Iowa Bill Tracking And State Guide
Everything you need to know to engage with the Senate and House
How does a bill become law in Iowa?
- Idea Generation: Ideas for bills can come from legislators, constituents, businesses, government agencies, and other groups. When a problem arises, a legislator formulates it into a bill.
- Bill Drafting: The Legal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency drafts the bill, incorporating necessary legal research and reviews of current laws.
- Introduction: The completed bill is filed with the Secretary of the Senate or Chief Clerk of the House, assigned a number, and read to the relevant chamber. It's then sent to a standing committee for further review.
- Standing Committee Work: A committee reviews the bill, recommends changes, or sends it to the floor for debate.
- Calendar: The bill is placed on the regular calendar, and the Majority Leader decides the order of debate.
- Debate: The bill is debated in the chamber where members can propose amendments. A majority vote is required to pass the bill to the other chamber.
- Second Passage: If the other chamber makes amendments, the bill returns to the original chamber for approval. If there are disagreements, a conference committee may be appointed to finalize the bill.
- Conference Committee: A committee comprised of members from both chambers resolves differences and presents a compromise bill for both chambers to vote on.
- Enrollment: The final version of the bill is prepared and signed by chamber leaders before being sent to the Governor.
- Governor’s Action: The Governor can sign, veto, or take no action on the bill. If vetoed, the Legislature can override the veto with a two-thirds majority.
- Iowa Law: If the Governor signs the bill or if it passes over a veto, it becomes law, typically effective July 1 unless specified otherwise. Enacted laws are published in the Iowa Code.
How can a member of the public get involved in the legislative process in Iowa?
To get involved in the legislative process in Iowa, a member of the public can consider the following actions:
1. Contact Legislators: Individuals can reach out to their elected Senator or Representative to express their opinions on current issues or propose ideas for new bills. Citizen input is valuable, and legislators often rely on feedback from constituents.
2. Attend Legislative Sessions: Members of the public can attend sessions at the Iowa State Capitol to observe the legislative process, including debates and discussions on bills.
3. Participate in Committee Meetings: Many legislative committees hold hearings that are open to the public. Attending these meetings can provide insight and offer opportunities to voice opinions on specific legislation.
4. Engage in Grassroots Advocacy: Citizens can organize or join interest groups, professional associations, or advocacy organizations that align with their views, which can promote specific causes or legislation.
5. Provide Testimony: Individuals may have the opportunity to testify during committee hearings to share their experiences or expertise related to a bill, offering a personal perspective on the issue at hand.
6. Stay Informed on Legislation: Keeping track of proposed bills and legislative actions allows citizens to understand what is being discussed or decided.
7. Vote: Participating in elections ensures that citizens have a say in the choice of their representatives, who make legislative decisions on their behalf.
How can FastDemocracy help me with that?
Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Iowa every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.
FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.
FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features
- real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
- automated reporting
- team collaboration
- bill tagging for clients and stakeholders
- bill similarity detection
- ...and much more
How do I track bills in Iowa?
1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.
2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.
3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.
4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.
5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.
6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.
7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.
How do I find my local Iowa Senator and Representative?
You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.
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Most tracked bills in Iowa, 2023-2024 Regular Session
A bill for an act providing for the regulation of hemp and hemp products, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly HSB 665.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.
Last Action
Signed by Governor.
House • May 17, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to the duties and powers of area education agencies, the membership of the boards of directors of area education agencies, the department of education, area education agency funding, the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil and minimum teacher salaries, Iowa public employees’ retirement system bona fide retirement requirements, and property tax replacement payments, establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for supplemental state aid calculations for the budget year beginning July 1, 2024, and including transition, effective date, and applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 713.) Effective date: 03/27/2024, 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025. Appl...
Last Action
Fiscal note.
House • May 10, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to continuity of care and nonmedical switching by health carriers, health benefit plans, and utilization review organizations, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 96.) Effective date: 07/01/2024. Applicability date: 01/01/2025.
Last Action
Signed by Governor.
House • May 08, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to teacher and education support professional compensation, including teacher salary supplement cost per pupil calculations, teacher minimum starting salary requirements, Iowa public employees’ retirement system bona fide retirement requirements, and school district budget statement reporting, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HF 2611, HSB 714.)
Last Action
Fiscal note.
Senate • Mar 20, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to motor vehicle window tint, and making penalties applicable.(Formerly SF 350; See SF 2267.)
Last Action
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2267.
Senate • Feb 08, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to the number of area education agencies in this state, the duties and powers of area education agencies, area education agency boards of directors, the department of administrative services, the director of the department of education, the division of special education within the department of education, the services provided by area education agencies, area education agency funding, the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, and minimum teacher salaries, and including transition, effective date, and applicability provisions.
Last Action
Tabled until future meeting. Vote Total: 3-0.
House • Feb 01, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to public libraries, including city and county tax levies for public libraries, and city library board authority and property.
Last Action
Subcommittee: Green, Klimesh, and Knox.
legislature • Jan 30, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to the protection of religious beliefs and moral convictions of health care providers and health care facilities.
Last Action
Subcommittee: J. Taylor, Schultz, and Weiner.
Senate • Jan 11, 2024Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent’s or guardian’s right to make decisions affecting the parent’s or guardian’s child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school distr...
Last Action
Signed by Governor.
Senate • May 26, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master’s or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools. (Formerly HF 355, HF 224.) Effective date: 07/01/2023.
Last Action
Signed by Governor.
House • May 26, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act providing for the collaborative practice of physician assistants by allowing for the practice of certain physician assistants without supervision by a physician. (Formerly HSB 115.) Effective date: 07/01/2023.
Last Action
Signed by Governor.
House • May 10, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act prohibiting institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents from expending moneys to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or to hire individuals to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion officers, creating a private cause of action, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 218.)
Last Action
Rereferred to Education.
House • May 04, 2023Latest Version
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to reproductive care.
Last Action
Introduced, referred to Judiciary.
House • Apr 06, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to continuity of care and nonmedical switching by health carriers, health benefit plans, and utilization review organizations, and including applicability provisions.(See HF 626.)
Last Action
Withdrawn.
House • Mar 09, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to the Iowa human life protection Act, providing for civil actions and civil penalties, and including effective date provisions.
Last Action
Introduced, referred to Judiciary.
House • Feb 28, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to step therapy protocols and interchangeable biosimilars.
Last Action
Subcommittee recommends indefinite postponement. [].
Senate • Feb 23, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act prohibiting the declawing of cats, and providing penalties.
Last Action
Subcommittee: Zumbach, Alons, and T. Taylor.
Senate • Feb 20, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act prohibiting certain actions relating to abortifacient drugs in the state, and providing penalties.
Last Action
Introduced, referred to Health and Human Services.
House • Jan 30, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to continuity of care and nonmedical switching by health carriers, health benefit plans, and utilization review organizations, and including applicability provisions.
Last Action
Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage. [].
Senate • Jan 26, 2023Latest Version
A bill for an act relating to marijuana, including the manufacture, delivery, and possession of marijuana and the licensure of retail marijuana, providing fees, including excise taxes, establishing funds, and including penalties.
Last Action
Subcommittee: Schultz, Dawson, and Petersen.
Senate • Jan 18, 2023Latest Version
All Legislators in Iowa (Senator and Representative)
