The legislature went 18 days past the planned 100 when it finally adjourned on May 5th. The biggest reason for the delay is because House and Senate Republicans took a long time to find agreement on a new tax plan. It will gradually phase in tax reductions over a six year period. The final reductions in taxes will happen in 2023 and 2024 if economic triggers are met.
In 2019, tax collections will be reduced by $100 million, while it is estimated $66 million will come in from new taxes on digital services.
The delay in finishing a new tax plan allowed legislation that previously was considered dead to pass through both chambers. This includes the most restrictive abortion bill in the United States. Gov. Reynolds signed the bill, and it is expected to be challenged in court before it's enactment date of July 1st.
This law has the potential to go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where a ruling could restrict abortion across the country. This possibility is one reason supporters pushed this bill forward that was widely criticized as unconstitutional. Similar bills in other states have had legal challenges, but none were as restrictive as the Iowa law, which comes from Senate File 359.
On this final episode of Under the Golden Dome, we hear extensive debate of this bill from the House and Senate, protesters at the Capitol, and Gov. Reynolds' crowded signing ceremony where she re-affirms her position on anti-abortion legislation.
