Iowa Legislature

In her sixth address to the Iowa Legislature, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen asked lawmakers for pay increases for judges and to reduce the number of magistrates in the state.

Gov. Kim Reynolds laid out her agenda for her final legislative session Tuesday evening, including a plan for $3 billion in property tax relief, requiring Iowans to swear they are U.S. citizens when registering to vote and banning certain food dyes from school meals.

State lawmakers returned to the Iowa Capitol Monday to kick off the 2026 legislative session. It's the 10th year Republicans have had control of the Legislature.

State lawmakers are gathering at the Iowa Capitol on Monday for the first day of Iowa’s 2026 legislative session, where they are expected to debate property tax relief and eminent domain restrictions.

The Iowa Legislature gavels in for the 2026 session next week. On today's episode we take a closer look at the processes and people at the statehouse, starting with IPR reporters Katarina Sostaric and Isabella Luu to share their insights on reporting from the capitol. Then we talk about what's changed about the legislature over the decades with former state lawmaker Andy McKean and how Iowans can effectively get involved during the session with lobbyist Dustin Miller. Also, we talk with journalist and host of 'Iowa Press' on Iowa PBS O. Kay Henderson about Gov. Kim Reynolds' tenure and what's to come for her final year in office.

Democrat Renee Hardman beat Republican Lucas Loftin by more than 40 percentage points in a special election Tuesday night. Hardman's win makes her the state's first Black female state senator.

A special election to fill former state Sen. Claire Celsi's seat could help Republicans regain the supermajority they lost in August. Democratic candidate Renee Hardman and Republican candidate Lucas Loftin are running for the vacant seat in Senate District 16.

Iowa’s new Senate majority leader is working on a bill aimed at addressing concerns about the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines. Landowners who oppose carbon pipelines say his proposal won't protect their property rights.

Former governor and ambassador Terry Branstad was honored with the state's highest award for citizens on Thursday. Branstad is the country's longest serving governor in U.S. history.

A special election on Tuesday features two candidates from the same small town in northwest Iowa. The outcome could be an indicator of political sentiment in rural Iowa after recent contests in the state — and across the country — have favored Democratic candidates.