisions prohibiting references to LGBTQ topics in K-6 schools, requiring written parental permission to use a student’s preferred pronouns or name if it is does not match the gender listed in school records, and […]
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Iowa House passes bill to raise the speed limit on two-lane highways
Two-lane state highways could see speed limits rise from 55 to 60 miles per hour under a bill passed Wednesday by the Iowa House. SF 378, passed 76-16, would increase the default speed limit for all vehicular traffic zones, while keeping in place other limits, like the 25 mph limit in residential and school districts. […]
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Iowans rally against bill to ban universities hiring H-1B visa holders from China
About 150 people rallied at the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday to protest a bill that would stop Iowa universities and community colleges from hiring people on H-1B visas if they come from one of seven countries. HF 2513’s prohibition applies to any H-1B visa holder “who is also a citizen of a nation designated […]
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To cover Medicaid funding gap left by Congress, Iowa House passes bill to raise tax on HMOs; Democrats warn health insurance premiums will spike
The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday retroactively raising the premium tax rate for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to make up for a Medicaid budget shortfall — a move Democrats and insurers said would raise healthcare costs for all Iowans, but Republicans argued was needed to draw down federal funding. HF 2739, approved on a […]
Posted inStatewide
‘Chipping away at the rights of Iowans’: House passes bill to eliminate local civil rights protections for trans people
On Thursday, the Iowa House approved a bill that prohibits local governments from having any civil rights ordinances that provide greater protections for rights than state law does. Eliminating the power of local governments to protect the rights of transgender and nonbinary people is one of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ stated priorities for her final legislative session as governor.
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Conversion therapy, affirmative action bills pass Iowa House
The Iowa House passed two measures Wednesday that Democrats and opponents said would harm marginalized populations, including transgender Iowans, throughout the state. HF 2557 creates exemptions to the definitions of “child abuse” and “child endangerment” in Iowa Code for a parent’s response to a child whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned […]
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Private college officials say they’re being threatened by Rep. Taylor Collins, House education chair
Iowa private college officials say a key lawmaker is threatening funding to a state tuition grant program over their opposition to allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees. Gary Steinke, president of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said lobbyists for the association received a call last week from Rep. Taylor Collins, chair […]
