2023 Legislative Session

The bill would put a $1 million cap on noneconomic damages awarded in cases of personal injury or death caused by a commercial motor vehicle.

A bill that would change who qualifies for food and medical assistance in Iowa advanced out of a House subcommittee last week.

And as a distracted driving bill is considered at the statehouse, an Iowa medical student recounts almost losing his life to a distracted driver.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law last week that’ll eventually offer taxpayer-funded accounts to all families who have kids in private schools. And lawmakers moved forward with proposals to restrict medical malpractice lawsuit payouts, and to change who is eligible for public assistance.

A proposal allocating more public money to private schools has its day in both chambers. Gov. Kim Reynolds is placing a high priority on a bill that provides more state funding for students to attend private schools. Democrats say the plan has the potential to hurt public schools and that private schools can reject potential new students. But Republicans say public education is a one size fits all approach and families should have the option to have state funding to send their children to a private school.

Republicans on the panel said they would be working on changes to the bill in the coming weeks, which would include seeking federal permission to ban the use of SNAP benefits to buy candy and soda.

Senate Republicans advanced a bill Wednesday that would prevent juries from awarding more than $1 million in non-economic damages to victims of medical malpractice, except when there is “actual malice.”

Advocates for low-income Iowans are concerned other parts of the bill would limit access to food and medical assistance.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law Tuesday. Once fully implemented, 42,000 private school students could receive state funding at a cost of $345 million per year.

An Iowa Senate panel advanced a bill Monday that would only allow hands-free use of cell phones while driving, as lawmakers continue a years-long effort to strengthen the state’s distracted driving laws and improve safety on Iowa’s roads.