Iowa legislative leadership announced in advance of session

Rep. Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley will continue as majority leader of the Iowa House.

The previous speaker pro tem, Windschitl was first elected to the role in 2019. He works for Doll Distributing in Council Bluffs.

“I want to say a big thank you to my colleagues in the Iowa House Republicans caucus for granting me the opportunity to continue to lead this group of hardworking public servants,” Windschitl said in a statement.

“The message we received from Iowans this election cycle is loud and clear,” Windschitl said. “Iowans support our agenda to protect their freedoms, lower their taxes, eliminate government waste, and fight for the return to common sense. Iowans know they can trust this caucus to deliver on the promises we make. And we are ready to get back to work for our constituents.”

On the Senate side of the Statehouse, Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs retains his chairmanship of the Iowa Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Here’s a look at who is in charge going into the new session:

Sen. Jack Whitver of Grimes will continue as majority leader after Senate Republicans selected him for the role in the 91st General Assembly.

“It is an honor to continue to lead the most productive, conservative Republican caucus in the country,” Whitver said in a news release. “To again be reelected as Senate Majority Leader is a privilege and I am grateful for the support of my colleagues. I am proud of our accomplishments like implementing a flat income tax, eliminating the tax on retirement income, fighting off excessive spending, and providing law enforcement the legal protection and equipment they need to safely do their jobs. I look forward to working on important issues facing our state like lowering the cost of living and easing the property tax burden.”

Whitver was first elected to the Iowa Sente in 2011 and had been ranking member of the Appropriations Committee and the Republican whip. He was named Iowa Senate president in 2016 and became majority leader in March 2018.

Whitver had radiation treatment and began drug treatment earlier this year after a brain tumor was discovered. The release states that he is responding well to treatment.

“Multiple recent scans this fall have shown a steady and continued reduction in the size of the tumor, many of his symptoms have improved, and optimism abounds about his recovery,” according to the release.

Sen. Amy Sinclair of Allerton will continue as president of the Iowa Senate.

“I look forward to working together with our even larger supermajority to continue implementing pro-growth, pro-taxpayer, pro-family policies to make Iowa the best state in the country,” Sinclair said in the release.

Sinclair was first elected in 2013 and had been majority whip and chair of the Education Committee.

Sen. Ken Rozenboom of Pella was selected as president pro tempore of the Iowa Senate. He had previously chaired the Education Committee. He replaces Brad Zaun, who lost reelection.

Sen. Mike Klimesh of Spillville was elected as majority whip. He had previously been an assistant majority leader and chair of the Transportation Committee.

Sens. Carrie Koelker of Dyersville, Adrian Dickey of Packwood, Lynn Evans of Aurelia and Tim Kraayenbrink of Fort Dodge were elected as assistant majority leaders.

In addition to Dawson’s appointment to keep leading Ways and Means, state Sen. Jason Schultz of Schleswig was named chairman of the Judiciary Committee and Sen. Mark Costello of Imogene was named chair of the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

Other committee chairs are Kraayenbrink for Appropriations, Sen. Mike Bousselot of Ankeny for Commerce, Evans for Education, Sen. Dave Rowley of Spirit Lake for Ethics, Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott for Government Oversight, Sen. Mike Klimesh of Spillville for Health and Human Services, Sen. Scott Webster of Bettendorf for Local Government, Sen. Annette Sweeney of Alden for Natural Resources and Environment, Whitver for Rules and Administration, Sen. Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire for State Government, Sen. Charlie McClintock of Alburnett for Technology, Sen. Dan Zumbach of Ryan for Transportation, Sen. Jeff Reichman of Montrose for Veterans Affairs and Dickey for Workforce.

For the appropriations subcommittees, the committee chairs include Sen. Dennis Guth for Administration and Regulation, Sen. Tom Shipley of Nodaway for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sen. Mark Lofgren of Muscatine for Economic Development, Sen. Jesse Green of Boone for Education, Sen. Julian Garrett for Indianola for Justice Systems and Koelker for Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals.

Rep. Pat Grassley of New Hartford will continue as speaker after Iowa House Republicans selected him for the role in the 91st General Assembly.

“In response to our agenda to introduce sound budgeting principles, reduce burdensome red tape, innovate new ways to grow a strong workforce, cut taxes, and keep our common sense on social issues, Iowans have once again grown our majority,” Grassley said in a news release. “We continue to represent all 99 of Iowa’s 99 counties and with this expansive representation, we can hear from Iowans and stay in touch with their priorities better than ever before. This group of House Republicans is ready to get to work for the people of Iowa.”

Grassley was first elected speaker in 2019 and previously was chair of the Appropriations, Agriculture, and Economic Growth committees.

Rep. John Wills of Spirit Lake will continue as speaker pro temp. Rep. Henry Stone of Forest City will continue as majority whip.

Rep. Steve Holt of Denison was reappointed chair of the Judiciary Committee.

Meanwhile, Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs will not continue as chair of Administrative Rules Review. Rep. Chad Ingels of Randalia will chair the committee next session.

The new standing Higher Education Committee will be chaired by Rep. Taylor Collins of Mediapolis. The new Federal and Other Funds Appropriations Subcommittee will be chaired by Rep. Martin Graber of Fort Madison, with Rep. David Sieck of Glenwood serving as vice chair.

Other committee chairs are Rep. Mike Sexton of Rockwell City for Agriculture, Rep. Gary Mohr of Bettendorf for Appropriations, Rep. Shannon Lundgren of Peosta for Commerce, Rep. Ray Sorensen of Greenfield for Economic Growth and Technology, Rep. Skyler Wheeler of Hull for Education, Rep. Dean Fisher of Montour for Environmental Protection, Rep. Bill Gustoff of Des Moines for Ethics, Rep. Charley Thomson of Charles City for Government Oversight, Rep. Carter Nordman of Panora for Health and Human Services, Rep. Eddie Andrews of Johnston for International Relations, Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla of Pella for Labor, Rep. Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids for Local Government, Rep. Derek Wulf of Hudson for Natural Resources, Rep. Mike Vondran of Davenport for Public Safety, Rep. Jane Bloomingdale of Northwood for State Government, Rep. David Young of Van Meter for Transportation, Rep. Brooke Boden of Indianola for Veterans Affairs and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton for Ways & Means.

For the appropriations subcommittees, the committee chairs include Rep. Michael Bergan of Dorchester for Administration and Regulation, Rep. Norlin Mommsen of DeWitt for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rep. Shannon Latham of Sheffield for Economic Development, Rep. Austin Harris of Moulton for Education, Rep. Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge for Health and Human Services, Rep. Brian Lohse of Bondurant for Justice Systems and Rep. Jacob Bossman of Sioux City for Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals.

Sen. Janice Weiner of Iowa City will lead the Democratic minority in the Iowa Senate.

“I am honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the leader of the Iowa Senate Democrats,” Weiner said in a news release. “As I look ahead to 2025 and beyond, Senate Democrats will fight to ensure opportunity for all Iowans – every worker, every family, and every child. We will hold those in power accountable, and work to preserve and protect Iowans’ freedoms.”

Weiner takes over for Pam Jochum, who is retiring from the Senate after 31 years. Weiner was elected to the Senate in 2022 after working for the U.S. State Department as a foreign services officer for 26 years and serving on the Iowa City City Council.

Sen. Bill Dotzler of Waterloo was elected Democratic whip.

Sen. Cindy Winckler of Davenport, Sen. Molly Donahue of Cedar Rapids, Sen. Claire Celsi of West Des Moines and Sen. Izaah Knox of Des Moines were elected assistant leaders.

Rep. Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights will lead the Democratic minority in the Iowa House.

“While (the Nov. 5) election results were disappointing and there is a lot of uncertainty ahead, our caucus will never stop fighting for the values we share as Iowans,” Konfrst said in a news release. “When the session begins in January, we’re going to work together on every issue we can to improve the lives of Iowans and put people over politics.”

Konfrst is the first woman to lead Iowa House Democrats. She’s an associate professor at Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications.