Hunter
05/20/25
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed over two dozen bills into law Monday.
The bills were presented to Reynolds throughout the 2025 legislative session, which was completed Thursday. Earlier in the year, the governor signed a law banning the use of cellphones while drving, and removed gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
Reynolds signed a school funding bill that increases spending by 2 percent. The bill included a an increase to the State Cost Per Pupil and an increase of funding per pupil to the transportation equity fund. Republicans say those measures will help address inequities with rural school district fuinding, while Democrats say the increase isn’t enough funding for schools.
Another piece of legislation enacted was a measure targeting strategic lawsuits. Called SLAPP cases, they’re filed by businesses, individuals or organizations against news organizations and activists as a means to silence public statements or quash news stories about a specific topic. The new legislation provides protections for defendants by giving courts the ability to grant financial relief for legal fees, which are run up by the plaintiffs by means including filing multiple continuances.
Governor Reynolds also approved a moratorium on local ordinances against fireworks use on July 3rd and 4th, as well as December 31st.
CBS 2 reports during floor debate on the bill, Republican lawmakers supporting the measure said this change was necessary to allow Iowans to fully participate in the the country’s 250th anniversary, referring to President Donald Trump’s idea to begin celebrations at the Iowa State Fair for the “Great American State Fair” from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026.