Hunter
01/13/26
The 2026 Iowa legislative session began Monday with both parties delivering opening remarks outlining their goals.
Speaker of the House Pat Grassley said chief among those goals is fixing the property tax system. He said legislators made good progress on the issue last year but decided not to rush through legislation and return to the table this year and put the taxpayers first.
Grassley also said the issue of eminent domain will not go away and must be addressed in this session.
Crime will be another focus, with Grassley proposing the “three strike” rule that would require jail time for offenders who break the law for the third time.
House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer pointed out that after nearly a decade of total Republican control, working families are facing higher costs and fewer opportunities, public schools are being undercut, healthcare has become harder to access, and families are being forced to tighten their belts. He said House Democrats are committed to making the state tops in education again, lowering costs, and making Iowa the best place to live and raise a family.
On the issue of the budget, Republicans say the deficit is exactly what they intended. They said they were collecting too much tax money and will be dipping into the surplus over the next years to keep the tax rate low. Democrats say using one-time money for ongoing expenses is fiscally irresponsible and says the budget is in a death-spiral.
Governor Kim Reynolds will give her annual State of the State remarks and outline her goals for this legislative session. It airs on Iowa PBS and will be streamed on the Governor’s Facebook page and online. Local news stations will also carry the broadcast starting at 6pm.