BW INSIGHTS

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 - 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

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 18 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.13.2022

As no formal activity occurred at the Statehouse this week, we turn our attention towards the fast approaching June 7th primary. Early in-person and mail-in voting will begin Wednesday, May 18th. To confirm you are registered to vote, and locate your primary and election polling locations, click HERE for the Iowa Secretary of State’s voting tool.... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 17 Summary

By BrownWinick | 05.06.2022

Week 17 at the Capitol slowed to a crawl. The Senate debated on Monday and moved several bills to the Governor and a couple back to the House. The debated bills included a proposal from the Governor’s Child Care Task Force Recommendations - HF 2127. This bill would allow child care providers to collect the rate difference between families who do... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 16 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.29.2022

Week sixteen officially started overtime for the 2022 legislative session. Out of curiosity you may be wondering if the session has gone into overtime in the past…the answer is, more often than not, YES. The first legislative session was held by the Iowa Territory Legislative Assembly in 1838. The Iowa General Assembly began holding legislative... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 15 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.25.2022

The 100th day has passed with two days of debate in the Senate and zero activity in the House this week. At this point the only real deadline is July 1st - the date of the new fiscal year and the date which the budget bills take effect. Several legislators have primary contests and are chomping at the bit to get out there and door knock. The... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 14 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.18.2022

The days leading to Easter weekend are usually slow as legislators like to participate in activities back in their districts. It is safe to say that the legislature won’t adjourn next Tuesday April 19th on the 100th day. At this point, it may just be safer to say, “no end in sight.” In what could have been a major shake-up in Iowa’s U.S. Senate... Read More

2022 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 13 Summary

By BrownWinick | 04.11.2022

In what we hope is the calm before the storm, week #13 was fairly uneventful as negotiations continued between the House and the Senate. The House passed two appropriations bills in a late night debate on Tuesday. Those two appropriations bills, the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund and Health and Human Services budget, are usually the last bills... Read More