2026 Legislative Session

Listen as 'Morning Edition' Host Meghan McKinney and IPR's State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric review the latest in Iowa politics.

A bill that aims to expand access to subacute mental health care, which is one step below hospitalization, is on its way to the governor’s desk.

Listen as 'Morning Edition' Host Meghan McKinney and IPR's State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric review the latest in Iowa politics.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Thursday that offers child care assistance to child care workers regardless of their income, making a pilot program that started in 2023 permanent.

Foster parent training will be based on a prospective parent's lived and professional experience under a new law set to take effect July 1. Some training topics are required, as well as safety vetting and background checks.

A bill moving through the Statehouse could limit which countries Iowa colleges can hire foreign professionals from. Supporters say the bill will enhance national security, while critics say it could hurt the competitiveness of higher education institutions in Iowa and open them up to lawsuits.

State legislatures are debating new proposals on immigration policy. On this episode, we take a closer look at immigration bills under consideration in Iowa and our neighboring states and what those proposals could mean for immigrant families and communities. Erin Murphy breaks down the latest from Iowa, while Brenden Moore and Seth Tupper report on what’s unfolding in Illinois and South Dakota. Harvest Public Media's Anna Pope also joins to explain how changes to food assistance are affecting immigrant families.

Listen as IPR News Director Michael Leland and IPR State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric review the latest in Iowa politics.

On this Newsbuzz edition, we unpack the headlines from the week, including the latest from the Capitol, funding for rural health, returning to the moon and more.

A proposal at the Statehouse would put new limits on the governor's emergency authority. Lawmakers for and against the legislation discuss what's behind this bill. Then, a bill at the Statehouse would bar new employment contracts with H1-B visa holders from certain countries. Later in the episode, we hear about a podcast from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach that explores significant changes farmers have made in their business models. (The third segment of this program was produced in November 2025.)