Edited release
04/08/25
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has submitted a formal letter to Governor Kim Reynolds expressing opposition to a bill passed by the Iowa Legislature that would alter the method of electing county officials in Johnson, Story, and Black Hawk Counties.
The letter, dated Monday, outlines the Board’s concerns regarding the bill’s application to only three of Iowa’s 99 counties. The Board notes that counties with similar characteristics are not subject to the same requirements under the proposed legislation.
The Board believes the bill is inconsistent with the principles of uniform application of state law and Iowa’s constitutional provision for county home rule. The home rule amendment allows counties to manage their own affairs unless a general law applies uniformly across the state.
The letter describes the bill, Senate File 75, as legislation intended to change how local elections are conducted in select counties, which the Board contends could affect local governance structures without applying a consistent statewide standard.
The Board’s letter concludes by requesting that Governor Reynolds veto Senate File 75 to maintain consistency in state-local relations and uphold the principle of local control.
A copy of the letter can be accessed by clicking on the link below.