2021 Legislative Session

Iowa House Minority Leader Todd Prichard announced Wednesday he is stepping down from his position as leader of the chamber’s Democrats.

Activists said the celebrations for Pride Month in Iowa are two-fold this year. One being the celebration for identity. The other being bills labeled as anti-LGBTQ didn’t become law.

The pandemic has affected the mental health of Iowa's children, and some are still concerned two years after the creation of the children's mental health system, services are still falling short.

Last day of the 2021 legislative session featured a surprise amendment to a bill prohibiting schools and cities from implementing mask mandates stricter than state policies and code.

Iowa’s 2021 legislative session ended late Wednesday, three weeks after the target date for adjournment. IPR Morning Edition host Clay Masters talks with IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric about what happened in the final hours of the session.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law just after midnight Thursday that immediately made it illegal to require masks in schools. It also prevents cities and counties from having mask mandates that affect private property.

Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate have taken the first major step toward amending the Iowa Constitution to say it does not protect abortion rights or require public funding of abortion.

The Iowa Legislature gave final approval to a wide-ranging tax bill Tuesday, sending it to the governor’s desk. It will shift the responsibility for funding mental health services from counties to the state, ensure more income tax cuts take effect in 2023, phase out “backfill” payments to local governments, and expand tax credits related to child care and housing.

IPR Morning Edition host Clay Masters talks with IPR state government reporter Katarina Sostaric about whether legislators seem to be close to agreements so that the 2021 legislative session can adjourn.

A wide-ranging tax plan proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds and supported by Senate Republicans had its first hearing Monday, as Iowa lawmakers entered the second week of legislative session overtime.