This week marks the halfway point between the first and second funnels of the 2025 Iowa Legislative session. Both the House and Senate advanced legislation ahead of that second funnel deadline, including several controversial bills that made their way through the legislative process.
Week 10 Snapshot
Similar to week 9, chambers spent the majority of the week in respective caucuses and debating bills on the floor. Notably on Tuesday, the House debated several DEI bills focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and passed five diversity in education bills largely along party lines during debate. While the bills were passed by the House, they must make it out of committee in the Senate by April 4th to remain eligible for consideration. Senator Lynn Evans, Chair of the Education Committee in the Senate, did not make any promises about passage. In an interview with the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Senator Evans stated that he would assign most of the bills a subcommittee meeting out of respect for the House, but refused to commit to what bills would advance through his committee.
In the opposite chamber, the Senate enjoyed a shorter debate calendar and gaveled in and out on Thursday before adjourning early for the week. The Senate advanced, once again, a bill to make Iowa a “hands-free” state and criminalize phone use while driving. This year Governor Reynolds included her support of hands-free in her Condition of the State Address. The House version, HF 827, has passed through the House Transportation Committee and can be debated by the full chamber. The bill was listed on the House Debate Calendar but not considered on Thursday and is one of the more closely watched bills now one step away from being sent to the Governor’s office.
In Week 10, the House passed 54 bills, sending 39 to the Senate and 5 to the Governor. The Senate passed 27 bills, sending 18 to the House. Of these bills, several of note are listed below:
Iowa’s Workforce in January
Workforce is a major issue of importance to both parties in the legislature. Iowa Workforce Development released labor force participation from January, indicating the rate increased to 67% from 66.4% in December. The state unemployment rate held at 3.3%, while the federal rate decreased to 4.0%. In a release to accompany this data, Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development, stated:
“January’s report showed a large number of people entering Iowa’s labor force and immediately finding work…. Growing labor force participation is a welcome improvement to see early in 2025; with more than 50,000 open jobs, we know employers need even more Iowans to return to the workforce.”
Trump Administration Drops Biden Administration Lawsuit Against Iowa
Last year, the Iowa Legislature passed SF 2340, which increased penalties for illegal reentry and authorized Iowa law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. Shortly after, the Biden Administration sued the State to block the law. In Week 10, the Trump Administration moved for, and was granted, a motion to dismiss the case. In a statement following the dropped charge announcement, Attorney General Brenna Bird expressed:
“When the Biden Administration failed to do its job and secure our borders, Iowa stepped up. And we never backed down—even when Biden sued us for it. Today, President Trump, again, proved that he has Iowa’s back and showcased his commitment to Making America Safe Again by dropping Biden’s ridiculous lawsuit. This is a major victory for Iowans across the state.”
What’s next?
The second legislative funnel is on April 4. Bills must pass through a committee in the opposite chamber from which they originated, which also means they must be passed by either the full House or Senate. An exception to this rule is if a “companion” bill has passed committee in each chamber those bills are considered through the second funnel. Also, appropriations, ways and means, and administrative rules bills are “funnel-proof” and exempt from this deadline.
The full 2025 Session Timetable can be found here.
