Content provided by Professional Developers of Iowa Lobbyist, Craig Patterson

The session began January 8th and is scheduled to last 100 days. Every session’s first day starts with speeches from the leaders in both chambers. The first week is typically filled with largely ceremonial activities, including speeches from the Governor, the Chief Justice, and the Iowa National Guard about the Condition of the State, the Judiciary, and the Guard. 

Governor Kim Reynolds outlined her priorities during her speech and submitted the budget that the Legislature will use as a starting point assembling their own proposals. You can view her speech or read her team’s summary HERE.  

The Governor’s key policy proposals this year include the following:

• Reducing Iowa’s income taxes to 3.65% and then 3.5% (under current law, the rate drops to 3.9% in 2026)
• Modernizing the Area Education Agencies (AEA) system
• Increasing teacher salaries ($50k starting minimum, $62k minimum for teachers with at least 12 years experience)
• Increasing Supplemental State Aid for Schools (SSA) by 2.5% (to $7,826 per pupil, an increase of $191 per pupil over FY 2024)
• Improving literacy rates, by focusing resources on 3rd grade students and literacy tools and training for teachers
• Increasing childcare options in the state
• Reinvesting more funds into work-based learning programs with a priority on high demand careers

The Governor’s bills to implement these policies are in different stages of being introduced. Meanwhile, the Legislature’s deadline for having their own individual bill requests submitted came and went on Friday, January 19th. Committee chairs and leadership can still submit bill requests. In addition, the flood of requests during the first two weeks of the session will require the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) to be drafting legislation for the next several weeks up to and including the First Funnel. 

PDI Bills of Interest - Bill Link