Iowa Legislators look to pass important bills in final weeks of 2026 session
Hunter
03/24/26
With the funnel week past them, Iowa Legislators are looking to wrap up the 2026 session in the coming weeks. They still face three major issues; property tax, imminent domain on pipeiline projects, and putting together a budget that is expected to have a $1 billion revenue shortfall.
Iowa Capital Dispatch reports while there is no required end date for the legislative session, this year’s 100th calendar day is April 21, a month away. That’s the day legislative per diems expire.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh says House and Senate Republicans have already amended versions of the property tax bill and continue conversations on the eminent domain bill and the budget.
Governor Kim Reynolds called for $9.7 billion in spending at the beginning of the 2026 session; the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency estimates revenue will be roughly $8.7 billion. This will be the third straight year the shortfall will be covered by the state’s General Fund.
House Minority leader Brian Meyer says that Democrats plan to force votes on their proposed legislation on various policies by using a procedural move during floor debate. He said the proposals will include requiring paid family leave, raising the minimum wage, addressing worker misclassification to suppress wages and wage theft.
The full article from Iowa Capital Dispatch is included below.