Kim Reynolds

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig endorsed U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra in the Republican primary election for Iowa governor on May 21, 2026. In a campaign news release, Naig stated that Feenstra had "consistently delivered for Iowa agriculture, farm families and rural communities" and cited his work on crop insurance, the Farm Bill, and E15 fuel expansion. Feenstra was one of five Republican candidates seeking the party's nomination for the open gubernatorial seat left vacant by incumbent Governor Kim Reynolds's decision not to seek re-election.

Governor Reynolds signed Iowa's "Make America Healthy Again" bill into law, establishing a statewide limit of 60 minutes per day for digital instruction on one-to-one devices for kindergarten through fifth grade students. The law includes exceptions for teacher-led instruction using projectors, dedicated science or technology coursework, state testing, and individualized accommodations for students with disabilities or behavioral needs. School districts will have until the 2027-2028 school year to implement the changes.

House File 2800 requires undergraduate students at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa to complete at least six credit hours of American History and American Government as a graduation requirement. Republicans added this requirement to the state budget bill during a 35-hour legislative session at the end of the 2026 session, with classes at the University of Iowa specifically designated to be taken at the new Center for Intellectual Freedom. The bill awaits Governor Reynolds's signature, and State Senator Janet Petersen has called for Reynolds to line-item veto this section of the legislation.

Reynolds signed the Iowa "Make America Healthy Again" bill into law on May 20, 2026, with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. present at the signing ceremony in her office at the Iowa Capitol. The legislation bans certain food dyes from school meals and permits pharmacies to sell over-the-counter ivermectin. Reynolds stated the bill addresses what she characterized as a chronic disease epidemic in Iowa and represents the state's first request to the Trump administration for permission to restrict food assistance funds from purchasing candy and soda.

Reynolds signed into law public health legislation known as the "Iowa MAHA" bill during a ceremony at the Iowa Capitol attended by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The legislation limits screen time for kindergarten through fifth grade students during instruction and prohibits digital devices during recess. Reynolds and Kennedy subsequently held a press conference to promote a newly published U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory warning of harms associated with screen use by children.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 2788 on May 19, 2026, which requires Iowa residents to attend in-person doctor visits before receiving abortion medication. The law mandates that physicians provide informed consent materials detailing potential risks and complications, and that providers screen patients for signs of coercion or abuse before dispensing medication. The legislation also prevents out-of-state providers from mailing abortion pills into Iowa.

Reynolds signed House File 2676, the Iowa Make America Healthy Again Act, into law on May 20, 2026. The legislation requires Iowa schools to remove certain artificial food dyes and additives from meals beginning in 2027, limits digital device instruction to 60 minutes daily for kindergarten through fifth grade students, increases physical activity requirements, restricts SNAP benefits from purchasing candy and soda, and permits over-the-counter distribution of ivermectin. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the signing ceremony in Des Moines.

At a healthcare roundtable in Iowa City on May 19, 2026, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand stated he would veto any bill that would further restrict abortion access in Iowa if elected governor. Sand also outlined plans to end the privatization of Iowa's Medicaid system and increase reimbursement rates for healthcare workers as strategies to address the state's healthcare professional shortage. Sand acknowledged that some healthcare concerns would require legislative cooperation, noting that governors cannot act unilaterally on certain matters.

Reynolds signed legislation that substantially restructures Iowa's property tax system, representing one of the largest changes to the state's tax structure in decades. The law expands homeowner property tax exemptions by replacing a fixed homestead credit with an exemption tied to 10 percent of a home's taxable value, establishes tax-deductible savings accounts for first-time home buyers, increases tax credits for seniors and Iowans with disabilities, and shifts additional responsibility to the state for funding schools. The legislation also implements a 2 percent annual cap on property tax revenue increases for most cities and counties beginning with 2027 local budgets, with limited exceptions for new construction and community growth.

Reynolds signed a property tax relief bill into law that establishes a 2% cap on city and county general revenue growth, with exceptions for new construction and certain levies including debt service and law enforcement. The legislation replaces the existing homestead tax credit with a 10% homestead property tax exemption capped at $20,000 and subject to inflation adjustments. Reynolds stated the measure was designed to address property tax increases by constraining local government spending growth.

Reynolds signed Senate File 2430, which requires Iowa's public buildings to lower flags to half-staff when ordered by gubernatorial proclamation. The bill establishes a mechanism for reporting violations to the attorney general, who may pursue legal action including injunctive relief to ensure compliance. Reynolds proposed the legislation after the chair of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors declined to lower flags following the death of Charlie Kirk.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 766 on Friday, which modifies Iowa's vehicle window tint regulations by reducing the required light transmittance from 70 percent to 50 percent. The legislation takes effect on July 1. Window tint shop owners indicated the change would increase business activity, while law enforcement agencies raised concerns about reduced visibility during traffic stops.

Reynolds signed legislation eliminating the prior authorization requirement for cancer screenings by insurance companies, a process that previously could take weeks. The law establishes firm timelines for insurers to communicate with hospitals regarding claim status, make coverage decisions, and process appeals, while requiring clear clinical explanations when care is denied. The legislation takes effect on July 1.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 2754 on May 13, 2026, expanding Iowa's charter school system by increasing per-student funding to charter schools, allowing them access to additional state funding streams for teacher salaries and professional development, and enabling student access to extracurricular activities and concurrent college credit courses through local school districts. The legislation also loosens regulations on homeschool teachers, allowing them to charge tuition and teach non-family members, and expands preschool access options. The law creates a second fall enrollment window for Iowa's education savings account program, providing families with additional opportunities to apply for state funding for private school attendance.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds signed legislation designed to expand access to and support for Iowa's public charter schools on May 12, 2026, during a ceremony at Des Moines Prep in Des Moines. The bill redirects state education funding to public charter schools and includes additional provisions to support their expansion. Iowa currently operates ten state-authorized public charter schools with three more scheduled to open in 2027.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation into law on May 11, 2026, that establishes severe animal torture as a felony charge on first offense in Iowa. The bill-signing ceremony took place at Animal Rescue League of Iowa in Des Moines, where Reynolds greeted Ember, a dog recovering from abuse injuries. Prior to this legislation, Iowa was the only U.S. state in which animal torture was not classified as a felony on the first offense.

Governor Reynolds announced that Vylor, a seed and genetics company being spun off from Corteva, will establish its global headquarters in Johnston at Corteva's existing campus. The company, expected to become independent later in 2026, will focus on advanced seed genetics and biotechnology and continue operations at a location with over a century of agricultural innovation history. State economic development officials noted that more than 700 people signed a petition supporting Iowa's bid to retain the headquarters location.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation that makes animal torture a felony in Iowa, changing the classification from misdemeanor to felony on the first offense with enhanced penalties for repeat offenders. The law defines animal torture as intentionally causing prolonged pain or death to a companion animal. Reynolds signed the bill at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, making Iowa the final state in the nation to establish this felony classification for animal torture.

Reynolds signed legislation during her final legislative session as Iowa governor that reduced property taxes and expanded charter school funding. The governor's proposals regarding birth control access, antisemitism reporting requirements, and veterans services did not advance in the final session. Reynolds also signed a provision into law that allows Iowa childcare workers to access state-funded financial assistance to cover their own childcare costs.

During the 2025 government shutdown, SNAP benefits were interrupted for more than 260,000 Iowans for two weeks beginning November 1, creating strain on local food banks and pantries across Eastern Iowa. Governor Reynolds authorized $1 million in state government funding to match private donations to Iowa's six regional food banks in response to the assistance gap. Food bank leaders reported that while organizations recovered financially, clients experienced lasting loss of trust in the assistance system.

Reynolds approved legislation in the 2026 Iowa legislative session that expands tax exemptions for homeowners and caps the amount of additional property tax revenue local governments can collect annually. The bill, which spans 82 pages and contains 26 divisions, was finalized through negotiations between majority Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate and Reynolds, with input from local government stakeholders. According to Republican supporters, the legislation will reduce Iowa homeowners' collective property tax burden by $4 billion over six years.

Governor Reynolds accepted the resignation of Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System CEO Greg Samorajski on May 1, 2026, following a monthslong misconduct investigation during which Samorajski had been placed on paid administrative leave beginning March 31. IPERS Chief Benefits Officer Steven Herbert was terminated on the same day the resignation was announced. According to an IPERS Investment Board member, the allegations were primarily personnel-related and did not involve concerns about the pension system's investments or financial stability.

Governor Reynolds called on the 2026 Iowa Legislature to reform property taxes, and lawmakers passed a 108-page property tax reform bill at the end of the legislative session. Reynolds has not yet signed the bill as of the time of reporting. The legislation includes provisions that limit general levy revenue growth to 2% and modify tax increment financing mechanisms used by municipalities for development incentives.

Governor Reynolds accepted the resignation of Greg Samorajski as CEO of the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS) in May 2026, following his placement on paid administrative leave in March during a misconduct investigation. Elizabeth Hennessey, the IPERS general counsel whom Reynolds had appointed as acting CEO, will continue in that role until a permanent replacement is identified. The Department of Administrative Services will conduct a nationwide search for a new CEO to lead the $45 billion trust fund that serves over 400,000 Iowans.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2379, a bill proposed by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, into law on Wednesday. The legislation clarifies confidentiality rules for counselors sharing information with law enforcement, extends the duration of no-contact orders, and requires sexual assault examination kits to be preserved for twenty years or the duration of a child victim's life. The bill passed the Iowa Senate unanimously and the Iowa House with a vote of 78-12.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 2543 into law, legislation establishing requirements for English language proficiency testing for commercial truck drivers seeking to obtain or renew their licenses in Iowa. The bill also addresses subacute mental health care access, removing a provision limiting stays at such facilities to ten days and directing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to establish standards for these services. Reynolds signed the legislation as part of a slate of bills addressing mental health care, AI chatbot safeguards for minors, school employee conduct, palliative care, and various other policy matters.

The Iowa Legislature approved Senate File 2465, known as the Iowa Farm Act, in the final hours of the 2026 legislative session and sent the measure to Governor Reynolds for signature. The legislation, introduced by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, combines tax relief for farmers, expanded marketing support through the Choose Iowa program, and new initiatives to support beginning farmers and ranchers. The Iowa House approved the bill 81-4 after Senate negotiations produced a final version that removed a contested amendment related to the state's grain indemnity program.

Reynolds signed legislation expanding subacute mental health care by removing a ten-day cap on care and adding a real-time tracking system for available beds. The governor also signed a law requiring anyone obtaining or renewing a commercial driver's license to demonstrate English proficiency through a computer-based exam, with fines for those failing to meet the requirement. Additionally, Reynolds signed legislation permitting open enrollment and online students to participate in extracurricular activities in the districts where they are enrolled.

The Iowa legislature passed a $4 billion property tax reduction over a six-year period following a weekend session, which Governor Reynolds described as bringing certainty and discipline to the state's tax system. The legislation includes a 2 percent cap on local government levies and quadruples the Homestead Tax Exemption to $20,000. Des Moines city officials expressed concern that the revenue restrictions would impair the city's ability to maintain service levels and utilize tax increment financing tools for downtown development projects.

The Iowa Legislature passed Senate File 2472, an amendment implementing property tax relief legislation in the final moments of the 2026 session. The bill establishes a 2 percent annual cap on property tax revenue growth for local governments, with exceptions for school funding, debt service, and community college levies, and converts the existing homestead tax credit to an exemption worth up to 10 percent of a home's taxable value with a maximum benefit starting at $20,000 and adjusting for inflation. According to Iowa Senate and House Republicans, the legislation is projected to provide approximately $4 billion in property tax savings over six years.

The Iowa Legislature approved legislation on May 2, 2026, that would increase the mandatory minimum sentence for habitual felony offenders from three years to seven years and eliminate the possibility of a suspended or deferred sentence. Under the bill, individuals convicted of a third felony offense would be required to serve the enhanced penalty with no judicial discretion to reduce or defer the sentence. The legislation now proceeds to Governor Kim Reynolds for consideration.

Governor Reynolds unveiled a funding package that would allocate $25 million in one-time funds to Central Iowa Water Works to expand its nitrate removal capacity over three years. The proposal also designated nearly $4 million in annual funding for cover crops, wetlands, and watershed conservation programs in the Des Moines metropolitan area. Reynolds stated the package modified Iowa's water quality funding formula that had been established in 2018 to reallocate resources toward programs demonstrating significant progress.

Reynolds unveiled a water quality funding package on May 1, 2026, designed to increase monitoring, expand infrastructure funding, and invest in nitrate removal through Central Iowa Water Works. The proposal represents a shift in state funding priorities related to water quality issues in Iowa. Democratic lawmakers and environmental advocates characterized the package as insufficient for addressing long-term pollution prevention and comprehensive water quality challenges.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democratic candidate for governor, unveiled a comprehensive water quality and public health proposal on Thursday that includes tax credits for farmers adopting conservation measures, stricter manure management practices, and expanded water monitoring. The plan establishes a statewide "dirty water" notification system, increases radon testing, and creates a Cabinet-level task force to address cancer rates while removing legal immunity protections for chemical companies linked to environmental contamination. On healthcare, Sand's proposal calls for reversing Iowa's Medicaid privatization, expanding telehealth services, and implementing regulations on pharmacy benefit managers to address prescription drug costs.

Governor Reynolds announced a $320 million water quality investment proposal that reallocates funding toward existing programs, including $25 million to Central Iowa Water Works to expand its nitrate removal facility and $500,000 in additional annual funding to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for statewide water quality monitoring. The proposal also directs $300,000 in state funding to water monitors, a program that had seen its state funding diverted two years prior. Reynolds stated the proposal was expected to pass both chambers of the legislature and receive her signature before the legislative session adjourned.

The Iowa Senate approved House File 2711, legislation that would ban affirmative action practices in state government, including diversity hiring policies, minority-focused programs, and diversity reporting requirements across state agencies, universities, schools, and the judicial branch. The bill also removes an implicit bias training requirement for law enforcement officers that was established in a 2020 bipartisan police reform law. Reynolds received the legislation for consideration following the Senate's party-line passage vote.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell announced that the city council will publicly discuss citizen engagement on policing procedures in late May or early June 2026. The discussion follows the dissolution of the city's Citizen Review Board in 2025 after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation prohibiting cities with civil service commissions from maintaining boards for citizen review of police officer conduct. The city has committed to developing a new mechanism for community feedback on policing operations that complies with the state law.

The Iowa Senate passed a school choice bill that allocates an additional $1.3 million for charter school teacher salaries and allows charter school employees to participate in the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System. The legislation also permits churches and private groups to offer preschool programs independently of school districts and allows homeschooling programs to charge tuition to an unlimited number of unrelated students. The bill was sent to Governor Reynolds for signature.

In 2025, Iowa Governor Reynolds signed legislation that removed gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Reynolds subsequently enacted a law in the current year that prohibits local governments from offering broader civil rights protections than the state's civil rights act. The Cedar Rapids city government has indicated it will likely remove gender identity from its municipal Civil Rights Code in response to the state law.

House File 2676, known as the "Iowa MAHA bill," received final approval from the Iowa Senate on April 28, 2026, on a 30-16 party-line vote and was transmitted to Governor Reynolds' desk. The legislation addresses school lunches and food assistance programs by prohibiting certain artificial dyes in school meals, codifying Iowa's limits on foods eligible for SNAP purchases, requiring nutrition education for medical professionals, studying technology's impact on students in grades 6-12, and allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin. Reynolds had previously proposed many of the bill's provisions.

Reynolds nominated Larry Johnson, the former director of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, to serve as director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services in September 2025. The Iowa Senate rejected Johnson's confirmation on April 21, 2026, with the nomination receiving 28 votes in favor, all from Republicans, while all Democratic senators voted against confirmation. The Health and Human Services position requires a two-thirds majority for confirmation and oversees major state programs including Medicaid and child protective services with an annual budget exceeding $13.6 billion.

Iowa House Speaker Grassley unveiled House File 2475, an amended property tax relief proposal that would cap local governments' annual property tax revenue growth at 2 percent and convert the homeowners' homestead credit into a tripled exemption of $15,000. The bill would allocate $175 million in state funds toward reducing the school property tax levy, require 25 percent of school infrastructure funding to go toward property tax relief by 2031, and establish caps on local government reserve balances at 35 percent and tax increment financing districts at 20 years. Grassley presented the proposal as a compromise incorporating elements from three previously introduced Republican plans and stated it was intended to move negotiations closer to agreement with the Iowa Senate and Governor Reynolds.

The Iowa House passed House File 2754 on April 17, 2026, with a vote of 53-34, advancing legislation that increases state support for charter schools. The bill requires the teacher salary supplement cost of $685 per pupil to be directed to charter schools where students are enrolled, allocates funding for charter school teachers to participate in the state's public employee retirement program, and allows charter school students to access athletic and extracurricular opportunities at public schools. Reynolds had proposed similar legislation at the start of the legislative session, and the House bill now proceeds to the Iowa Senate.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 2296 into law on April 17, 2026, prohibiting local governments from issuing identification cards, effective July 1, 2026. The legislation eliminates the Johnson County Community ID Card program, which had been established in 2015 to provide secondary identification to county residents. Supporters of the ban stated that the prohibition ensures consistency in government-issued identification across Iowa and prevents a potential patchwork of varying county ID programs.

Iowa lawmakers unanimously approved Senate File 2417, legislation requiring conversational AI chatbots to disclose to minors that they are not human or mental health professionals. The bill also mandates that companies operating AI chatbots provide parents with controls over minor users' privacy and account settings. The proposal was sent to Governor Reynolds for signature to become law.

Republican Gov. Reynolds advanced proposals that were incorporated into legislation in the Iowa Senate addressing public health measures aligned with the "Make America Healthy Again" movement. The bills, which passed both chambers with some differences, include provisions prohibiting certain artificial dyes in school meals, restricting foods eligible for purchase under SNAP and Summer EBT assistance programs, studying the impact of screen time on students, and requiring nutrition education for medical professionals. The Republican majorities in both chambers demonstrated agreement on multiple provisions appearing in both the House and Senate versions of the proposed legislation.

Reynolds signed Senate File 2416 into law on April 18, 2026. The legislation permits judges to grant investigators access to children in suspected abuse cases even when parents or guardians refuse to cooperate, and clarifies which individuals are authorized to interview children during abuse investigations and what actions they may take. The law became effective on July 1, 2026.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation on April 9, 2026, that expands a child care assistance pilot program created in 2023 to provide state-funded financial assistance to child care workers for their own child care costs. The expanded program, which served more than 2,100 Iowa families during the pilot phase, codifies the assistance into permanent state law and makes it available statewide rather than limiting eligibility to lower-income families. Reynolds signed the bill during a ceremony at Stepping Stones Child Development Center in Slater.

Reynolds signed a bill into law that makes permanent a pilot program begun in 2023 providing child care assistance to child care workers regardless of income level. The law qualifies Iowans working at least 32 hours per week directly providing child care for financial assistance covering their own children's child care costs. Reynolds stated the program had reduced staff turnover in child care centers and would enable centers to expand their workforce and serve additional working families.

The Iowa Senate passed Senate File 2472 on a 41-4 vote on April 8, 2026, with bipartisan support that included backing from most Democratic colleagues. The bill caps city and county property tax revenue growth, reduces property tax revenue to schools while increasing state funding, creates a graduated property tax exemption for homeowners 60 years and older, allows local governments to increase local-option sales tax from 1 percent to 1.5 percent, and ties the state gas tax to inflation. The legislation represents one of three property tax proposals in the Iowa Capitol, with Governor Reynolds, House Republicans, and Senate Republicans each having proposed versions requiring eventual agreement before any bill can be signed into law.

Governor Reynolds stated that ongoing investigations into Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System officials would not affect the pension system's financial stability or benefit payments to members. Reynolds characterized the matter as a personnel issue and declined to provide specifics about the investigations. She indicated that the state would follow established procedures and that further information would be released once the review process concluded.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2096 on April 8, 2026, which revised the foster parent training requirements in Iowa. The law eliminated the existing 30-hour training requirement and replaced it with individualized training plans to be developed by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services based on each applicant's professional and lived experience. The legislation retained mandatory home checks, background checks, and safety protocols while requiring instruction in specified topics including attachment, trauma, grief and loss, and child welfare overview.

Reynolds signed Senate File 2096 on April 7, 2026, shifting Iowa's foster parent training system from hour-based requirements to a competency-focused model tailored to caregivers' backgrounds and children's specific needs. The legislation was framed as a response to Iowa having more than 3,300 children in foster care with insufficient foster homes available. Reynolds stated the changes were designed to remove outdated barriers, improve placement stability, and recruit and retain foster parents.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds signed House File 437 on June 11, 2025, establishing the Center for Intellectual Freedom as an independent academic entity based at the University of Iowa. The legislation appropriated $1 million in funding for the center, which used these funds to support operations including staff salaries, courses, and an inaugural December event featuring conservative speakers. The center was created to expand intellectual diversity at Iowa's public universities, particularly the University of Iowa.

In February, Reynolds issued an executive order directing the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to conduct annual state risk assessments examining vulnerabilities related to cybersecurity attacks, economic security, and public health, with particular attention to potential threats from the Chinese government. The order also requires the agency to annually evaluate the vulnerability of the state's critical infrastructure to foreign influence and compromise. Reynolds' action followed concerns about Iowa's economic dependence on China as both a supplier and export market, as well as documented cases of cyberattacks and supply chain disruptions.

Reynolds expressed optimism during an event in Des Moines about reaching an agreement on property tax legislation before the end of the Iowa legislative session. Reynolds, the Iowa House, and the Iowa Senate had each proposed different versions of property tax reform earlier in the session, with policymakers currently negotiating the details. The legislative session is scheduled to end on April 21, 2026.

The Iowa Senate rejected the House's amendments to Senate File 2218 on a unanimous vote, removing provisions that would have expanded citizenship and work eligibility verification requirements to private employers. The original bill, which passed the Senate unanimously in the previous month, required state agencies to verify employment eligibility through the federal E-Verify system and confirm immigration status before granting professional licenses. The rejected House amendments had also created new penalties for private employers accepting false Social Security numbers and modified state law on pretrial detentions of unauthorized immigrants.

Iowa Senate Republicans announced a $9.6 billion spending target for the fiscal 2027 state budget, approximately $40 million less than Governor Reynolds' January proposal of $9.666 billion. The Republican proposal would increase spending by 1.2 percent over the current budget year and includes nearly $100 million in increased K-12 education spending. Senate Republicans stated their budget target would leave the state with a combined $4.8 billion in reserve funds across the general fund budget surplus, the Taxpayer Relief Fund, and other emergency accounts.

Reynolds signed HF 2739 into law, legislation that increases the tax on HMO health insurance plans from 0.925% to 3.5% effective January 1, 2026 through September, with the rate dropping to 0.95% in October, pending federal approval. The tax increase is intended to generate additional revenue for Iowa's Medicaid program to address projected budget shortfalls. Reynolds stated the measure was selected after evaluating multiple options to close the Medicaid funding gap.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds created the Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force through an executive order to advise state leadership on the development and advancement of nuclear energy technology and infrastructure in response to projected energy demand increases from artificial intelligence and data centers. House Study Bill 767 advanced through the Iowa House, which would exempt new or recommissioned nuclear electric generation facilities from state sales and use tax on most purchases. Senate Study Bill 3181 similarly proposed sales and use tax exemptions for nuclear energy projects while requiring them to contribute a minimum of 5 percent of the aggregate value of tax exemptions to public universities for nuclear engineering programs.

Reynolds signed House File 2739 into law on March 26, 2026, raising the premium tax on health maintenance organizations from 0.925% to 3.5% retroactively from January 1 through September 30, 2026, with the rate lowering to 0.95% in October. The measure also redirected $89 million from the state's general fund to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and transferred nearly $350 million from the Taxpayer Relief Fund to address projected Medicaid budget shortfalls of $90.6 million in Fiscal Year 2026 and $167.6 million in Fiscal Year 2027. Reynolds stated the tax increase was necessary to meet a March 31 federal deadline for drawing down federal funding and to address Medicaid funding gaps resulting from COVID-19 impacts.

Reynolds stated on March 25, 2026, that she expected majority Republican statehouse leaders to pass property tax limitation legislation during the current legislative session, though she indicated the effort would require compromise among all parties involved. Reynolds and House Republicans had proposed plans centered on limiting the growth of local government revenue through a 2 percent cap on most local government revenue increases. Reynolds said she had conducted productive conversations with Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley and Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh and expressed confidence that a bill would reach her desk before the legislative session concluded.

House File 2527 cleared the Iowa Senate on a 33-13 vote and was sent to Governor Kim Reynolds for signature. The legislation limits civil and criminal liability in lawsuits claiming that greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural, petroleum, and other operations contributed to climate change, requiring plaintiffs to meet a high evidentiary standard and prove direct violations of existing emissions laws or permits to recover damages. The bill defines covered agricultural sources to include locations where commodities are handled, housed, preserved, distributed or sold, and adds petroleum sources where petroleum products are manufactured, stored or distributed.

The Iowa Senate passed House File 2739, which would temporarily increase the tax on health maintenance organization insurance plans from less than 1 percent to 3.5 percent, and sent the bill to Governor Reynolds for signature. According to Reynolds and other Republican leaders, the increased tax revenue would allow the state to access additional federal funds to address a Medicaid budget deficit. The legislation also allocates an additional $90 million for Medicaid in the current fiscal year and directs $350 million from the Taxpayer Relief Fund toward the state's overall budget deficit.

Reynolds engaged in discussions with Republican legislative leaders regarding a proposal to index Iowa's gas tax to the inflation rate as part of broader negotiations on property tax relief and local government funding. Reynolds stated that declining revenue for road and bridge maintenance, particularly in counties and cities, made the gas tax indexing proposal relevant to ongoing conversations. The proposal was offered by Senate Republicans as a mechanism to support local governments' road maintenance needs while lawmakers considered measures to cap growth in city and county budgets.

The Iowa House passed House File 571, the Medical Ethics Defense Act, and sent it to Governor Kim Reynolds for consideration. The bill would allow hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and medical schools to refuse providing services and medical procedures based on moral and ethical objections stated in their governing documents, including abortions and gender transition procedures. The legislation also provides liability shields for conscience-based refusals, whistleblower protections, and free-speech protections limiting state agency discipline of licensees.

Governor Reynolds vetoed a bill in June that would have permitted the distribution of psilocybin. House File 978, which establishes a framework for licensing and regulating the sale of psilocybin for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, advanced through committee with an amendment limiting eligibility to Iowans diagnosed with PTSD. The bill now proceeds to the Iowa Senate floor for further consideration.

Reynolds' office withheld four emails from the Des Moines Register following an open records request filed after questions Reynolds faced on Capitol Hill regarding claims against Lutheran Services of Iowa. Reynolds' office sued the newspaper in April, asserting the withheld emails were meant to be confidential, and the Register countersued, alleging the office violated open records law. A Polk County judge denied the Register's request to reveal the emails ahead of trial, which is scheduled for September.

The Iowa House advanced House Study Bill 596, which includes a 2% cap on property tax revenue growth, limits on government accumulation of unassigned reserves, and restrictions on issuing bonds for salaries and general operations. The bill passed committee and proceeded to the full House for further consideration, though the timing and potential amendments remained uncertain. Reynolds has submitted a separate property tax proposal that must be reconciled with the House version before any legislation can become law.

Reynolds supported a House Republican proposal to limit the growth of local government revenue through a 2 percent cap on most local government revenue increases as a means to address Iowa homeowners' property taxes during the 2026 legislative session. The House Ways and Means Committee advanced an updated version of the bill that incorporated provisions proposed by Reynolds. The proposal represented a different approach from the Senate Republican plan, which sought to eliminate Iowa's property tax rollback system and tie revenue growth limits to inflation, leaving final agreement among GOP leaders unresolved as the legislative session neared its final weeks.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds proposed Senate File 3145 during the 2026 legislative session, which would increase the state tax on cigarettes by 65 cents per pack from $1.36 to $2.01 and create a 15 percent excise tax on vapor and consumable hemp products. The proposal was made in response to Iowa's second-highest cancer rate in the nation and rising lung cancer rates documented in a University of Iowa College of Public Health report. The bill remained at a standstill in the Legislature as of March 2026, while a companion House bill proposing a $1.50 per pack increase also stalled.

Governor Reynolds referenced the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump as authorization for a proposed increase to Iowa's health insurance tax on health maintenance organizations from 0.925% to 3.5%, effective January 1 through September 30, 2026. The tax increase, which advanced through committees in both the Iowa House and Senate, was designed to generate an additional $204 million in revenue to address the state's estimated $91 million Medicaid funding shortfall in the current fiscal year and $168 million deficit projected for the following year. Reynolds identified the Medicaid shortfall as the primary driver for the proposed tax increase.

Reynolds signed restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across public higher education institutions, local governments and other state entities. The action followed passage of legislation by the Iowa House, identified as HF 2711, that rolled back diversity and equity-related policies. Reynolds' restriction represented implementation of state policy limiting DEI programs in public sector organizations.

Reynolds signed Senate File 579 on March 10, 2026, which prohibits local governments from enacting civil rights protections for groups not already protected under state law. The legislation also changes the requirement for cities with populations of 29,000 or more to maintain a local civil rights commission, replacing the mandatory "shall" with permissive "may." The bill took effect immediately and affects at least seven central Iowa communities that had enacted local ordinances protecting groups including those based on gender identity.

Governor Reynolds suggested a temporary tax increase on Health Maintenance Organizations as a mechanism to address shortfalls in Iowa's Medicaid budget. Reynolds stated that the estimated financial impact on HMOs would be approximately half the amount claimed by insurance industry representatives. Senate File 2464, which included the proposed HMO tax, advanced through a Senate committee in March 2026.

The Iowa House approved House File 2711 on March 4, 2026, legislation that would eliminate affirmative action requirements from state law, including diversity hiring policies, minority-focused programs, and reporting requirements across state agencies, universities, K-12 schools, and the judicial branch. The bill would also remove the annual implicit bias training requirement for law enforcement officers established in Iowa's 2020 police reform law, though a floor amendment restored de-escalation training requirements. The measure passed along party lines with Republican support and Democratic opposition.

Governor Reynolds issued a statement mourning the death of Sergeant Declan Coady, a 20-year-old from West Des Moines who was killed during Iranian retaliation strikes in Kuwait as part of Operation Epic Fury. Reynolds characterized Coady as a young Iowan who answered his nation's call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice. The governor requested that all Iowans join in prayer for Coady's family's healing and comfort.

The Iowa House passed House File 2102 on February 26, 2026, which requires all driver's license examinations to be administered exclusively in English, eliminating current provisions allowing tests to be offered in more than 20 languages. The bill aligns with Iowa's existing law designating English as the state's official language, according to Rep. Josh Meggers, R-Grundy Center, who managed the legislation and stated it promotes consistency in state policy and ensures drivers understand traffic laws as written and posted. Democratic representatives raised concerns that the measure could increase unlicensed and uninsured drivers on Iowa roads and create barriers for legal residents and workers, including participants in federal visa programs who need driver's licenses for employment.

Governor Reynolds announced that her administration's Iowa Workforce Development agency would deploy a mobile unit to Amana to assist workers affected by Whirlpool Corporation's planned layoff of 341 positions at its manufacturing facility, scheduled for March 9, 2026. Reynolds stated the state would help impacted workers access resources for job placement and skills training. Democratic state lawmakers separately sent a letter to Whirlpool leadership urging the company to reconsider the layoffs, citing the company's recent profits and $21.5 million in state financial assistance received since 2006.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2201 on February 27, 2026, which increased per-pupil funding for Iowa's public schools by 2%, bringing total per-pupil state funding to $8,148 and resulting in approximately $4 billion in total funding for public schools. The legislation also allocated funding for paraeducator support and transportation equity. The Iowa State Education Association stated that the 2% increase was insufficient to meet public schools' needs, having originally requested a 5% increase to keep pace with inflation.

Reynolds used an Iowa State Patrol aircraft purchased with American Rescue Plan Act funding after the Iowa Department of Public Safety identified the need for a larger plane to support law enforcement operations including search and rescue, fugitive apprehension, and drug interdiction. Reynolds stated in a press availability that she uses the plane sparingly, representing less than 3 percent of flight hours, and only for official state business with no non-state employees aboard. Iowa Democratic legislative leaders called for the plane to be sold and proposed using the proceeds for other state priorities including unemployment benefits and school funding.

Reynolds signed legislation providing a 2% increase in K-12 school funding for the following fiscal year into law on February 27, 2026. The funding increase raised the state cost per student to $8,148, a $160 increase from the previous year, and applied the same per-student funding level to charter schools and education savings accounts used for private school tuition. The funding package included $7 million for support staff and paraeducator pay, $42.2 million to fill funding gaps for schools on the budget guarantee, and capped tuition equity payments at $1 million per district.

The Iowa Senate approved Senate File 2203 and Senate File 2442, among five bills requiring state agencies to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database to verify immigration status for voter registration, driver's licenses, state employment, and public assistance eligibility. The legislation followed Governor Reynolds' October executive order directing state agencies to implement E-Verify and SAVE systems to check work authorization and immigration status. The bills advanced to the Iowa House for further consideration.

Governor Reynolds introduced Senate Study Bill 3034, a legislative proposal designed to address Iowa property taxes through multiple mechanisms including capping property tax revenue growth, restricting the use of tax increment financing districts, and freezing property taxes for seniors. The bill received its first public hearing before a state subcommittee on February 25, 2026, with discussion focusing particularly on the proposed TIF restrictions and their effects on local government funding. Reynolds' proposal was one of several property tax bills introduced during the legislative session, with competing plans also advanced by majority Republicans and House Democrats.

Governor Reynolds called for raising Iowa's cigarette tax, which had not been increased since 2007. A bill sponsored by Senator Kara Warme would have increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 65 cents from $1.36 to $2.01 and implemented a 15% excise tax on vape and consumable hemp products. Reynolds included revenue from recommended excise tax adjustments in her Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which allocated $214 million from the Health Care Trust Fund.

The Iowa Senate approved Senate File 2201, legislation establishing a 2% increase in state supplemental aid for K-12 public schools for the 2026-2027 school year, which was negotiated as a compromise between the House's 2% proposal and the Senate's initial 1.75% rate. The bill includes additional provisions allocating $7 million for paraeducator and support personnel pay, implementing twice-yearly student enrollment counts, and extending property tax relief payments for an additional year. The legislation was sent to the governor's desk for signature following a 27-20 Senate vote.

The Iowa legislature approved legislation providing a 2 percent increase in general state funding to K-12 schools for the next school year, with the bill sent to Governor Reynolds for signature. The legislation allocates nearly $4 billion in total general state funding and includes $42.2 million to prevent local property tax increases, $7 million for paraeducator and support staff pay, enhanced equity funding for districts with high transportation costs, and a second enrollment count in January. The bill passed the Senate 27-20 with support from Republican leadership and opposition from all Democrats and three Republican senators.

Governor Reynolds proposed a property tax reform plan that includes a 2 percent cap on local revenue growth with exceptions for debt service and school funding, along with changes intended to reshape how local government operates. Reynolds' proposal was presented alongside competing plans from the Iowa House Republicans, who emphasized a 2 percent cap plus new construction value with exceptions for schools and debt levy, and from Senate Republicans, who proposed phasing out the property tax rollback mechanism in favor of a homestead exemption. The three Republican-controlled bodies began negotiations to reconcile their respective property tax reform proposals during the 2026 legislative session.

Iowa Republican lawmakers advanced a school funding bill that would increase per-pupil funding by 2 percent for the coming fiscal year, setting per-pupil funding at $8,148 under an agreement with Governor Reynolds. The House approved the amended Senate File 2201 on a 58-35 vote, with the measure representing a compromise between the House Republican proposal of 2.25 percent and the Senate proposal of 1.75 percent. Education advocates stated the increase was insufficient to address inflation and rising operational costs facing school districts.

The Iowa House Appropriations Committee amended Senate File 2201 on Monday to increase state K-12 per-pupil funding by 2.25 percent for fiscal 2027, replacing the Senate's proposed 1.75 percent increase. The amended bill passed the committee on a 15-8 vote largely along party lines and now proceeds to the House floor for debate and a vote. Reynolds had proposed a 2 percent increase in general K-12 school funding in her budget proposal.

The Iowa House Judiciary Committee advanced House Study Bill 664 and House Study Bill 669 on February 24, 2025, with both measures passing on 14-7 party-line votes. House Study Bill 664 would prohibit local governments from protecting transgender residents from discrimination through local civil rights ordinances, while House Study Bill 669 would shield parents from child abuse charges for anti-transgender actions. The bills were positioned for possible debate by the full Iowa House ahead of the first legislative funnel deadline.

Governor Reynolds signed an executive order in fall 2025 requiring state agencies to verify employment eligibility for new hires through the federal E-Verify system and to confirm immigration status or U.S. citizenship before granting professional licenses. Iowa House Republican lawmakers advanced legislation in February 2026 that would codify Reynolds' executive order into statutory law. The bill drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers regarding due process and potential workforce impacts.

Reynolds announced a state-funded research project during her 2025 Condition of the State address to investigate Iowa's elevated cancer rates, which rank second highest in the nation. The University of Iowa College of Public Health received $1 million in state funding for the first year of the two-year project, which began in July 2025 and includes preliminary modeling for breast and prostate cancers. The second year of the project will be funded through Iowa's allocation from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.

Reynolds dedicated $1 million in state funding to the University of Iowa to research drivers of Iowa's high cancer rates, which rank second nationally with a rising trend. Reynolds presented preliminary findings from the University of Iowa College of Public Health at a press conference in Des Moines, which identified elevated cancer rates in approximately a dozen Iowa counties and noted advanced stage lung cancer as a particular concern statewide. The research focused initially on demographic and behavioral risk factors, with subsequent phases planned to examine genetic and environmental risk factors.

Reynolds introduced legislation to increase the tax on cigarettes from $1.36 to $2.01 per pack, tax vape products and consumable hemp products at 15% of retail cost, and increase the tobacco tax by 10% per wholesale cost. The bill announcement followed the release of initial findings from a state-funded research project examining drivers of Iowa's cancer rates. Reynolds also proposed provisions within the bill to eliminate certain dyes and additives from school lunch programs and require physicians to complete nutrition coursework as part of continuing medical education.

Republican state legislators advanced Senate Study Bill 3015 and companion House legislation that would require school districts to verify the employment eligibility and identity of all employees and require state regulators to confirm lawful presence of individuals applying for state teaching licenses. The proposals were motivated by the arrest and guilty plea of Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, who was charged with federal immigration and gun violations and had falsified academic credentials on his resume. Both bills advanced through legislative committee hearings on Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol.

Governor Reynolds introduced House Study Bill 664, which would prohibit cities and counties from enforcing civil rights protections broader than those contained in the Iowa Civil Rights Act. This proposal followed Reynolds' signing of legislation in the previous year that removed gender identity as a protected class from the state civil rights code. The bill was introduced on the same day Iowa House Republicans advanced separate legislation extending existing classroom restrictions on discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity to middle and high school grades.

Governor Reynolds proposed a 2 percent increase in general K-12 school funding in her budget proposal published in early February 2026. Iowa Senate Republicans advanced legislation proposing a 1.75 percent increase in state general K-12 school funding for the next school year, which was lower than Reynolds's proposal. Education advocates testified during the legislative hearing that the 1.75 percent funding level was inadequate and warned it could result in difficult budget decisions for school districts as state funding continued to lag behind inflation.

Governor Reynolds introduced House Study Bill 664, which would prevent local governments from establishing civil rights protections that exceed those defined in Iowa code. The bill follows Reynolds' 2025 signing of legislation that removed gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, eliminating state-level protections for transgender individuals in employment, housing, education, and related areas. The proposal would block cities and counties that currently maintain local civil rights protections based on gender identity from continuing those policies.

Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced the distribution of $78.6 million in federal funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July. The first allocation directs approximately $66 million toward medical equipment procurement and installation for 36 rural health care facilities and $12.6 million toward provider recruitment efforts for 107 rural health care organizations across Iowa. The funds represent the initial disbursement of a five-year program through which Iowa was awarded $209 million to offset Medicaid reductions created by the legislation.

Reynolds attended the grand reopening ceremony of the Nordex U.S. manufacturing facility in West Branch on July 1, 2025, marking the facility's return to operation after 13 years of dormancy. The facility manufactures wind turbine components, including the Nordex USA-made N163 5X wind turbine nacelle. The article does not describe a specific legislative or regulatory action by Reynolds regarding wind energy development in Iowa.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds toured Great Oaks High School and Career Center in Des Moines on Thursday to highlight School Choice Week and announced a legislative proposal to equalize per-pupil state funding between public schools and charter schools. Reynolds stated that her bill would allow per-pupil state funding to follow students from their public school district of residence to public charter schools, addressing what she characterized as unequal funding levels between the two school types. The announcement occurred during a visit where Reynolds observed student success stories at the charter school, which is one of 19 state-approved public charter schools currently operating in Iowa.

A House higher education subcommittee unanimously approved House File 2057, legislation that would provide the University of Iowa up to $3 million annually for pediatric cancer research. This marked the first time the proposal advanced past a subcommittee after a three-year advocacy effort. If adopted, the bill would make Iowa one of a limited number of states providing ongoing dedicated funding for pediatric cancer research.

During a press conference on January 30, 2026, Gov. Reynolds stated that Iowa law enforcement is working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement but clarified that she is not personally involved in directing or coordinating those operations. Reynolds characterized Iowa as not a sanctuary state and described Iowa's cooperation with ICE as distinct from enforcement actions that had occurred in Minneapolis. Reynolds referenced remarks by Trump administration border czar Tom Homan and indicated support for federal immigration enforcement policies.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds endorsed U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst during an event at the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre on Thursday. Reynolds stated that she and Hinson share values including belief in hard work, parental authority over education, and individual economic rights. The endorsement made Reynolds one of several high-profile Republican figures backing Hinson's campaign in the Republican primary.

Governor Reynolds proposed Senate File 391, which the Iowa Senate passed on a party-line vote of 33-16, removing several requirements from Iowa public schools including mandatory comprehensive improvement plans, certified teacher librarian positions, world language instruction, and financial literacy and HIV/AIDS education requirements. The bill allows schools greater flexibility in online instruction delivery, community college instructor participation, and subject sequencing while maintaining the option for schools to continue current offerings. The legislation proceeds to the Iowa House before requiring Reynolds' signature.

Senate Study Bill 3045, advanced by an Iowa Senate subcommittee on January 28, 2026, would require county registrars to verify voter citizenship using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The legislation follows a 2025 law signed by Governor Reynolds that authorized the Iowa Secretary of State to use state and federal documentation to determine citizenship status and designate voters with unconfirmed citizenship. The Iowa Secretary of State's Office indicated it was already developing a similar verification system and stated existing authorities may permit such verification without additional legislation.

Iowa Senate lawmakers advanced House File 2104, a bill that would prohibit companies from using eminent domain to acquire land for carbon capture pipelines, out of subcommittee on January 27, 2026. Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh announced plans to amend the bill with alternative language from his own property rights legislation that would allow pipeline operators to widen corridor proposals and locate alternate easement parcels instead of using eminent domain. Governor Kim Reynolds previously vetoed similar legislation restricting eminent domain for carbon sequestration pipelines in a prior legislative session.

Governor Reynolds proposed a comprehensive property tax reform measure in response to rising property tax rates across Iowa. Reynolds stated that property taxes had risen more than 10 percent over the previous two years, outpacing inflation, wage growth, and population growth, and that the increases represented an unacceptable burden on taxpayers in both rural and urban communities. Reynolds characterized the rate of increase as unacceptable and called for legislation delivering meaningful relief to be enacted during the legislative session.

Iowa Attorney General Bird raised just over $2 million in 2025, including a $1 million donation from the Republican Attorneys General Association on December 31, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Bird, a Republican in her first four-year term, ended the year with more than $2.2 million remaining in her campaign account. Her Democratic challenger, Nate Willems, raised approximately $717,600 in 2025 and maintained just under $536,000 in campaign funds.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh announced he would personally manage Republican legislation addressing property rights and pipeline policy through the legislative process, a task rarely undertaken by chamber leaders in Iowa. Klimesh stated he felt it was essential to take the lead on the bill after he had been a vocal critic of similar legislation in the previous session that Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed. Klimesh's decision to floor manage the bill represents an approach he acknowledged as unusual within the Iowa Senate.

Senate Study Bill 3024 would require the Iowa Department of Transportation to use the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship and immigration status of applicants for driver's licenses and non-operator identification cards who cannot provide proof of citizenship. The bill would prohibit the Iowa DOT from issuing or renewing licenses to individuals without verifiable legal status or proof of citizenship. Republican Senator Tim Kraayenbrink advanced the legislation out of the Iowa Senate Transportation subcommittee in January 2026, stating the measure was necessary to codify the verification procedure already in use by the DOT.

The Iowa House of Representatives passed House File 2104 on January 21, 2026, legislation that would prohibit the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipeline projects in the state. The bill, managed by Rep. Steve Holt, was modeled after similar legislation passed in South Dakota and represents the first bill passed out of a full chamber in the 2026 legislative session. The measure addresses a five-year legislative debate regarding property rights and eminent domain authority, particularly concerning Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed 2,500-mile CO2 pipeline project across five states.

Iowa House Republicans unveiled House Study Bill 596, a property tax reform proposal that includes a 2% revenue cap for local government revenues with exemptions for school funding and debt levies. The bill provides a $25,000 exemption for residential property owners and requires a 60% voter approval threshold for bonds payable through property taxes. The proposal also mandates changes to property tax informational mailers and directs councils of government to assist communities in identifying cost reductions.

Iowa House Republicans unveiled House Study Bill 596 on January 21, 2026, a property tax proposal that would cap local government property-tax revenue growth at 2 percent annually, create a $25,000 exemption for all residential property, require a 60 percent voter approval threshold for property-tax-backed bonds, and revamp property tax notices. The bill represents the third property tax proposal introduced by Republican leadership within one week, following separate proposals from Iowa Senate Republicans and Governor Kim Reynolds. The measure would limit revenue growth from existing property while allowing local governments to collect taxes from new construction and annexations.

Iowa House Republicans introduced HSB 596, legislation that would cap annual revenue growth for cities and counties at 2 percent, with exemptions for new construction, school funding, and debt repayment obligations. The proposal also included an exemption of the first $25,000 of residential property value from taxation. Reynolds had previously proposed a similar revenue cap as part of her fiscal agenda.

Reynolds introduced a bill to modify the distribution of state funding to Iowa's counties for veterans service offices, shifting from a fixed allocation model to a performance-based system. Under the proposed bill, counties ranked in the top third of performance would receive $15,000 annually, the middle third would receive $10,000, and the lowest-ranking counties would receive up to $5,000, compared to the current uniform $10,000 allocation. The bill also includes provisions to establish a training budget within the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs to support county veterans service offices.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 813 into law in 2021, which expanded charter school opportunities in Iowa by allowing independent groups to apply directly to the State Board of Education for charter approval rather than requiring sponsorship through local school districts. The legislation enabled the establishment of charter schools including Horizon Science Academy, which received approval from the Iowa State Board of Education in 2026 to open in Cedar Rapids. As of 2026, ten charter schools were operating in Iowa with eight additional schools approved to open that year under the framework established by Reynolds' 2021 legislation.

The Iowa State Board of Education finalized implementation rules for Senate File 175, a law signed by Governor Reynolds in 2025 requiring Iowa schools to show fetal development videos to students in grades five through twelve as part of human growth and development curriculum. The board amended the initial draft rule to require instruction in grades five through eight annually, with high school students receiving the instruction once during their required health class. The rule takes effect in the 2026-27 school year and permits schools to use the video "Meet Baby Olivia" produced by Live Action.

During her 2026 Condition of the State address on January 13, 2026, Reynolds called for spending limits on city and county governments as part of a broader $3 billion property tax relief plan. Reynolds presented the spending limits proposal alongside other legislative priorities including a requirement for citizenship verification during voter registration and restrictions on certain food dyes in school meals. The proposal represents Reynolds's agenda for her final legislative session as governor.

Reynolds proposed a property tax overhaul during her 2026 Condition of the State address delivered to the Iowa Legislature on Tuesday. The governor also outlined plans to expand funding for cancer research, implement an E-Verify requirement for employment, and increase access to charter schools. Reynolds, who is not seeking re-election, presented these initiatives as part of her final policy agenda.

Governor Reynolds vetoed an eminent domain bill targeting carbon capture pipelines that passed the Iowa Legislature in the previous year. The bill had sought to restrict the use of eminent domain for pipeline projects. Both legislative Republicans and Democrats indicated plans to prioritize a new pipeline proposal during the current legislative session.

Reynolds signed legislation in January 2026 that creates education savings accounts, allowing any Iowa student to use public money to pay for private school tuition and other expenses. Public school leaders subsequently requested a 5 percent funding increase for Iowa public schools, citing the need to keep pace with inflation and manage operational costs. Republican lawmakers signaled resistance to the school funding request, with legislators characterizing the request as excessive while pointing to state expenditures on non-public education programs.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation in July 2023 banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy with very limited exceptions, which took effect on July 29, 2024. The state already faced a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists, and the abortion ban has contributed to further departures of medical professionals from Iowa, including OB-GYNs relocating to states with different abortion policies. Rural hospitals in Iowa have experienced increased strain on maternity services as a result of staffing losses and shifting patient populations.

Iowa became the first state to receive federal approval for a waiver allowing it to bypass certain reporting and compliance requirements under its Unified Allocation Plan, which Reynolds submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in March 2026. Under the plan, Iowa will receive federal education funding through block grants rather than through multiple departmental grants, providing the state with greater discretion over spending of federal education funds. Reynolds stated the approval would reduce bureaucratic requirements and allow more resources to be directed toward students and classrooms.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced approval of Iowa's request for a federal waiver that eases restrictions on how schools spend federal education funding, making Iowa the first state to receive such a waiver. The announcement was made at Broadway Elementary School in Denison during a visit where McMahon observed classroom instruction and met with students and staff. Governor Reynolds was present at the announcement alongside education officials and student council members.

Iowa Auditor Sand proposed six pieces of legislation during a January 5, 2026 press conference outlining his priorities for the state legislative session. The proposals include mandatory jail time for public officials convicted of stealing $10,000 or more in taxpayer funds, requirements for accountants and local governments to cooperate with the Auditor's Office during fraud investigations, and removal of audit requirements enacted by Republicans in 2023. Sand stated he was advocating for these measures regardless of legislative support, noting that the mandatory jail provision for major public defrauding crimes should be considered common sense.

Governor Reynolds announced on December 22 that Iowa will participate in the Summer EBT program (SUN Bucks) beginning in 2026, after the state had opted out in 2024 and 2025. The decision followed USDA approval of Reynolds' request to restrict SUN Bucks purchases to items meeting Iowa's nutritional guidelines, excluding sugary beverages, candy, and other foods with minimal nutritional value. The program provides eligible children $120 in SNAP benefits during months when school is not in session.

Reynolds and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird entered into agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that expand federal access to state-level data held by Iowa. The agreements make personal information about Iowans more readily available to the federal agency for its operations. Reynolds did not publicly disclose the specific categories of data included in the agreements or the stated purposes for which the federal government would access this information.

Governor Reynolds is preparing to propose a property tax relief plan as the Iowa legislature convenes for the 2026 session, with Republican leaders of both chambers also developing their own proposals to address rising property tax rates. The initiative follows failed property tax reform efforts in 2025 and a 2023 law that merged levies. Iowa currently ranks 33rd in property tax competitiveness according to the Tax Foundation.

Governor Reynolds signed a hands-free driving law passed by the Iowa Legislature that took effect on July 1, 2025, prohibiting drivers from using handheld cellphones or other devices while operating a vehicle unless in hands-free mode. Iowa recorded 260 traffic deaths in 2025, the lowest annual total in 100 years, representing a decline of 97 deaths from the 357 recorded in 2024. State officials attributed the significant reduction in fatalities, particularly the drop of 97 deaths in the second half of the year following the law's implementation, to the hands-free driving legislation.

Governor Reynolds signed a state law earlier in 2025 that restricts the authority of city and county governments to regulate consumer fireworks. Under the law, municipalities across Iowa cannot restrict or prohibit the use of consumer fireworks on July 3, July 4, and New Year's Eve. The law permits fireworks use during specified hours on these dates, though state regulations regarding launch location and firework type remain in effect.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation restricting the use of EBT cards under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to prohibit purchases of sugary foods including soda and candy, effective January 1. The law also restricts purchases of certain prepared foods, with exceptions for items such as granola bars that contain flour. Reynolds stated the law's purpose is to promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease while ensuring SNAP fulfills its core function.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation in February that removed gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, eliminating state anti-discrimination protections for transgender people in housing, employment, public accommodations, and related areas. The law took effect on July 1, 2025. The action followed passage of the bill by Republican lawmakers in the Iowa legislature.

Iowa received approval to receive $209 million in the first year of the federal Rural Health Transformation program, a five-year initiative distributing $50 billion nationally. Reynolds submitted the state's application for the funding, which outlined the Healthy Hometowns proposal designed to reduce emergency hospital visits, increase local rural care access, expand provider recruitment, and develop telehealth services. The approved proposal includes plans for hub-and-spoke care networks, cancer screening and treatment expansion, and investment in rural health infrastructure and technology.

Governor Reynolds requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in March 2025 to modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Iowa by restricting eligible purchases to non-taxable foods and beverages. Beginning January 1, 2026, SNAP recipients in Iowa became ineligible to purchase items subject to state sales tax, including candy, soda, sugary beverages with less than 50 percent fruit or vegetable juice content, dried fruit leathers, flourless granola bars, and certain prepared foods. The policy change followed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins's February 2025 encouragement to governors to develop pilot programs testing modified nutrition assistance approaches.

Reynolds vetoed legislation during the 2025 legislative session that would have restricted the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipeline projects, citing concerns about threats to Iowa's energy reliability, economy, and reputation. The governor stated in her veto letter that the restriction represented a troubling precedent. Reynolds has indicated she plans to introduce her own property tax reduction proposal during the 2026 legislative session, following meetings with local government and community leaders across the state.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a regional emergency declaration on December 23, 2025, that waives federal driving hour limits for truck drivers carrying propane, natural gas, and heating oil across ten states including Iowa through January 15. Reynolds had issued a separate state emergency declaration on December 4 citing pipeline disruptions as the reason for the waiver. The federal declaration superseded Reynolds's state declaration and specified that the disruptions were caused by a break in the Mid-American Pipeline System and an unexpected refinery shutdown in Illinois.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Senate File 75, a law signed by Governor Reynolds in April 2025 that requires Johnson County, Black Hawk County, and Story County to elect supervisors by district rather than at-large. The motion argues that the law does not impede voter rights and that the state has a legitimate regulatory interest in differentiating counties that host regent-led universities. The lawsuit was filed by 14 voters from the three affected counties who contend the law limits voter powers.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh announced plans to propose legislation addressing the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines during the 2026 legislative session. The proposed bill responds to ongoing disputes over Summit Carbon Solutions' acquisition of land from unwilling property owners along its planned carbon pipeline route. In the previous legislative session, Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed a similar House bill that would have restricted eminent domain authority for carbon pipeline projects.

Governor Reynolds ordered flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the final day of interment following the deaths of two Iowa Army National Guard soldiers killed in a Syria attack. Reynolds issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and calling for Iowans to unite in support of the bereaved families. Reynolds stated she had contacted the families of the two slain soldiers in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 496 in May 2023, legislation that requires school libraries to stock only "age-appropriate" materials and defines that term to exclude books containing descriptions or visual depictions of sex acts as defined in Iowa criminal code. The law additionally prohibits instruction relating to sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through sixth grade and mandates parental notification when students request accommodations intended to affirm gender identity. A U.S. District Court judge has blocked enforcement of the school library provision while the state appeals the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, leaving Iowa school districts operating under legal uncertainty regarding implementation.

Reynolds provided opening remarks at the inaugural event for the University of Iowa's Center for Intellectual Freedom held at the Old Capitol Museum on December 7-8, 2025. The event featured conservative commentator Christopher Rufo as keynote speaker and included panel discussions addressing topics such as perceived problems in higher education institutions. Reynolds's remarks preceded Rufo's keynote address at the two-day gathering.

Iowa Board of Regents member Robert Cramer was elected president of the board following the resignation of Sherry Bates in December 2025. Bates, who had been reappointed by Governor Reynolds in 2023 and elected board president in 2024, stepped down citing a desire to spend time with family. Board member Christine Hensley stated that the leadership change would help address oversight issues within the board's governance of Iowa's public universities.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation addressing the state's health care workforce shortage and rural health care accessibility. Iowa released its complete application for the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, becoming one of only eight states to publicly disclose all parts of their submissions. The Trump administration, despite pledging "radical transparency," indicated it would publish only project summaries for approved states while many other states withheld their complete applications and details.

Iowa Attorney General Bird led a coalition of 18 states in filing a brief with a federal appeals court challenging an Internal Revenue Service rule that requires nonprofits to disclose their major donors annually. Bird argued that the IRS donor disclosure requirement violates First Amendment protections and creates privacy risks, citing instances in which such lists were hacked and leaked between 2010 and 2022. The coalition urged the court to block the rule in support of The Buckeye Institute's lawsuit against the IRS.

Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff to honor Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old National Guard soldier from West Virginia who was fatally shot near the White House during a deployment to Washington, D.C. The order coincided with a proclamation issued by President Donald Trump. Another National Guard member, Andrew Wolfe, 24, was also shot in the incident and remained in critical condition at the time of the announcement.

Reynolds is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at the University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom's inaugural "Reforming Universities Summit" held at the Old Capitol Building on the UI campus. The event features a seven-hour program with multiple panel sessions and includes Christopher Rufo, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, as the keynote speaker, along with U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary David Barker. The summit concludes with an invite-only dinner at the Iowa Memorial Union ballroom.

Robert Cramer was elected president of the Iowa Board of Regents on Wednesday, succeeding Sherry Bates, who resigned from both the presidency and the board. Cramer's term as board president runs through April 30, 2026. Kurt Tjaden, a newly appointed regent, was elected president pro tem of the board.

Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation on December 2, 2025, following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Hamilton County, marking the ninth case of H5N1 detected in Iowa domestic flocks in 2025. The proclamation, effective immediately through January 1, 2026, authorizes state resources for tracking, monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection of affected sites, and waives certain regulations for commercial vehicles responding to affected locations. State officials directed poultry producers and backyard bird owners to contact veterinarians and report suspected cases to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Iowa Attorney General Bird announced a settlement agreement between Iowa and three other states with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that grants state officials access to a federal immigration database to verify voter citizenship status for the next 20 years. The lawsuit, filed by Bird alongside Iowa Secretary of State Pate and officials from Florida, Ohio, and Indiana, challenged the Department of Homeland Security for withholding information about individuals registered to vote who were flagged by state officials as potentially lacking U.S. citizenship. The settlement requires the states to provide driver's license data to the federal government in exchange for access to the citizenship verification database.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that grants Iowa access to the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database for 20 years to verify voter citizenship status. The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed by Bird and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate in December 2024 challenging the Biden administration's denial of database access after the discovery of registered voters identified as noncitizens ahead of the 2024 election. Under the agreement reached with the Trump administration, Iowa will have ongoing access to the database to cross-reference voter registration records with federal immigration data.

Maria Ruhtenberg, an attorney with the Office of the State Public Defender, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa against the State of Iowa and State Public Defender Jeff Wright, claiming her termination violated her First Amendment rights. According to the lawsuit, Ruhtenberg was fired on September 15, 2025, by Appellate Defender Martha Lucey after posting comments on her private Facebook account regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk's death, including the statements "Live by the sword, die by the sword" and "You reap what you sow." The lawsuit alleges that Ruhtenberg's performance reviews consistently met or exceeded expectations throughout her employment since 2010, and that her online comments did not impede her job duties or damage workplace relations.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds stated in November 2025 that the state is positioned to receive approximately $157 million in federal education funding through block grants rather than direct distribution by the U.S. Department of Education. Reynolds argued that block grant funding would provide states with greater flexibility in education spending and reduce administrative burden, citing concerns that schools sometimes lack the capacity to access available federal resources. In March 2025, Iowa became the first state to submit a unified allocation plan requesting block grant conversion of approximately $145.79 million from nine Every Student Succeeds Act programs, a waiver that remained pending approval at the time of Reynolds's November remarks.

Reynolds announced that she will present the Iowa Award, the state's highest citizen honor, to former Iowa governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad at a ceremony scheduled for December 11 at the State Capitol. The Iowa Award was established by the Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation to recognize Iowans' accomplishments and service in fields including science, medicine, law, religion, education, industry, and government. Branstad will be the 26th recipient of the award, joining previous honorees including former President Herbert Hoover and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Norman Borlaug.

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services denied The Satanic Temple Iowa's request to hold a holiday event at the Iowa Capitol building for the second consecutive year. The denial was based on the grounds that the event had been denied in the previous year. The decision was made as the state faced a religious discrimination complaint related to the prior year's denial of the same request.

Governor Reynolds announced that she will present the Iowa Award, the state's highest citizen honor, to former Governor Terry Branstad during a ceremony on December 11 at the Iowa Capitol. The Iowa Award is granted approximately every five years by the Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation to recognize outstanding service by Iowans in fields including science, medicine, law, religion, education, agriculture, government, and public service. Branstad served as Iowa's governor from 1983 to 1998 and again from 2011 to 2017, and subsequently served as U.S. Ambassador to China from 2017 to 2020.

Reynolds signed into law in 2024 a measure banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in Iowa. The law went into effect in 2024 following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Anti-abortion advocacy groups subsequently launched efforts to maintain abortion as a prominent issue in Iowa's 2026 midterm elections through advertising and voter outreach campaigns.

Iowa's congressional delegation, comprising Republican U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Randy Feenstra, along with U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz requesting approval of $1 billion in funding for Iowa's rural hospitals and clinics from the Rural Health Transformation Program established by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed into law in July. The delegation urged the federal government to allocate funds from the $50 billion initiative, which is designed to offset the impact of Medicaid and other federal health program reductions on rural hospitals. Governor Reynolds separately announced the state's application to receive up to $200 million annually over five years through the "Healthy Hometowns" proposal to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure.

Iowa Attorney General Bird filed a brief alongside 24 other Republican-led states requesting the U.S. Supreme Court issue a stay on California's climate reporting law passed in 2023. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals paused the law requiring large companies to report climate-related business risks while allowing another California law requiring greenhouse gas emissions reporting to proceed. Bird stated that the pause represented a victory in preventing California from imposing requirements on other states.

In 2023, Reynolds declined a $3 million federal grant designated for climate change planning that would have allowed the state to develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating green energy jobs, and lowering energy costs. Reynolds stated that the grant contained excessive conditions and restrictions. The decision reflected the state's broader disengagement from climate change initiatives despite annual Iowa Climate Statements issued by university scientists documenting projected impacts including more frequent flooding, soil degradation, water quality decline, and increased pest and disease pressures.

Reynolds announced her intention to introduce a property tax proposal during the 2026 legislative session following a roundtable discussion with Scott County lawmakers and local government and business leaders in Davenport on November 18, 2025. Reynolds stated that her office has been developing the proposal during the interim and expects that bills will also be introduced by both the House and Senate, with the final approach to be determined through a collaborative process. Reynolds characterized property tax reform as a top priority for the upcoming legislative session, noting that voters have called for further reductions to tax bills following 2023 property tax reforms.

Reynolds attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the ISU BioCentury Research Farm in Boone for the expansion of BioMADE, a Manufacturing Innovation Institute backed by the U.S. Department of Defense. The $40 million project included $10 million in funding from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, $10 million from Iowa State University, and $20 million from BioMADE. The 15,000 square foot facility will serve as a pilot site for bioindustrial manufacturing operations in Iowa.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds directed the Iowa National Guard to extend its mission supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through September 30, 2026, having initially authorized the deployment in August 2025 following a request from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The mission, activated under Title 32 federal status while remaining under state control, involves 16 service members providing clerical, administrative, and logistical support to ICE officials across Iowa. The deployment does not include law enforcement capabilities and is funded through federal appropriations.

Reynolds extended the Iowa National Guard's mission to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through September 30, 2026. The National Guard will continue providing clerical, administrative, and logistical support to ICE officials operating in Iowa, without engaging in law enforcement activities. The mission was originally directed by Reynolds to support federal immigration law enforcement in the state.

Reynolds signed Senate File 2243 into law in Iowa, making it a crime to create visual media depicting a minor recognizable through their face, likeness, or distinguishing features engaging in a sexual act or simulation of a sexual act. The creation of these images or videos can now be charged as a felony. The legislation followed an incident in Nevada, Iowa, in which a minor's photographs were altered using artificial intelligence without consent.

Reynolds released a statement following the House vote on a spending bill that reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown, saying she was relieved the shutdown had ended and the federal government could resume its essential work on behalf of the American people. The spending bill passed 222-209 and included provisions to reopen the government while not extending Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at the end of the year. All of Iowa's lawmakers, including Reynolds' state delegation, voted to pass the bill.

Reynolds announced the "Healthy Hometowns" plan to expand health care access for rural Iowans through investments and policy changes. The state submitted an application for the Rural Health Transformation Program, a federal funding initiative managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which could provide Iowa with $200 million annually, totaling $1 billion over five years if fully awarded. The proposal includes investments in equipment and facilities, recruitment and retention of health care workers, increased cancer screening access, and mobile health services for rural residents.

The state of Iowa agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by Polly Carver-Kimm, a former communications director for the Iowa Department of Public Health who claimed she was forced to resign for attempting to comply with Iowa's open records law. The settlement was approved by the State Appeal Board with a 2-1 vote on November 5, 2025, without the state admitting to wrongdoing. Carver-Kimm had alleged in her 2020 lawsuit that she was retaliated against for working to fulfill journalists' public records requests as part of her 13-year tenure in the position.

The Trump administration ordered partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments for November 2025 during a federal government shutdown that had reached its 36th day. The partial payment directive resulted in most Iowa SNAP households losing more than half their food assistance for the month. The administration maintained this payment structure as negotiations between the president and Democrats remained stalled over government reopening conditions.

Governor Reynolds announced that Iowa submitted an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion federal initiative created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted in summer 2025. The state's proposal, titled "Healthy Hometowns," seeks up to $1 billion in federal funding over five years to support rural hospitals and clinics, with potential annual awards of up to $200 million if approved. The Rural Health Transformation Program was established to help states address rural healthcare needs amid reductions to long-term federal Medicaid spending contained in the same legislation.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 437 into law during the summer of 2025, establishing the University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom as a Legislature-mandated entity. Reynolds recommended names for the center's inaugural 26-member advisory council, which the board appointed with composition including 11 Republicans and three Democrats. The center's interim director Luciano I. de Castro drafted bylaws requiring the advisory council to meet at least once per semester with public notice in accordance with Iowa open meetings laws.

Cedar Rapids City Council issued an emergency proclamation on November 4, 2025, regarding food insecurity risks stemming from disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the federal government shutdown. The proclamation, read by Mayor Tiffany O'Donnell, urged the council to pledge $25,000 to the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, a regional food bank based in Hiawatha. The council scheduled a formal vote on the $25,000 contribution for its November 18 meeting to comply with open meetings laws.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced the allocation of $14 million in national opioid settlement funds to community programs addressing addiction and treatment over two years through a competitive application process with awards up to $1 million per project. This allocation represents one of the first publicly announced distributions of Iowa's opioid settlement funds, which total approximately $325 million through 2039 following a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies. The funding follows a legislative agreement reached during the 2025 session that designated settlement money for specific projects and split additional funds between the Iowa HHS and the Iowa Attorney General's Office for crisis response, intervention, treatment, and recovery services.

During a federal government shutdown that halted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments, Reynolds announced state support for Iowa food banks and pantries experiencing increased demand. The governor committed the state to match donations made by Iowans to food banks up to $1 million, beginning the following day, and directed the Iowa National Guard to prepare for food distribution assistance and tasked HHS and Volunteer Iowa with recruiting and deploying volunteers to distribute food assistance to affected communities.

In June 2021, Reynolds announced the deployment of Iowa State Patrol employees to the United States-Mexico border in Texas, stating the action was in response to requests from Republican governors Greg Abbott and Doug Ducey and asserting it would not compromise public safety in Iowa. Internal emails obtained by The Gazette revealed that state public safety leaders had raised concerns about whether the deployment would leave sufficient staff for law enforcement obligations in Iowa and would incur significant costs, estimated at nearly $400,000. Reynolds did not disclose the cost estimate to legislators or the public for weeks after the announcement, though she had been informed of the figure by state officials before publicly announcing the deployment.

Governor Reynolds announced a state-led response to the anticipated suspension of SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown, which was scheduled to halt on November 1, 2025. Reynolds directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Volunteer Iowa to recruit and deploy volunteers to assist food banks and pantries, placed the National Guard on readiness status, and pledged a $1 million state match for private donations to support food assistance operations. The state also established twice-weekly virtual meetings between HHS and Iowa's six regional food banks to coordinate response efforts and assess emerging needs.

The Iowa Board of Regents issued a request for proposals to hire an external firm to serve as the legislative liaison and state relations representative for the University of Iowa, marking the first time the board has sought a firm rather than a single state relations officer for the position. The contract was scheduled to be awarded by November 17, 2025, with work running through June 30, 2026, in advance of the 2026 legislative session. The board retained its traditional individual state relations officers for Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and UI Health Care.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation in 2023 that reallocated funding previously supporting the Iowa Water Quality Information System, a network of water quality sensors deployed across Iowa's rivers and streams. The reallocation created a funding cliff scheduled for July 2026, requiring the program to secure approximately $600,000 annually to continue operations. The University of Iowa, which operates the sensor network, presented the funding need to Linn County officials in October 2025 after Polk County committed $200,000 to the program's continuation.

Governor Reynolds fired David Jamison, director of the Iowa Finance Authority, in March after receiving a letter detailing sexual harassment allegations against him. A subsequent five-month investigation by the Weinhardt Law Firm confirmed the allegations in a 35-page report released in September. The State Appeal Board voted to approve $4.15 million in settlements to the two women who accused Jamison of sexual harassment during his tenure at the state agency.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2340 in April 2024, which made it a state crime for individuals previously denied admission to or removed from the United States to be present in Iowa. The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice and the ACLU of Iowa filed a lawsuit challenging the law, and a federal judge issued an injunction blocking its implementation before it took effect. On October 24, 2025, a federal judge upheld the injunction, preventing the law from being enforced.

Reynolds directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the state's food banks in response to potential delays in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments resulting from the federal government shutdown. Approximately 131,000 Iowa households receive SNAP benefits, which distribute roughly $45 million monthly to assist low-income families with food purchases. The coordination was initiated to prepare for potential service gaps if the federal shutdown extended into November and delayed benefit distributions.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 75 into law in April 2025, which requires Johnson, Story, and Black Hawk counties to elect county supervisors by districts rather than at-large elections. A lawsuit filed in Johnson County District Court challenges the constitutionality of the law, arguing it limits voter power in the three affected counties and singles out counties with Regent universities. The plaintiffs, a group of 14 voters from the three counties, list Reynolds as a defendant alongside Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and the three county boards of supervisors.

Governor Reynolds directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to maintain contact with local food banks and review the state's COVID-era food response plan in preparation for potential delays to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits if the federal government shutdown continued past November 1, 2025. Reynolds called on Congressional Democrats to reopen the federal government, citing concerns that approximately 131,000 Iowa households receiving SNAP benefits could experience service interruptions. The governor's actions were taken in response to warnings from food bank officials that local pantries would be unable to replace lost SNAP assistance during November, traditionally their busiest month.

Reynolds met with state legislators, local government officials, and business representatives in Peosta on Thursday to discuss property tax reform ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Reynolds stated that any property tax reduction would require local governments to deliver services more efficiently and effectively, though she indicated no specific policy proposal has been drafted yet. The discussion was part of a statewide tour by Reynolds to gather input on approaches to reduce property taxes, which she identified as a priority concern for Iowa taxpayers and the state legislature.

In 2023, Reynolds signed Senate File 558, which shifted funding for the Iowa Water Quality Information System from Iowa State University's Nutrient Research Center to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The legislation resulted in the sensor network, operated by the University of Iowa's IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering program, facing a funding shortfall beginning in summer 2026. Polk County Supervisors subsequently voted to allocate $200,000 toward the program's continued operation.

Reynolds released a 136-page final report from the Iowa DOGE task force containing recommendations to improve state government efficiency and effectiveness, including dozens of suggestions affecting education, healthcare, and other areas. The report recommends implementing performance-based pay for teachers tied to student growth, which Reynolds stated would reward excellence while ensuring teachers would not see salary declines. The recommendation generated substantial disagreement, with the Iowa State Education Association and Democratic lawmakers expressing concerns about the effectiveness and fairness of performance-based compensation models.

Reynolds released 45 recommendations from the Iowa DOGE Task Force, which she established through executive order in February 2025 to examine workforce programs, emerging technologies, and government efficiency. The task force consisted of business leaders alongside local and state government officials who were directed to provide recommendations for improving taxpayer investment in government services. Reynolds stated she would spend the following months reviewing the recommendations for potential implementation by her office or state lawmakers.

Reynolds identified property tax reform as a top priority for the Iowa legislature following the release of the Iowa Department of Government Efficiency task force report. Reynolds stated that reducing the property tax burden would require finding new and more efficient ways for government at all levels to deliver services to citizens. The property tax reform initiative is expected to be a major focus of the Iowa legislature when the session begins in January.

In 2023, Reynolds signed legislation that diverted $500,000 in funding from the Iowa Water Quality Information System, a statewide water monitoring program that tracks data including nitrate levels and water temperatures. The system subsequently relied on grassroots funding that was set to expire in 2026. In October 2025, the Polk County Board of Supervisors allocated $200,000 to help sustain the system, with $90,000 from leftover assessment funding and $110,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Reynolds unveiled a report from the Iowa DOGE Task Force, a 15-member body created by executive order in February 2025, which submitted 45 recommendations for improving state government efficiency across workforce, technology, and taxpayer investment. The recommendations include a study of public employee benefits, implementation of achievement-based teacher pay, and property tax reductions. Reynolds stated her administration will review the recommendations to determine which should become legislative proposals for the 2026 session.

Governor Reynolds released the final report of the Iowa Department of Government Efficiency task force on October 21, 2025, containing 45 recommendations developed over six months examining technology, workforce training programs, and return on taxpayer investment in state services. The report included proposals to create a $15 million workforce infrastructure fund through Iowa Workforce Development and to align government employee benefits with private sector compensation structures, including modifications to retirement benefits for new state employees. Reynolds stated that the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System would remain in place while the recommendations were referred to government leaders and lawmakers for implementation decisions.

David Barker resigned from the Iowa Board of Regents after six years of service to be sworn in as U.S. assistant secretary for postsecondary education, citing ethics guidelines requiring him to step down to avoid potential conflicts of interest. In his resignation letter to Governor Reynolds, Barker referenced the Trump administration's Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education and stated he had been urging the Board of Regents to sign the compact since its announcement. Barker's departure follows his tenure on the board during which he advocated for increased intellectual diversity on Iowa's campuses and supported curtailing diversity, equity, and inclusion programming in compliance with state laws.

Governor Reynolds ordered flags at the Iowa Capitol and all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on October 25 to honor late state Senator Claire Celsi, who died at age 59 on October 6. The flags were lowered on the same day a ceremony was held to celebrate Celsi's life. Celsi had represented Senate District 16 since 2023 and served as the ranking member on the Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee.

Governor Reynolds hosted a roundtable discussion in Dallas Center with state representatives and community leaders to gather input on property tax reform ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Reynolds stated she intends to use feedback from the meeting to formulate a plan addressing property tax increases, which she identified as a persistent concern from constituents. When asked about proposals to phase out property taxes entirely, Reynolds indicated she would need to review detailed plans and noted that alternative funding mechanisms would be necessary to maintain state services.

Governor Reynolds participated in a roundtable discussion on residential property taxes with Iowa House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Carter Nordman and local government leaders in Dallas Center on October 16, 2025. Reynolds stated that property tax reduction remained the top priority of the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature and acknowledged continued public frustration with rising property taxes. The discussion followed unsuccessful legislative efforts during the 2025 session to advance property tax reform measures, after Republicans had passed property tax legislation in 2023 that implemented a merged levy system with growth reduction mechanisms.

Reynolds appealed a pre-trial decision in an open records lawsuit brought by the Des Moines Register after a Polk County judge ruled that her office must provide four emails to the court for private judicial review. The emails were withheld from an 825-page open records request made by the Register following Reynolds's Capitol Hill exchange regarding allegations against Lutheran Services of Iowa. Reynolds asserted the emails were protected under executive privilege as confidential communications, while the Register contested that no such privilege exists under Iowa law.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 383 into law in June 2025, legislation that imposed new restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers including requirements for reimbursement rates based on federal pricing benchmarks and prohibitions on health plan favoritism toward certain pharmacies. Following a federal judge's partial halt of the law's enforcement in an earlier case, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield filed a lawsuit in October 2025 seeking to block the Iowa Insurance Division's enforcement of the law's provisions. The insurer argued that the law would increase prescription drug costs for its members and potentially affect more than one million Iowans.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' administration received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases beginning January 1, 2026. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced it is working with retailers to enforce prohibitions on purchasing soda, candy, gum, fruit punch, and certain prepared foods with SNAP benefits. The restrictions use Iowa's non-taxable food items list to determine ineligible purchases under the modified SNAP program.

Governor Reynolds signed an executive order requiring all Iowa state government departments to use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility and the federal SAVE system to verify immigration or citizenship status before issuing professional licenses. The order mandates these federal verification systems across all state agencies, though some agencies had already voluntarily adopted E-Verify and SAVE prior to the directive. Reynolds stated the measure ensures that only individuals legally permitted to work, receive benefits, and obtain licenses in Iowa can do so.

Gov. Reynolds signed Executive Order 15 on October 8, 2025, requiring all state government agencies to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility of state workers and the SAVE system to verify citizenship or immigration status of individuals seeking state-issued professional licenses. The executive order made both verification systems mandatory across all state government, though Reynolds' office noted some agencies already used these systems voluntarily. Reynolds stated the order was prompted by the hiring of former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, who was later arrested by immigration agents, and aimed to establish safeguards before licenses were issued or individuals were entrusted with public services.

Governor Reynolds signed Executive Order 15 requiring all state government agencies and departments to use the federal E-Verify and SAVE systems to confirm work eligibility and citizenship status for all potential employees. The executive order also requires verification of legal immigration or citizenship status for anyone requesting a state-issued professional license. Reynolds stated the action was issued in light of recent events involving the former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent who was arrested by federal immigration officials and found to lack authorization to work in the United States.

The University of Northern Iowa received a $1.22 million American History and Civics Education-Seminars grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish the Iowa Civic Educators Institute. Reynolds supported the grant application submitted by the university. The institute will provide professional development to Iowa teachers through seminars, workshops, and curriculum development focused on American political tradition, constitutional principles, and Iowa history.

Iowa regent David Barker was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as assistant secretary for postsecondary education in the Department of Education following his nomination by President Donald Trump in May 2025. Barker's swearing-in was delayed due to a federal government shutdown, during which he continued serving on the Iowa Board of Regents. Upon the shutdown's conclusion and Barker's assumption of office, Governor Kim Reynolds was scheduled to appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of his six-year regents term through 2031.

Reynolds announced that Iowa would provide temporary state funding to sustain the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program during the federal government shutdown, after the program faced depletion of its contingency funds. The state's commitment to cover WIC benefits came as the federal $150 million emergency fund faced potential exhaustion within two weeks if the shutdown continued. Reynolds's office indicated that Iowa's ability to maintain this support would depend on the duration of the federal shutdown.

Iowa's Medicaid program is projected to face budget shortfalls of nearly $76 million in fiscal year 2026 and $181 million in 2027, according to estimates from the state's Medicaid Forecasting Group released in September 2025. State Auditor Rob Sand characterized the shortfalls as resulting from irresponsible budgeting practices by Republican state leaders, while state health officials and Republican leaders attributed the deficits to rising patient needs and drug costs. The projections follow the expiration of temporary federal pandemic aid and an enhanced federal match rate that had generated surpluses in previous years.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Mark Campbell, a Fort Dodge business owner and former Webster County supervisor, as director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services in October 2025. Campbell, who had chaired the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission since 2021, replaced Adam Steen, who resigned in August 2025 to pursue a campaign for Iowa governor. The department manages state government resources including human resources, general services, fleet management, and the State Library of Iowa.

In 2023, Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 558, legislation passed by the Iowa Legislature that redirected $500,000 in funding from Iowa State University's Nutrient Research Center to a water quality program at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. This funding diversion reduced support for the University of Iowa's Iowa Water Quality Information System, which operates a network of sensors measuring nitrate levels, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature in the state's rivers and streams. The resulting funding gap has led to a reduction in the number of active sensors from 75 in 2023 to 60 in 2025, with complete depletion of available funds projected for July 2026.

Following the arrest of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Friday, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his school administrator's license. The Iowa Department of Education determined that Roberts had stated he was a U.S. citizen on his application for an administrator's license, contrary to his immigration status. In response to the license revocation, the Des Moines school board voted to place Roberts on unpaid leave.

Gov. Reynolds wrote a letter to the Iowa Board of Regents urging the termination of Iowa State University employee Caitlyn Spencer, a financial aid adviser, after Spencer made social media comments regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk's death. Spencer was fired on September 23, 2025, one week after the Board of Regents discussed the matter in closed session, with ISU President Wendy Wintersteen citing violations of the university's Freedom of Expression policy and the Financial Aid Code of Conduct. The university determined that Spencer's continued employment would cause significant disruption and harm to the institution's operations.

Governor Reynolds held a press conference at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday to announce results from the Statewide Assessment of Student Progress for the 2024-25 school year, which showed Iowa students had rebounded to pre-COVID performance levels in math, reading, and writing. The assessment data indicated that nearly 56 percent of schools performed in the top three of six rating categories, an increase of 10 percentage points from the previous year, while chronic absenteeism decreased to 15.8 percent and 45 percent of high school seniors completed work-based learning. Reynolds stated that the improved results demonstrated Iowa's readiness to receive federal block grant funding directly rather than through the U.S. Department of Education.

Iowa Governor Reynolds announced on Thursday that Iowa received a five-year, $43 million federal Charter Schools Program Grant to State Entities from the U.S. Department of Education, making Iowa one of six states selected for this competitive grant program. The grant is designated to support the growth and expansion of public charter schools in Iowa, which currently has ten schools operating and six additional schools approved to open. Reynolds stated the funding recognizes Iowa's leadership in educational options and will support expansion of tuition-free public charter schools available to Iowa students and families.

Reynolds signed Senate File 383 into law in 2025, establishing regulatory measures on pharmacy benefit managers and providing financial assistance to Iowa pharmacies. The legislation was enacted in response to pharmacy closures, with 29 pharmacies closing in Iowa during 2024. The law reflects a broader state-level trend of implementing restrictions on pharmacy benefit manager operations.

Reynolds announced in March that Iowa would be the first state to request federal education funding in the form of block grants rather than separate categorical funding streams. At a news conference in September 2025, Reynolds cited Iowa's improving public school performance as evidence the state was prepared to manage consolidated federal education funding. Reynolds stated that the state had established the necessary infrastructure to receive and administer block grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

Governor Reynolds directed the Board of Regents on September 17 to investigate social media posts by employees at Iowa state universities following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Reynolds stated that employees who were found to have celebrated taking another human life should be terminated. The Board of Regents was given a two-week period to complete these investigations.

Sexton was appointed state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Iowa Rural Development office, an agency that provides financial resources and support to rural communities through loans and grants. Sexton resigned his seat in the Iowa House, where he had served six two-year terms beginning in 2014 and chaired the House Agriculture Committee from 2023 through 2025. A special election will be held to fill Sexton's House seat, with the date to be set by Governor Reynolds.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ended negotiations with UnitedHealthcare over the company's request to waive pay-for-performance deductions, leading to the insurer's withdrawal from the state's IA Health Link Medicaid program. Reynolds stated that UnitedHealthcare's additional demands were "unacceptable" and that maintaining accountability measures was essential. Approximately 425,000 Medicaid recipients enrolled with UnitedHealthcare will be transitioned to coverage through either Amerigroup of Iowa or Iowa Total Care during the transition period.

Governor Reynolds suggested appointees for the inaugural advisory council of the University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom, a center mandated by House File 437. The Iowa Board of Regents approved 26 council members from Reynolds' suggestions and other sources, with the council composed of 11 Republicans, three Democrats, and 12 independents. The council selection process included members based both in Iowa and outside the state, with two women among the 26 appointees.

Reynolds signed legislation in the previous year that criminalized the creation of artificial intelligence-generated sexual content depicting minors. Three students from Cascade High School in West Dubuque County were charged in juvenile court in 2025 for allegedly using artificial intelligence to generate fake nude images of female classmates, with the incident reported in April. The Dubuque County Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Office, and Dubuque Police Department coordinated to present information to students and parents regarding the dangers of artificial intelligence misuse and internet safety.

Reynolds appointed Stacy Cervenka to lead the Iowa Department for the Blind in May 2024, with Cervenka assuming the position in July. Under Cervenka's leadership, the Iowa Commission for the Blind revised its policy on the use of sleepshades in blindness training from "required" to "highly recommended" at a September 12 meeting. The policy change prompted approximately 30 protesters organized by the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa to gather outside the department's Des Moines building, with organizers stating the revision departed from a 60-year-old training model.

Governor Reynolds announced a proposal through the Iowa Department of Education to consolidate federal education funding streams into a block grant system for K-12 school districts. The waiver request, submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, aims to reduce administrative requirements by streamlining funding that currently flows through more than 300 separate allocations. The proposal remains pending federal approval while school districts, advocacy groups, and education officials continue to assess its potential effects on funding levels and accountability measures.

Naig announced the recipients of nine Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grants totaling $355,000 to provide funding for equipment upgrades and facility improvements at small-scale meat processing plants across Iowa. At a news conference in Des Moines, Naig stated that the U.S. needs to pursue new global markets to address farmer challenges, citing a recent Iowa delegation trade mission to India as a potential market for soybean and soybean meal exports. Naig acknowledged depressed commodity prices and rising input costs facing farmers while calling for aggressive expansion of foreign trade partnerships to increase demand for Iowa agricultural products.

Reynolds established a citizen-led task force on government efficiency that presented recommendations including offering financial bonuses to teachers based on student achievement and allowing new public employees to opt out of the state retirement program. The task force, directed by Reynolds to examine workforce, technology, and return on taxpayer investment, completed its fourth and final meeting in Des Moines on September 15, 2025, with recommendations to be compiled in a report delivered to Reynolds and state lawmakers by September 29, 2025. The recommendations on teacher compensation tied to student outcomes and public employee retirement options were among those receiving significant public attention during the task force's work.

U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks called for the University of Iowa to name its newly created Center for Intellectual Freedom after Charlie Kirk in September 2025. The center was established after Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 437 into law in June 2025, which mandated the creation of the center along with an oversight advisory council. The Board of Regents appointed economics professor Luciano de Castro as interim executive director in July 2025 and subsequently considered appointing 26 inaugural members to the advisory council, including former Governor Terry Branstad.

Governor Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff effective immediately until sunset on Sunday in memory of Charlie Kirk following his shooting death at a Utah college event. Reynolds posted statements on social media expressing condolences to Kirk's family and characterizing Kirk as someone who stood up for conservative values and invited constructive debate among young Americans. Reynolds stated that political violence has no place in the country.

Reynolds led an eight-day trade mission to India in September 2025, returning with a delegation that included Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to engage with Indian government officials, trade associations, and private-sector leaders. The delegation visited Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai to strengthen trade relationships and pursue opportunities in food, agriculture, and biotech sectors. Reynolds stated the mission aimed to solidify relationships and establish new connections for Iowa agriculture and food processing industries in the world's most populous country.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds granted 55 pardons between 2017 and 2023, more than double the 26 pardons issued by her predecessor Terry Branstad during his second term as governor from 2011 to 2017. A pardon in Iowa restores an individual's rights lost due to criminal conviction, including voting rights, eligibility for public office, and firearm possession. Reynolds issued no commutations during the same period, which reduce sentences and make individuals eligible for parole.

Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately until sunset Sunday in response to a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis that resulted in two children killed and 17 people injured. The directive applied to flags at the Iowa Capitol, the Capitol complex, and all public buildings and grounds throughout the state, with the governor's office encouraging individuals, businesses, schools, and other government entities to follow suit. Reynolds' order aligned with President Donald Trump's proclamation to lower the U.S. flag for the same duration.

In May 2024, Reynolds signed legislation eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion bureaucracies at Iowa's regent universities. The law established restrictions on DEI programs and initiatives across the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa. Following the signing of this legislation, state and federal lawmakers subsequently called on university leaders to enforce compliance and take action against employees found in violation of the anti-DEI restrictions.

Governor Reynolds signed the Students First Education Savings Accounts into law in January 2023, a program that allows per-pupil funding to be used at non-public schools rather than public schools. In the 2025 school year, the program expanded to all Iowa students regardless of income, resulting in approximately 46,000 applications with nearly 44,000 approved, each account valued at $7,988. The increased approvals raised projected state costs from an estimated $314 million for 40,000 students to potentially $349 million based on the higher number of approved accounts.

Governor Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have restricted the use of eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipelines, including the Summit Carbon Solutions project. In her veto statement, Reynolds called for greater transparency at the Iowa Utilities Commission through increased public attendance at hearings and informational meetings. Following Reynolds's veto and subsequent calls for transparency, the Iowa Utilities Commission resumed regular monthly public meetings in August 2025, which had not been held since August 2023.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 418, which was passed by the Iowa Legislature and went into effect July 1, removing gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act and creating new legal definitions of male and female based on reproductive organs at birth. The bill also struck the definition of gender identity from state law and established that gender shall not be considered a synonym for gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role. The Iowa City Council subsequently adopted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protecting the LGBTQ+ community's civil rights, noting that gender identity has remained a protected class in city code since the mid-1990s.

The Iowa Legislature and Governor Kim Reynolds passed a law in 2025 requiring all locally elected officials to complete training on Iowa's open meetings and open records laws. The Iowa Public Information Board began developing guidance and training materials for local government officials to implement the new requirement ahead of municipal and school elections in November. Four entities, including the Iowa League of Cities, Iowa State Extension and Outreach, Linn County, and the law firm Ahlers & Cooney, submitted applications to provide the mandated training.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors formally asked the Iowa City Council to establish a joint law enforcement authority to explore the possibility of constructing a shared law enforcement facility for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and Jail and the Iowa City Police Department. The joint authority would be governed by a board of three commissioners, with one member appointed by the Board of Supervisors, one by the City Council, and a third through consensus between both bodies, with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds holding appointment authority if the third member cannot be agreed upon within 60 days. The feasibility study estimated the joint facility could cost approximately $106 million, with the deadline for establishing the authority set for October to allow time for a bond measure to be placed on the November 2026 general election ballot.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 782 into law on April 30, 2025, requiring Iowa public school districts to establish policies restricting the use of electronic devices during instructional time. The legislation made cell phone and electronic device restrictions mandatory statewide, though some districts had previously implemented such bans voluntarily. West Des Moines schools adopted a tiered policy in June 2025 that prohibits personal electronic devices during instructional time in all grade levels, with varying restrictions during lunch, passing periods, and before and after school depending on whether students attend elementary, junior high, or high school.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Kristen Stiffler as executive director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, effective April 25, 2023. Stiffler, a former Republican Iowa House candidate and managing partner at KC Consulting Services, replaced Stan Thomson, who moved to the Iowa Attorney General's Office as deputy attorney general for civil litigation. The appointment was subject to Senate confirmation under Iowa's government reorganization law that moved the Civil Rights Commission under the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing.

Reynolds announced a $10 million state grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Strategic Infrastructure Program to support the establishment of a bioindustrial manufacturing facility in central Iowa by BioMADE, a U.S. Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institute. The $40 million facility, to be located near Ames at Iowa State University's BioCentury Research Farm in Boone, will include fermentation equipment and laboratory space for developing agricultural bioproducts and chemicals. Reynolds stated the project would create jobs and advance biomanufacturing in Iowa, with the facility scheduled to open in early 2028.

Governor Reynolds announced that 20 members of the Iowa National Guard will provide administrative and logistical support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Iowa following a request from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Reynolds directed the Iowa National Guard to commence a federal mission on September 8 under Title 32, with authorization approved by the U.S. Secretary of Defense through November 15. The National Guard's involvement will primarily consist of clerical work, transportation, and data entry, with soldiers not performing law enforcement functions.

Governor Reynolds directed the Iowa National Guard to provide administrative, logistical, and clerical support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials operating in Iowa, with 20 soldiers authorized to assist beginning September 8, 2025. The soldiers will not perform law enforcement functions and will instead handle office-based duties to free ICE agents for field operations. The authorization is approved through November 15, 2025.

Reynolds confirmed that the Iowa National Guard is preparing to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, with the guard's role expected to focus on clerical, logistical, and administrative tasks rather than direct enforcement activities. Reynolds stated that no final orders have been issued to the National Guard but that Iowa is prepared to assist ICE in a capacity similar to other states undertaking such coordination. The governor indicated that if mobilized, the National Guard would operate under state control with federal funding covering the mission costs.

The Iowa Board of Regents revised its proposed policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion and critical race theory content at public universities after facing criticism from faculty, students, and alumni regarding academic freedom concerns. Rather than implementing a ban on courses with substantial DEI or CRT content, the board proposed amendments to its academic freedom policy that would allow faculty to teach controversial subjects relevant to course content while requiring instruction to avoid indoctrination of a single perspective. The revised policy directs universities to adopt procedures ensuring coursework presents a range of scholarly views and encourages critical thinking and open inquiry.

Reynolds offered the Iowa National Guard to assist the federal government with immigration enforcement following a request from U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to all 50 governors. Reynolds stated that the Department of Homeland Security is prioritizing enforcement actions against individuals it characterizes as security threats. The specific terms of any agreement between Iowa and the federal departments of Defense and Homeland Security had not been finalized at the time of Reynolds's announcement.

Governor Reynolds created the Iowa DOGE Task Force through executive order in February 2025 to identify ways to streamline state government and reduce spending. During its third meeting on August 6, 2025, the 15-member task force discussed 45 recommendations across 14 themes, including allowing cities with populations over 50,000 to elect independence from county governance, aligning public sector employee compensation with private sector standards, and implementing performance-based teacher compensation tied to student outcomes. The task force is scheduled to submit its final proposals to Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature by September 2025.

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia announced that the state will adhere to new federal Medicaid work requirements and is withdrawing its state-specific request to enact separate work requirements. Garcia participated in a roundtable discussion at Knoxville Hospital and Clinics on Wednesday regarding the impact of federal Medicaid spending reductions, which are projected to result in $2.7 billion less in Medicaid funding for Iowa rural hospitals over ten years. The announcement came as federal Republicans passed legislation reducing future Medicaid spending by $941 billion over ten years.

Iowa Attorney General Bird announced that NEW Cooperative would pay a $50,000 penalty and fund a $50,000 environmental project following a March 2024 spill at the company's Red Oak facility in which 265,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer leaked into a drainage ditch leading to the East Nishnabotna River, killing approximately 750,000 fish and contaminating 50 miles of the river. The settlement also subjects the cooperative to a three-year injunction prohibiting further water quality violations. The penalty amount and terms were characterized by environmental advocates as insufficient given the scale of the environmental damage and the company's substantial annual revenues.

Reynolds stated that the Iowa National Guard stands ready to coordinate with the federal government to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with administrative, clerical, and logistical duties related to detention and deportation operations, following authorization by the U.S. Department of Defense for National Guard troops to support ICE in multiple states including Iowa. The governor's office indicated that the Iowa National Guard had not yet received a specific mission order from the Department of Defense at the time of the announcement. Reynolds indicated the state would be prepared to provide such assistance if formally mobilized for this federal mission.

Iowa agreed to pay $1.95 million in attorney fees as part of a settlement in a 2023 lawsuit claiming the State of Iowa had failed to provide mental and behavioral health services to Medicaid-eligible children as required by federal law. The Iowa Appeal Board unanimously approved the payment in August 2025, which represented a reduction from the original $2.7 million requested by the plaintiffs. Under the settlement agreement approved by federal court in May 2025, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is required to provide intensive home and community-based mental health services to eligible children under age 21, including care coordination, in-home therapeutic services, and mobile crisis intervention.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation on May 9, 2024, that restricted diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state universities and related institutions. Following the release of an undercover video in which a University of Iowa employee stated she would continue to incorporate DEI concepts in her work despite the restrictions, Reynolds issued a statement characterizing the employee's remarks as defiance of the law she had signed. The employee was subsequently placed on administrative leave.

Iowa Attorney General Bird announced an investigation into the University of Iowa's compliance with a state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion policies, following an undercover video showing university staff discussing ways to circumvent the legislation. Bird stated during a campaign fundraiser that her office would examine relevant documents and conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether the university renamed DEI programs rather than eliminating them as required by law. Bird indicated the investigation would take considerable time and would be conducted according to legal procedures.

Reynolds issued disaster proclamations on Thursday and Wednesday for Hancock and Plymouth Counties in response to severe weather and flooding that occurred on July 17 and July 28, respectively. The proclamations activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, which provides grants up to $7,000 to households with income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level for home or car repairs, property or food replacement, and temporary housing expenses. The proclamations also activated the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, under which case advocates work with impacted residents to develop recovery plans and provide guidance and referrals to obtain services or resources.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird initiated an investigation into the University of Iowa on July 30, 2025, following a complaint filed by Governor Kim Reynolds regarding alleged violations of a state law restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The complaint was based on an undercover video released by Fox News in which a University of Iowa employee described methods to circumvent the restrictions on DEI initiatives. Iowa law, enacted the previous year, prohibits public universities in the state from maintaining DEI offices or staff positions.

Reynolds signed into law legislation banning abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected, with limited exceptions for rape, incest, and cases where the mother's life is at stake. One year after the law took effect, abortion procedures in Iowa decreased by 74 percent according to Planned Parenthood data, while out-of-state abortion travel from Iowa increased by 182 percent. Reynolds released a statement characterizing the law as a victory and noted that Iowa had implemented additional policies including support for crisis pregnancy centers, extended postpartum Medicaid coverage, and paid parental leave for state employees.

Reynolds condemned a University of Iowa employee shown in a Fox News video stating the university was circumventing the state's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Act, which Reynolds signed into law on May 9, 2024. Reynolds referred the matter to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird for review under Iowa Code Chapter 261J and referenced an executive order signed by President Trump ending DEI implementation at public institutions. Attorney General Bird announced on Wednesday that she had opened an investigation into the University of Iowa's compliance with state law and the Trump executive order.

Reynolds signed legislation passed by Iowa statehouse Republicans that bans abortions once an embryo's cardiac activity can be detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, which went into effect on July 29, 2024. In the year following implementation, abortion rates in Iowa declined by more than half, while the number of Iowa residents traveling to neighboring states to obtain abortions increased significantly. Reynolds issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the law, characterizing it as a victory and noting state programs established to support mothers.

Iowa's heartbeat law, which prohibits abortion when cardiac activity is detected at approximately six weeks of pregnancy, went into effect in July 2024 with exceptions for rape, incest, threats to the pregnant person's life, and fetal abnormalities. State data shows abortions in Iowa declined to 1,792 procedures in the year following implementation, down from 2,771 in 2023 and 4,061 in 2022. The law shifted Iowa's abortion cutoff period from 20 weeks to approximately six weeks of pregnancy.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds sent a letter to congressional leaders on Wednesday urging support for legislation to block California's Proposition 12, an animal welfare law passed by California voters in 2018 that restricts the sale of pork products in California from hogs raised in certain confinement systems. Reynolds joined seven other governors in requesting that Congress overturn the California regulations, which took effect last year and require that uncooked pork sold in California come from sows kept in pens providing at least 24 square feet of space per animal. The letter stated that livestock producers in other states should not have to comply with regulations determined by another state's electorate.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 383 during the 2025 legislative session, a law that added new restrictions on pharmacy benefit manager business practices, including limitations on financial penalties tied to pharmacy selection, requirements for reimbursement at national or state average acquisition costs, and a $10.68 dispensing fee for independent and rural pharmacies. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose issued a ruling in July 2025 blocking portions of the law for businesses involved in the lawsuit, determining that multiple components violated the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the First Amendment by suppressing commercial speech. The judge found that while the state had legitimate concerns about market concentration and rural healthcare access, the law crossed constitutional boundaries in its allocation of regulatory authority between state and federal governments.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 782 into law in April 2025, establishing a statewide prohibition on cellphone and personal electronic device use during the school day in Iowa public, private, and charter schools. The legislation passed the Iowa Legislature with near-unanimous support and applies to all school types across the state. Eastern Iowa school districts began implementing cellphone restriction policies in preparation for the 2025-2026 school year to comply with the new state law.

Governor Reynolds released state data in July 2025 indicating that fentanyl tablet seizures in Iowa declined 64 percent in the first six months of 2025 compared to the average of the same period over the previous four years, while methamphetamine seizures declined 25 percent using the same comparison. The data was compiled by the Criminalistics Laboratory in the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, which processes submissions from law enforcement agencies across the state. Reynolds attributed the reduction in drug seizures to federal immigration policy implemented during the Trump administration.

In January 2025, Reynolds announced the creation of a state-level task force modeled after the federal Department of Government Efficiency to review state spending and government operations. Reynolds stated that Iowa had been engaged in cost-cutting efforts prior to the federal DOGE initiative's public prominence. The Iowa DOGE Task Force held meetings to develop recommendations for streamlining state government and reducing state expenditures.

Reynolds has restricted abortion access in Iowa through state-level policies. A national anti-abortion organization leader stated that her organization will closely monitor Iowa's 2026 gubernatorial race with the expectation that the next state governor will continue Reynolds's legacy of restricting abortion access. The article does not specify particular legislation or executive orders signed by Reynolds but references her existing record on abortion restrictions in the state.

Governor Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have restricted companies' use of eminent domain by requiring them to meet specific conditions before exercising that power. The bill had passed both the Iowa House and Senate with bipartisan support. Reynolds stated that her veto would not impact her agenda in the next legislative session, and lawmakers may request a veto override, which would require a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

Reynolds directed her chief of staff to contact the USDA to request involvement in federal discussions regarding potential deportation policy for undocumented farm workers, citing the significance of the issue to Iowa agriculture. The request followed President Trump's comments at the Iowa State Fairgrounds suggesting that farmers willing to vouch for undocumented workers might be permitted to retain them rather than remove all workers from farms. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had stated that no amnesty would be granted to migrants and suggested that able-bodied adults in Medicaid programs could replace undocumented farm laborers.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation that removed gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The law also defines a person's sex based on sex assigned at birth. The change eliminated legal protections that previously prevented discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Reynolds issued Executive Order 10 in 2023, which created a moratorium on administrative rulemaking and directed state agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of existing administrative rules. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources subsequently proposed rules removing the "special concern" category from its threatened and endangered species classifications, citing alignment with Iowa statute that identifies only endangered and threatened species. The DNR stated the proposed change would result in no change in policy or enforcement, with some special concern species being reclassified to threatened or endangered status under the new rules.

Reynolds stated that Iowa officials contacted the White House to participate in discussions regarding a Trump administration proposal to allow undocumented agricultural workers to remain in the country with employer sponsorship. The governor told a radio host that maintaining immigrant labor in agriculture was essential to Iowa's farming operations and urged the administration to implement the policy correctly. Reynolds indicated that these discussions should occur alongside border security measures that the Trump administration had already undertaken.

Governor Reynolds vetoed House File 639, legislation that would have restricted the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, increased insurance requirements for hazardous liquid pipelines, and limited carbon pipeline permits to single 25-year terms. Reynolds stated in her veto that the bill included "sweeping mandates that reach far beyond their intended targets." State Senator Herman Quirmbach submitted a request to Senate leadership on July 3 calling for a special session to override the veto, joining 70 House members from both parties who had previously signed a petition for the same purpose.

Reynolds announced plans to establish a nuclear energy task force to develop recommendations regarding the addition of nuclear energy to Iowa's energy portfolio. The task force was included in Reynolds' comprehensive energy plan, which did not advance during the 2025 Iowa legislative session due to disagreement over a transmission line provision. Reynolds stated she would likely proceed with forming the task force to address the state's future energy demands driven by artificial intelligence expansion, data center growth, and manufacturing reshoring.

Reynolds released a statement supporting the House passage of President Trump's $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill, which passed on a 218-214 vote. Reynolds highlighted three provisions: elimination of federal income taxes on tips and overtime pay, increased funding for border security and wall construction, and work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving public assistance benefits. The bill was signed by President Trump following its passage.

Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday to honor Corporal Melvin Huff, a World War II veteran whose remains were being returned to his hometown of Iowa Falls for burial at Union Cemetery. Huff, an Iowa Falls native, was 19 years old when the Army lost contact with his plane over Papua New Guinea in January 1945, with his remains identified only last year after the wreckage was discovered in 2011. The flag order was issued in recognition of Huff's military service and the ceremony marking his return home.

Ernst voted for the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," legislation that passed the U.S. Senate and included significant tax cuts and Medicaid modifications. According to Ernst's statement, the bill was designed to reduce taxes for families, farmers, and small businesses while reducing Medicaid spending through waste elimination. Ernst stated she worked to secure $100 million in taxpayer savings over the next decade as part of the legislation.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation in May 2024 that restructured Iowa's behavioral health system, replacing the previous framework of 13 Mental Health and Disability Services Regions and 19 Integrated Provider Networks with seven new behavioral health districts. The new system, which took effect in 2025, consolidated mental health and substance use disorder services under a single structure while transferring disability services to the state's Aging and Disability Network. Both divisions operate under the oversight of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have restricted the use of eminent domain for pipeline projects in Iowa. The veto created tension among Iowa Republicans, some of whom had supported the legislation. The specific bill restricted how eminent domain could be applied in pipeline development cases.

On June 29, Reynolds signed House File 2540 into law, which legalized the sale of mixed drinks and cocktails to-go by certain liquor license holders in Iowa. The legislation authorized state regulators to adopt emergency administrative rules governing the filling, sealing, and sale of such beverages. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division subsequently filed administrative rules effective immediately that establish specific container and sealing requirements, including prohibitions on paper, Styrofoam, and single-use plastic cups, and mandates for tamper-evident seals such as heat shrink wrap bands or vacuum-sealed pouches.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 659, the state standings budget bill, on Wednesday after emergency response officials requested she veto a provision allowing the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to request reimbursement from local 911 service boards for costs related to call traffic. The provision would permit the state agency to seek reimbursement for what it deems "reasonable costs" from the local 911 boards. Reynolds stated she did not exercise a line-item veto on the provision, noting that 911 service boards hold a $66 million budget surplus and suggesting the funds could be allocated differently to ensure adequate coverage across the state.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation on Wednesday that imposes restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers and requires pharmacies to be reimbursed at the average state or national acquisition cost for drugs. The law also establishes limits preventing pharmacy benefit managers from favoring specific pharmacies for prescription fulfillment. The legislation takes effect July 1, 2025.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation that authorizes the state to charge local 911 boards a fee for technology upgrades to the 911 system. Local 911 operators and law enforcement groups requested that Reynolds veto the bill prior to its signing. The bill allows the state to bill local 911 boards for system improvements, though the exact fee amounts remain unspecified.

Reynolds vetoed House File 639, legislation that would have limited pipeline projects and restricted the use of eminent domain for private pipeline companies in Iowa. The bill was introduced in response to Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed 2,500-mile carbon capture pipeline project, which received state regulatory approval including eminent domain powers for the Iowa section. Following the veto, landowners affected by the pipeline project and supporting legislators indicated they would continue pursuing similar legislation in future legislative sessions.

Reynolds signed Senate File 383, legislation that imposes restrictions and regulations on pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, which negotiate prescription drug prices between manufacturers, health insurance companies, and pharmacies. The law limits PBMs' use of strategies favoring specific pharmacies and requires pharmacies to be reimbursed at average state or national drug prices. Reynolds characterized the decision as difficult, citing concerns about complexity and lack of verifiable data, and stated her administration would monitor implementation to address unintended consequences.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 383 into law on June 11, 2025, legislation that places restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers by eliminating "spread pricing" and requiring all prescription drug contracts in the state to use a "pass-through" pricing model instead. Under the pass-through model, amounts paid by PBMs to pharmacies are passed through to plan sponsors, with PBMs compensated through administrative fees rather than retaining the difference between pharmacy payments and insurance charges. Reynolds stated in signing the bill that it was intended to improve the health care system by increasing accountability of PBMs and providing a fairer and more transparent health care system.

Reynolds vetoed House File 639, legislation that would have restricted companies from using eminent domain to build pipeline projects unless they qualified as a "common carrier" under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission designation. The bill would have imposed a 25-year limit on pipeline permits and established new insurance requirements for pipeline companies. Reynolds stated in her veto message that while she shared the bill's goal of protecting landowners, the legislation set a troubling precedent that threatened Iowa's energy reliability and economy.

Reynolds vetoed a bill on June 11, 2025, that would have restricted the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines and other energy infrastructure in Iowa. Reynolds stated in her veto message that the bill contained insurance mandates and a 25-year permit limit that would block pipeline projects relying on voluntary landowner agreements, contrary to the bill's stated intent. Reynolds also cited concerns about the bill's changes to permitting rules for oil, gas, and fertilizer pipelines.

Reynolds signed legislation into law that permits aspiring barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Iowa to work without a license while under the supervision of a licensed barber or beauty professional. The law removes the requirement for aspiring professionals to complete traditional schooling hours before beginning work in these fields. The legislation alters Iowa's licensing and credential requirements for entry into the barbering and cosmetology professions.

Reynolds's office denied The Satanic Temple's application to hold a winter celebration and religious display at the Iowa Capitol Rotunda in 2024, citing that the event would be harmful to minors. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a civil rights discrimination complaint with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights against the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and Reynolds's office, alleging the state prohibited the group from accessing the statehouse on equal terms with other religious and secular organizations. Reynolds stated that the decision to cancel the event was appropriate because the event specifically targeted children.

Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya visited Iowa Farmers Union members in Ankeny on Saturday to discuss consolidation in the agriculture industry and right to repair issues affecting farmers. During his tenure at the FTC, Bedoya's team sued grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons over their proposed merger, pursued anticompetitive practice cases against pesticide companies, and sued John Deere regarding farmer access to equipment repairs. Bedoya is currently involved in litigation against the Trump administration following his removal from the FTC in March.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 928 into law on June 2, 2025, which streamlined Iowa's recount process by limiting recounts to contests separated by a margin of 1 percent or 50 votes, replacing three-person candidate-selected recount boards with larger boards of county auditors' employees with partisan balance, and requiring recounts be conducted by automatic tabulators unless the Secretary of State determines extraordinary circumstances warrant a hand recount. Reynolds also signed House File 954, which made various election-related changes including clarifications that state felony conviction disqualifications do not apply to federal candidates and officially prohibited ranked choice voting in Iowa. Both bills were signed during the final days of the 2025 legislative session.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation on June 6, 2025, that establishes work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid recipients in the state's Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, requiring beneficiaries to work at least 80 hours per month unless they qualify for specified exemptions including individuals under 19 or over 64, caregivers of children under 6, pregnant individuals, or those in substance abuse treatment. Reynolds directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to request a federal waiver necessary to implement the program, which has not yet been submitted. According to analysis from the state's nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, approximately 32,000 eligible Iowans could lose coverage under the new requirements based on projections modeled on Arkansas's similar program.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 607 into law on June 5, 2025, which reduces the unemployment insurance taxable wage base used to calculate unemployment insurance taxes for businesses from 66.7% to 33.4%. The legislation lowers the amount of money businesses must contribute to Iowa's unemployment compensation trust fund, which Reynolds stated currently holds a balance of nearly $2 billion. According to Reynolds, the change will result in approximately $1 billion in savings for Iowa businesses.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 607 on June 5, 2025, legislation that reduces unemployment insurance taxes on Iowa businesses by $1.2 billion over five years. The bill, which took effect July 1, 2025, cuts the taxable wage base in half and lowers the maximum unemployment tax rate from 7 percent to 5.4 percent on wages up to approximately $19,000 per employee, while also reducing the number of tax tables. According to the Legislative Services Agency, the legislation reduces the Unemployment Trust Fund by approximately $63 million annually while maintaining an estimated balance of $1.77 billion by 2030.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation into law on Friday that expands cancer coverage for firefighters, police officers, and other first responders to include all forms of cancer rather than the previously covered 14 forms. The expanded coverage applies to disability and death benefits through state retirement systems, with workers contributing slightly more to help offset costs to local governments. The bill-signing ceremony took place at The Shop Event Center in Des Moines and honored three Iowa firefighters who died of cancer.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 969 into law on Friday, expanding cancer coverage for first responders in Iowa to include all forms of cancer rather than the previously limited list of 14 covered types. The legislation ensures that firefighters, police officers, and other first responders diagnosed with cancer receive disability coverage and access to treatment without requiring personal insurance to cover gaps in state-mandated benefits. The law takes effect July 1st and was developed following years of advocacy by families of first responders who died from cancers not previously covered under state law.

Reynolds established a Department of Government Efficiency task force in February 2025, following her announcement in the January State of the State address, to develop recommendations for streamlining state and local government operations. The 15-member task force, chaired by Emily Schmitt of Sukup Manufacturing, organized into subcommittees focused on areas including return on taxpayer investment, technology, and workforce, with particular attention to property tax reduction through government consolidation and efficiency measures. Reynolds requested a final report from the task force 180 days after its establishment, with a deadline of August 9, 2025.

The Iowa Department of Government Efficiency task force conducted preliminary discussions on Wednesday regarding the potential consolidation of Iowa's 99 counties, with chair Emily Schmitt indicating the first phase involves gathering feedback from state residents. The task force stated it will conduct research on the proposal before determining whether to recommend county consolidation to Governor Reynolds, with a final list of recommendations scheduled for August. Terry Lutz, who leads the task force's return on taxpayer investment subcommittee, cited Iowa's ratio of population to counties and current county system costs as rationale for the consolidation discussion.

Governor Reynolds signed into law on June 5, 2025, legislation that reduces unemployment insurance taxes paid by Iowa businesses, providing an estimated $1.2 billion in tax cuts over five years. The law lowers the maximum unemployment tax rate from 9 percent to 5.4 percent, reduces the number of tax tables, and cuts the taxable wage base by approximately half, effective July 1, 2025. Reynolds stated the measure was a legislative priority based on Iowa's unemployment trust fund being the ninth largest in the nation despite the state's thirty-second ranking in population.

Governor Reynolds announced in May the launch of "Healthy Kids Iowa," a summer feeding program that provides low-income families with $40 worth of fresh and nutritious food per child per month during June, July, and August. The program replaced the SUN Bucks initiative after the Trump administration approved Reynolds' waiver request to opt out of the federal program in May, following two prior rejections by the Biden administration. Registration for the program opened in early June, with eligibility limited to households at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level with children ages 4 to 18.

Reynolds signed House File 928 into law, which clarifies procedures for election recounts across Iowa and specifies the day each election should be canvassed. Reynolds also signed House File 954, which establishes stricter requirements for voter registration verification and bans ranked-choice voting statewide. Both bills were signed on Monday and modify Iowa's election administration processes.

Governor Reynolds obtained a waiver from the Trump administration to implement a ban on using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase sugary sodas, fruit punches, candy, gum, candy-coated items, and caramel corn, effective January 1. The restriction applies to most grocery store items subject to sales taxes that fall into these categories. Low-income Iowans using SNAP benefits will be unable to purchase these items with their Electronic Benefit Transfer card beginning on the specified date.

Governor Reynolds is considering whether to sign House File 639, legislation that would restrict pipeline companies from using eminent domain to construct projects unless they qualify as a "common carrier" by agreeing to serve the public fairly and transport materials for other entities. Iowa landowners have called on Reynolds to sign the bill, citing protections for private property rights, while ethanol producers have urged her to veto it, stating the restrictions would limit their ability to expand operations in the state. Reynolds stated she would take time to gather information before making a decision within the two-week signing deadline.

Reynolds signed House File 835 on Tuesday, legislation requiring all staff at Iowa's public and private schools to undergo seizure recognition and first aid training. The bill gained unanimous support in both the Iowa House and Senate after seven years of advocacy by the Epilepsy Foundation Iowa and legislators including State Representative Ray Sorensen. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with training requirements to be established by December 31, 2026, while the Department of Education convenes a work group to develop implementation procedures.

Ernst attended a town hall meeting in Parkersburg, Iowa on May 30, 2025, where she fielded questions about President Donald Trump's budget proposal that included reductions to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program spending. When an attendee stated that people would die as a result of the cuts, Ernst responded that "we all are going to die," a comment that drew jeering from the crowd. Ernst subsequently stated that Medicaid spending would be directed toward the most vulnerable who meet eligibility requirements, while those not eligible and working would receive benefits elsewhere.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 972 into law on May 28, 2025, at Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center. The law consolidates state medical student loan repayment programs with an additional $8 million in funding, expands eligibility to out-of-state trained health care professionals who commit to practicing in high-demand Iowa areas for five years, and directs the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to create approximately 115 new medical residency slots at the state's teaching hospitals by drawing down $150 million in federal funding. The legislation also implements a hub-and-spoke funding model for rural health care services and adjusts Medicaid rates for maternal and infant health providers.

Reynolds signed House File 889 into law, establishing a paid family leave program for Iowa state employees for the first time. Under the program, new mothers receive four weeks of paid leave, new parents who do not give birth receive one week of paid leave, and state employees who adopt a child receive four weeks of paid leave. The bill passed the Iowa Legislature with broad bipartisan support, receiving 87-2 approval in the House and 44-1 approval in the Senate.

Governor Reynolds signed Mason's Law on May 27, 2025, legislation that authorizes the establishment of pediatric hospice homes in Iowa. The law enables facilities to provide end-of-life care for children with terminal illnesses in a home-based setting rather than requiring families to relocate for such services. Mason's Law was named after Mason Sieck, a seven-year-old from Grinnell who died from Gardner syndrome, and was championed by his mother, Shanna Sieck.

On May 28, 2025, Reynolds signed House File 972 at Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center, legislation designed to address Iowa's health care workforce shortage and expand rural health care access. The bill consolidates five student loan repayment programs into a single program with $8 million in funding, prioritizing high-demand specialties and rural placements, while directing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to partner with the University of Iowa Health Care and Broadlawns Medical Center to access $150 million in federal funding to create 115 new medical residency positions across the state. Iowa ranked 44th nationally in patient-to-physician ratio and 40th in the number of medical residency slots available to graduates.

Governor Reynolds signed a law banning citizen police review boards in cities with civil service commissions. The NAACP stated that without review boards, the public cannot hold police accountable for disparities in policing. The law was signed days before this article's publication in May 2025.

Governor Reynolds signed Logan's Law on Monday with representatives from the Iowa General Assembly and the Iowa Donor Network present. The legislation was signed in response to efforts by the Iowa Donor Network to expand organ and tissue donation education throughout the state. Iowa recorded 130 organ donors in 2024 resulting in 387 organs transplanted, along with 1,114 tissue donors whose donations impact between 50 and 300 individuals each.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 175, legislation requiring human development courses in fifth grade and above to include videos and graphics depicting prenatal human development beginning at fertilization. Reynolds also signed House File 299, which requires schools to publish information on vaccine exemptions on school websites and in registration materials. These actions occurred during a legislative session in which the Republican-controlled Iowa House and Senate delayed passage of education funding legislation for two months beyond the statutory deadline before agreeing to a 2% increase in State Supplemental Aid.

Governor Reynolds submitted a waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program purchases, which the USDA approved in May 2025. Beginning January 1, 2026, Iowa SNAP recipients will be prohibited from using benefits to purchase soda, sweets, candy, fruit snacks, and certain other items. Reynolds also received USDA approval for an alternative summer meal plan for low-income Iowa children, allowing the state to replace the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Program with a state-administered program providing $40 monthly in food assistance per child during summer months.

Reynolds requested and the USDA approved a waiver that aligns SNAP-allowable purchases in Iowa with foods exempt from the state's sales tax, effective January 1, 2026. Under the waiver, SNAP recipients will no longer be able to purchase carbonated beverages and flour-free candy, while remaining eligible for fruits, vegetables, bread, meat, and milk. Reynolds stated the waiver was intended to promote healthy eating and ensure SNAP fulfills its core function.

Governor Reynolds announced $24 million in competitive literacy grants available to Iowa school districts and public charter schools through a federal Comprehensive State Development grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. The program allocates $4 million in planning subgrants with the opportunity for an additional $5 million annually in implementation subgrants from 2025 through 2029 to advance evidence-based literacy practices and interventions. Applications for the planning portion opened with a deadline of June 10, with priority given to applicants whose local literacy plans align with Iowa's Comprehensive State Literacy Plan.

Reynolds announced approval of a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowing Iowa to restrict SNAP benefit purchases to items not subject to state taxation beginning January 1, 2026. Under the waiver, SNAP participants will be unable to purchase taxed items such as soda, candy, and gum, while remaining able to purchase untaxed foods including meat, fresh produce, bread, eggs, and milk. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services will implement the restriction in conjunction with the policy change.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds is meeting with stakeholders to gather information before deciding whether to sign or veto House File 639, legislation that would regulate hazardous liquid pipelines and restrict the use of eminent domain for energy infrastructure projects. Reynolds has until June 14 to act on the bill, which was passed during the 2025 legislative session. Reynolds stated that her office is conducting research into the bill's potential impacts while she continues meeting with affected parties through at least the following week.

The Trump administration implemented a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods effective April 9, 2025, which included fireworks that are not manufactured in the United States. On May 12, American and Chinese government officials announced a 90-day reduction in reciprocal tariffs, lowering the U.S. tariff on Chinese products to 30 percent and China's tariff on U.S. exports to 10 percent. The tariffs have affected fireworks retailers and public events in Iowa, with business owners reporting increased costs and at least one community event canceled due to elevated expenses.

Iowa Gov. Reynolds announced plans to take a more active role in property tax reform during the interim between legislative sessions and in the upcoming 2026 legislative session. Reynolds stated she would spend the intervening months working on property tax policy, meeting with Iowans and stakeholders, and developing proposals that address Iowa's complex systems for property taxes, school funding, and tax incentives. Reynolds indicated that any property tax reform discussion must include examination of government service delivery and funding mechanisms, stating that all aspects of the current system would need to be considered in developing a path forward.

Reynolds requested federal approval to implement work requirements for approximately 171,000 Iowans enrolled in Iowa's Medicaid expansion program during the 2025 legislative session. The requirement would mandate able-bodied adults to work at least 80 hours per month to maintain health care coverage, with the policy set to take effect on January 1, 2026. Disenrollments would begin July 1, 2025, with eligibility verification processed by state workers.

In January 2025, Reynolds instructed Iowa's state law enforcement agencies to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and by March the Iowa Department of Public Safety signed a 287(g) Task Force Agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorizing state troopers to enforce immigration law during routine policing. The agreement allows state patrol officers to be deputized to enforce federal immigration statutes in the course of standard law enforcement activities. Civil rights organizations filed a complaint against ICE and Iowa DPS regarding the implementation of this task force agreement.

Reynolds announced a three-step plan to expand child care access after the Iowa Legislature adjourned without approving her child care legislation, which passed the Iowa Senate but was not considered by the Iowa House. The plan includes releasing a request for proposals for the Early Childhood Continuum of Care grant, which will provide up to $300,000 over three years to support partnerships between preschool programs and licensed child care centers offering full-day care for 4-year-olds. Reynolds also announced the extension of a successful Child Care Assistance pilot program and the creation of a new Statewide Solutions Fund to be funded by donations from Iowa businesses and individuals to boost child care workers' wages.

Reynolds signed Senate File 167 into law, setting the State Supplemental Aid rate for Iowa K-12 public schools at 2% for the 2025-2026 school year, providing an increase of $157 per student in per-pupil funding. The legislation also included a $5 bump to the State Cost Per Pupil and a 5% increase to transportation equity fund rates. Reynolds signed this bill as part of a batch of 25 measures on Monday, after the 2025 legislative session concluded on Thursday.

On May 19, 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 311 into law, which prohibits cities that maintain civil service commissions from establishing citizen review boards for police conduct oversight. The legislation affects at least six Iowa cities including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville, Dubuque, Ames, and University Heights, some of which had created such boards following George Floyd's death in 2020. The law takes effect August 16, 2025.

Governor Reynolds submitted a federal waiver request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in March 2025 seeking to restrict SNAP purchases in Iowa to exclude soda, energy drinks, candy, seeds, and other food items subject to state sales tax. The waiver request stated the restrictions were intended to refocus the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on promoting health and well-being among participants. As of May 2025, the USDA had not announced a decision on Iowa's waiver, though a similar waiver for Nebraska had been approved.

Iowa emergency managers and law enforcement officials requested that Governor Reynolds issue a line-item veto of a new fee included in a recently passed appropriations bill that would require 911 boards to pay the state for communication equipment upgrades. The fee was included in the larger appropriations bill passed shortly before lawmakers adjourned for the year. Emergency managers argued that the fee could strain local budgets and potentially lead to staff reductions and slower emergency response times, though State Representative Mike Vondran stated the legislation was necessary to ensure adequate funding for the state's 911 system upgrades.

On May 19, 2025, Governor Reynolds appointed Sarah Martz as chair of the Iowa Utilities Commission, replacing Erik Helland after the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate adjourned without voting on Helland's reappointment. Martz, who has served as a commissioner since May 2023, assumed the role effective immediately. The appointment followed legislative pushback regarding Helland's handling of the commission's review and approval of a carbon dioxide pipeline project and the Senate's passage of legislation to restrict the use of eminent domain for such infrastructure projects.

Reynolds signed legislation requiring students to put away cellphones in the classroom during the 2025 Iowa legislative session. She also signed a ban on handheld use of cellphones while driving into law. Reynolds' proposals on child care and energy policy did not advance during the session, though she successfully pushed most of her other priorities through the legislature.

A federal court granted final approval to a settlement agreement in a lawsuit against the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services that expands mental health services for Medicaid-eligible children under age 21. The settlement, which originated from a 2023 lawsuit filed by advocacy groups including Disability Rights Iowa and Children's Rights, requires the state to develop and implement the Responsive Excellent Care for Healthy Youth initiative, also called Iowa REACH, to provide community-based mental health services across Iowa. Under the agreement, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services must provide intensive care coordination, in-home and community therapeutic services, and mobile crisis intervention services, along with establishing new screening and assessment processes and accountability systems with specific timelines for implementation.

Reynolds signed House File 782 into law during the 2025 Iowa legislative session, legislation that requires students to put away their cellphones in the classroom during instruction. The bill was identified as one of Reynolds' priorities for the session. The measure was among 147 bills passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2025.

Local 911 boards across Iowa requested that Reynolds issue an item veto of a fee provision included in an appropriations bill passed by the Iowa Legislature in May 2025. The provision would authorize the State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to implement a fee on local 911 boards to help fund a $3 million statewide next-generation 911 system upgrade. Local emergency management officials stated the fee could create funding shortfalls for 911 centers already operating on limited budgets and potentially result in staffing reductions and delayed equipment upgrades.

The Iowa Legislature passed legislation during its 2025 session that would regulate hazardous liquid pipelines and restrict the use of eminent domain for infrastructure projects. Governor Reynolds' office announced it was reviewing the bill following its passage, though Reynolds had not publicly stated a position on the legislation. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley stated his expectation that Reynolds would sign the bill into law, though he indicated he had not yet spoken with the governor about it.

The Iowa Legislature passed House File 1049, a budget bill appropriating $2.47 billion to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes a provision prohibiting Medicaid reimbursement for sex reassignment surgery, hormone therapy, and other medical interventions for gender dysphoria. The Iowa House passed the measure on a 63-28 vote on Tuesday, and the Iowa Senate approved it 31-15 on Wednesday. The bill is awaiting Governor Kim Reynolds's signature.

Reynolds signed a proclamation at the Iowa Vietnam Memorial Wall outside the Statehouse to recognize Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, which Iowa designated on May 7 to coincide with President Gerald Ford's proclamation marking the end of the Vietnam War era. Reynolds stated that more than 115,000 Iowans served in Vietnam and acknowledged that returning veterans did not receive appropriate recognition upon their homecoming. Iowa established this observance in 1997, a decade before Congress and the White House officially recognized National Vietnam Veterans Day in 2017.

The Iowa Legislature passed legislation during its final session day that Reynolds will receive for consideration, including a bill appropriating funds from the Opioid Settlement Fund to address addiction treatment and prevention programs in Iowa. The measure distributes approximately $57 million, with 75 percent designated for the Department of Health and Human Services and 25 percent for the Attorney General's office. The legislature also advanced a separate bill establishing Medicaid work requirements that would mandate individuals between ages 19 and 65 work at least 80 hours monthly to qualify for benefits, potentially affecting approximately 171,000 current enrollees.

Governor Reynolds proposed House File 972, legislation designed to address physician shortages in rural Iowa by consolidating state loan repayment programs and increasing investment to $10 million, while directing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to partner with University of Iowa Health Care and Broadlawns Medical Center to secure $150 million in federal funding for training medical residents. The Iowa Senate approved the bill on a 41-4 vote in May 2025, following its passage in the House on a 95-1 vote in March. The legislation projects that full implementation over four years would result in training 460 new physicians across Iowa.

Reynolds requested a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Iowa by restricting eligibility for certain food products, including sugary beverages, candy, and other items subject to state sales tax. The waiver, dated March 12, 2025, would prevent SNAP participants from purchasing soft drinks, artificially or naturally sweetened water, candy, breath mints, dried fruit leathers, kettle corn, granola bars without flour, and food-producing plants and seeds. Reynolds stated in the proposal that the restriction would "refocus the SNAP program on its designed intent" and "encourage SNAP participants to purchase healthier food items."

The Iowa House passed Senate File 303 on May 14, 2025, with a vote of 51-39, limiting the ability of county boards of supervisors and city councils to prohibit or restrict fireworks use on July 3, 4, and December 31. The bill, sent to Governor Kim Reynolds for consideration, would remove local ordinances in cities including Des Moines, Ames, and Iowa City that currently ban or restrict fireworks, while maintaining existing state-level constraints on fireworks sales to minors and use of display fireworks. Supporters of the legislation stated the measure would allow residents to participate in planned celebrations of the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026.

The Iowa Legislature passed legislation regulating hazardous liquid pipelines and restricting the use of eminent domain for infrastructure projects, which was subsequently sent to Governor Reynolds for consideration. The bill passed the Iowa Senate 27-22, with thirteen Republican senators joining fourteen Democrats in voting for the measure. Reynolds' office indicated it was reviewing the bill but had not taken a public position on eminent domain or pipeline legislation.

The Iowa House approved Senate File 383, legislation designed to regulate pharmacy benefit managers by eliminating spread pricing and requiring pass-through pricing models in prescription drug contracts. The bill, which passed 75-15, also requires PBMs to pay dispensing fees to small pharmacies and prohibits practices such as limiting pharmacy choice, designating drugs as specialty drugs to restrict access, and requiring mail order purchases. The legislation was sent to Governor Reynolds for consideration.

David Barker, a member of the Iowa Board of Regents, was nominated by the Trump administration to serve as U.S. assistant secretary of post secondary education. Barker has served on the Iowa Board of Regents since 2019 and was recently reconfirmed for another six-year term through 2031. If confirmed by the Senate, Barker would assume the position vacated by Nasser H. Paydar, who resigned from the role he held since 2022.

Governor Reynolds announced the appointment of Stacy Cervenka as director of the Iowa Department for the Blind, effective July 7. Cervenka previously served as senior director of policy with Disability Belongs in Virginia and as director of public policy for the American Foundation for the Blind. The appointment followed a monthslong search to fill the position after the previous director resigned in July while battling Stage 4 kidney cancer.

Governor Reynolds announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the Healthy Kids Iowa demonstration project, a pilot program that replaces the federal summer EBT nutrition program in Iowa. Under the program, eligible families with children ages 4 to 18 below specified income thresholds will be able to select $40 worth of food per child monthly from distribution sites operated by six Feeding America Food Banks across the state. The program utilizes existing food bank networks and meal site partners rather than providing direct electronic benefits to families during the summer months.

Reynolds signed House File 887 into law, which exempts freestanding birth centers from requiring a certificate of need from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing before opening or expanding operations. The legislation was designed to address the closure of labor and delivery units at 41 Iowa hospitals since 2000, particularly in rural areas, and to increase access to maternity care services in regions classified as maternal health deserts. The bill passed unanimously in both the Iowa House and Senate.

Reynolds signed legislation restricting cellphone use in Iowa schools during instructional time, effective beginning the next school year. The law establishes a baseline restriction while allowing individual school districts to adopt more stringent policies. Reynolds stated the measure was intended to reduce classroom distractions and cited data from schools that had implemented similar bans, including a 5 percent increase in school attendance and a 7 percent increase in student belonging metrics.

Reynolds signed legislation that included Senate Study Bill 1237, which prohibits Iowa Medicaid from funding surgical, hormonal, and other procedures related to gender dysphoria treatment. The provision directs that state appropriations to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services shall not be used for sex reassignment surgery or gender dysphoria-related treatment. From 2015 to 2024, Iowa Medicaid had spent approximately 3.4 million dollars on such services for hundreds of transgender individuals.

Governor Reynolds' office withheld four emails from a public records request regarding Lutheran Social Services, claiming executive privilege protection. Reynolds filed suit in Iowa courts seeking to establish that Iowa governors can keep privileged documents secret, citing the need for candid advice from close advisers. The Des Moines Register contested the withholding, arguing that Iowa's open records law contains no executive privilege exception.

Reynolds signed House File 782 into law on April 30, 2025, requiring school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools across Iowa to adopt policies restricting cellphone use during instructional time beginning in the fall. The legislation mandates that the state Department of Education develop and distribute model policies, while allowing individual districts to implement stricter restrictions. The bill was among Reynolds' stated legislative priorities for the 2025 session.

The Iowa Senate passed House File 299 on April 29, 2025, by a vote of 32-16, sending the bill to the governor's desk. The legislation requires Iowa K-12 schools, child care centers, community colleges, and universities to include information about vaccine exemptions in all communications to students and families regarding immunization requirements, with exemption details also mandated on websites and in registration documents. The bill applies to communications from the Department of Health and Human Services as well, including vaccine recommendations.

House File 299, which passed the Iowa legislature in March and April 2025, requires K-12 schools and licensed child care centers to disclose vaccine exemption information on their websites and in registration documents provided to parents and guardians. The bill also mandates that the Iowa Board of Education adopt rules requiring all schools to provide information about religious and medical vaccine exemptions to parents or guardians, and requires community colleges and public universities to include exemption information in student communications. Reynolds received the bill for her signature following the Senate's passage on a 32-16 party-line vote in April 2025.

House File 865 changes Iowa's definition of bullying and harassment in public schools by removing the list of protected traits and characteristics from the statute and instead defining bullying as "repeated and targeted" behavior that creates a hostile school environment. The Iowa Senate passed the bill along party lines, 32-16, in April 2025, following its passage in the House in March. The legislation is headed to Governor Reynolds' desk for signature.

Reynolds and Iowa Senate Republicans reached a compromise on a fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $9.4 billion. The budget allocates more than $1 billion for education and $2 billion for Health and Human Services. Senate Republicans planned to advance the budget bills during the legislative week following the agreement.

In December, the state of Iowa under Governor Reynolds refused to allow the Satanic Temple of Iowa to hold a winter celebration at the Statehouse, stating the event was harmful to minors, despite the Temple having held similar events there previously. The ACLU of Iowa subsequently filed a lawsuit against Reynolds seeking documents and communications related to the cancellation decision. Reynolds' office has declined to produce the requested materials, citing executive privilege.

Reynolds filed a civil lawsuit in Polk County against the Des Moines Register on April 25, 2025, seeking to prevent the release of four emails from senior advisers in response to a public records request submitted by Register reporter Tyler Jett. The governor's office claimed the emails were protected under executive privilege and that disclosure would inhibit the governor's ability to receive candid information from staff. The Register contended that executive privilege is not recognized as a valid exception under Iowa's open records law and that the four emails should therefore be released to the public.

Reynolds proposed adding work requirements to Iowa's expanded Medicaid program, the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, requiring most able-bodied recipients to work at least 100 hours per month to maintain coverage. The proposal required a federal waiver and was the subject of public comment sessions held across the state. Reynolds's administration submitted the proposal to the federal government for approval.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation appropriating $13.6 million from the Economic Emergency Fund to the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program to provide aid to Iowans affected by 2024 floods and tornadoes. The legislation created the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing program, a revolving loan fund managed by the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Finance Authority, and allocated $2 million to assist local communities in demolishing disaster-damaged buildings. An additional $11.6 million was appropriated to the Iowa Finance Authority to provide funding for claims resulting from the 2024 natural disasters.

Senate File 583, which passed the Iowa House unanimously 91-0 on Monday and the Iowa Senate 48-0 in March, was sent to Governor Kim Reynolds for signature. The legislation authorizes school districts, charter schools, and other educational institutions to establish school safety assessment teams comprised of school officials, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and juvenile court services. These teams would facilitate information sharing and collaboration among agencies to assess concerning student behaviors and implement intervention strategies for students experiencing emotional disturbance, mental illness, or who pose a significant threat to school safety.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds introduced Senate File 619, a disaster relief bill that passed through both the Iowa House and Senate unanimously. The legislation allocates $11.6 million to help Iowans repair homes damaged by natural disasters, $2 million for cities to demolish damaged buildings, and $19 million to a revolving loan fund for future disaster preparedness projects, while also exempting disaster assistance payments from state taxes and establishing fraud protections for homeowners in insurance claims. Reynolds indicated she would sign the bill into law.

Governor Reynolds signed House File 2673 into law in April 2025, legislation that restructures Iowa's behavioral health system by consolidating 32 separate mental health and substance use regions into seven unified behavioral health districts effective July 1, 2025. The redistricting measure aims to integrate mental health and substance use disorder services under single administrative structures to improve care coordination. Reynolds stated at the bill signing ceremony that the consolidation would enable better coordination of care and support improved outcomes for individuals receiving behavioral health services.

Reynolds signed Senate File 75, legislation that requires three Iowa counties containing state universities to elect county supervisors by district rather than at-large. The same bill mandates that counties with populations exceeding 125,000 must fill supervisor vacancies through special elections if more than 70 days remain in the departing supervisor's term, affecting Linn and Johnson counties. The measure restricts local authority over electoral processes and supervisor selection methods.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation on Friday that lowers Iowa's minimum age for handgun possession from 21 to 18 years old. The new law permits individuals aged 18 and older to own and carry handguns through private transfers and inheritance, though federal restrictions continue to prohibit licensed dealers from selling handguns to those under 21. The legislation was among a dozen bills Reynolds signed into law that day and aligns with previous Iowa legislative actions to modify the state's firearm regulations.

Governor Reynolds proposed changes to Iowa's nine Area Education Agencies during the 2024 legislative session, which resulted in House File 2612 being passed with modifications to her original proposal. The legislation required AEAs to reduce administrative costs by 30 percent. Grant Wood Area Education Agency implemented this directive by converting the chief administrator position to part-time, with Susie Meade beginning July 1 as shared chief administrator between Grant Wood AEA and Heartland AEA in Johnston.

Reynolds signed Senate File 397 into law on April 18, 2025, which increases penalties for assaults on persons in certain occupations including police officers and corrections employees, establishing a Class C felony charge for such assaults. She also signed House File 924, which lowers the minimum age requirement to acquire or carry a firearm from 21 to 18 years old. Additionally, Reynolds signed Senate File 266, which establishes misdemeanor penalties for the intentional use of fraudulent or stolen gift cards.

The Iowa Senate amended House File 706, legislation that increases penalties for violations of open meetings and records laws and requires public officials to complete records training, to include a provision exempting Iowa Capitol security camera footage and identification card access system data from public open records requests. The amended bill, which had previously passed the Iowa House, returned to that chamber for final approval. Republican Sen. Scott Webster cited lawmaker and staff safety as justification for the exemption, while Democratic Sen. Janet Petersen objected that the amendment reduced transparency at the Capitol without proper committee review.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 75, legislation requiring Johnson County, Black Hawk County, and Story County to elect supervisors by district rather than at-large in future elections. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors initiated the redistricting process on Wednesday by establishing a three-person commission to develop a plan dividing the county into five equal-population districts, with the plan due to the Iowa Secretary of State's Office by October 1, 2025. The new law will result in all five Johnson County supervisor seats being subject to election in November 2026.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds directed the state health department to seek federal approval for Medicaid work requirements on April 15, 2025. The work requirement would mandate that able-bodied adults enrolled in the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan demonstrate at least 100 hours of monthly work unless they meet specified exemption criteria. Reynolds stated that the requirement aligns with her priority of ensuring government programs reflect a culture of work and maintaining Medicaid's core purpose of serving those with the greatest need.

Governor Reynolds proposed a requirement in January 2025 that Iowa high school students pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test to graduate, which the Iowa Senate advanced as Senate File 369 with a vote of 38-7 in April 2025. The bill would require students in grades nine through twelve to score at least 60 percent on the multiple-choice examination, with unlimited retakes permitted for those who fail. The legislation now proceeds to the Iowa House for consideration.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 75 on Friday, legislation that requires counties housing public universities to elect county supervisors by districts rather than at-large elections. The law applies specifically to Johnson County, Story County, and Black Hawk County, and mandates that special elections fill most board vacancies in Iowa's largest counties, with the special election provision taking effect immediately. Johnson County has until the 2026 general election to implement district-based elections, with intermediate deadlines including the establishment of a temporary redistricting commission by May 15 and completion of precinct plans by October 1.

Reynolds announced she will not endorse any candidate in the Republican primary for the Iowa governorship, stating that primary contests are healthy for the political process. She indicated she will support whichever Republican candidate wins the primary election and work to help them in the general election. Reynolds stated she intends to complete her current term, which has nearly two years remaining.

Reynolds signed Senate File 75 into law on Friday, changing electoral procedures in Johnson, Story, and Black Hawk counties. The legislation requires these three counties to shift from at-large elections to district-based elections for county supervisors, meaning supervisors must reside in their respective districts and be elected only by voters within those districts. The law took effect immediately upon Reynolds's signature.

Reynolds signed legislation that removed gender identity as a protected class under Iowa's Civil Rights Act. The bill was passed by the Iowa legislature and signed by Reynolds in February 2025. Following the enactment of this legislation, LGBTQ Iowans sought legal assistance to complete estate planning, adoptions, and birth certificate changes.

Governor Reynolds announced on April 12, 2025, that she will not seek reelection in 2026, stating after prayer and family conversations that she made this decision. Reynolds will serve the remainder of her current term and leave office in 2027. Reynolds began her political career in Clarke County in 1994 as county treasurer, serving four terms before eventually becoming Iowa's first female governor in 2018.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced in a video released on Friday that she will not seek a third term in the 2026 gubernatorial election, citing family priorities. Reynolds, who was first elected to a full term in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, served as the first woman to hold the office of Iowa governor. During her tenure, Reynolds signed legislation including a bill banning abortion after fetal activity detection, the Students First Act establishing education savings accounts, multiple rounds of income tax cuts, and disaster emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, tornadoes, and flooding.

A group of Iowa residents filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court challenging the authority of Governor Reynolds to enforce Executive Order 10, issued in January 2023, which requires state agencies to repeal and replace existing regulations by December 31, 2026, while reducing overall regulatory burden or remaining neutral compared to previous rules. The plaintiffs argue that Reynolds lacks statutory authority to require agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources to adopt less burdensome regulations and that the executive order effectively gives the governor's administrative rules coordinator veto power over proposed rules before public consideration. The lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment that the executive order exceeds the governor's authority and that any regulations adopted in compliance with the order be invalidated.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation establishing a hands-free driving law that prohibits drivers from holding electronic devices such as cellphones, tablets, gaming devices, and pagers while operating vehicles. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with law enforcement issuing warnings during the first six months and fines beginning in January 2026. Handling a device while driving constitutes probable cause for a traffic stop, and violations may result in increased penalties in crash investigations.

The Iowa House passed Senate File 167, legislation that increases general state funding to Iowa's public K-12 schools by 2 percent for the next school year, sending the bill to Governor Reynolds for her signature. The measure raises per-pupil funding by $162 to $7,988 and includes provisions for rural transportation costs, teacher salary increases, and property tax relief totaling approximately $136.7 million. The bill provides nearly $106 million in new money overall and passed the House 60-36, with six Republicans voting against it.

Iowa House File 782, which requires school districts to adopt policies restricting cellphone use during instructional time, advanced out of both chambers of the Iowa legislature and was sent to Governor Kim Reynolds' desk for signature. The bill passed the House 92-4 after lawmakers approved a Senate-added amendment and sets a May 1 implementation date for school districts to establish cellphone restriction policies, with the Department of Education to develop model policies as a base. Reynolds identified the legislation as a priority during the legislative session.

The Iowa Senate passed legislation that would lower the minimum age requirement to carry a handgun from 21 to 18 years old and sent the bill to the governor's desk on Monday. Current Iowa law permits 18- to 20-year-olds to possess long guns but restricts handgun possession except for those on military duty or employed in security or law enforcement roles. The bill now awaits action by Reynolds.

The Iowa Senate passed Senate File 35, which establishes criminal penalties for doxxing, the unauthorized publishing or posting of personal identifying information such as addresses, phone numbers, or Social Security numbers with intent to harass or embarrass. The bill classifies doxxing as an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and fines up to $8,540, and was approved unanimously by Senate lawmakers. The legislation advanced out of committee in the Iowa House but awaited full chamber debate.

Governor Reynolds issued an executive order in February establishing the Iowa Department of Government Efficiency Task Force, which convened for the first time on April 2. The 16-member task force, chaired by Emily Schmitt of Sukup Manufacturing and composed primarily of business sector representatives alongside elected officials, is charged with applying business practices to state government processes and agencies across three focus areas: return on taxpayer investment, technology, and workforce. Reynolds directed the task force to submit a final report with recommendations by September 29 and opened a public input process through an online form to solicit feedback from Iowans.

Governor Reynolds signed an executive order in February 2025 creating the Iowa DOGE Task Force, a public task force charged with recommending government efficiency measures to the governor and state lawmakers. The task force held its first meeting in April 2025 at a state government office building in Des Moines, where it established operating goals, created teams focused on specific areas, and set a timeline for completing its work. The task force is expected to produce recommendations by fall 2025 and will focus on return on taxpayer investment, technology, and workforce matters.

Reynolds signed legislation banning handheld cellphone use while driving, unless the device is operated in hands-free mode, on April 2, 2025. The signing ceremony in her office included family members of people killed by distracted drivers, lawmakers, and law enforcement officials who had advocated for the measure over several years. Reynolds stated that neighboring states with similar hands-free laws had experienced significant reductions in car crashes and noted that Iowa became the 31st state to enact such legislation.

Reynolds signed Iowa's hands-free driving bill into law on April 2, 2025, making Iowa the 31st state to enact such legislation. The law prohibits drivers from using cellular phones and electronic devices while operating a vehicle except in hands-free or voice-activated mode, effective July 1, 2025. Law enforcement will issue warning citations during the first six months, with fines of $100 beginning January 1, 2026.

Reynolds signed into law legislation prohibiting handheld use of electronic devices while driving, effective July 1, 2025, making Iowa the 31st state to enact such restrictions. The bill was signed during a ceremony at the Iowa Capitol attended by families of individuals killed in accidents involving distracted drivers. The legislation establishes criminal penalties for drivers operating motor vehicles while holding or using handheld electronic devices.

President Donald Trump's Justice Department, through Assistant U.S. Attorney General Abigail Slater, issued a letter expressing concerns about a right of first refusal provision in Iowa Gov. Reynolds' proposed energy legislation. The provision would grant existing utility companies the right to construct electricity infrastructure expansion projects in Iowa, and the Justice Department's antitrust division stated this restriction could reduce competition and potentially increase costs while lowering service quality for customers. Slater's letter, dated March 24, 2025, was written in response to inquiries from Republican state legislators and urged the Iowa Legislature to reconsider the provision's competitive effects.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited Iowa on March 31, 2025, her first trip to the state in that role, to discuss potential federal aid for farmers facing tariff impacts. Rollins stated that the USDA was evaluating emergency assistance options similar to those provided during Trump's first term, pending the administration's final tariff decisions and their assessed impact on agricultural exports. She indicated the department was engaged in tariff renegotiations and expressed hope that revised trade terms would reduce the necessity for direct support payments to farmers and ranchers.

Governor Reynolds proposed House File 972 during the 2025 legislative session to address Iowa's physician shortage, which ranks among the most severe in the nation. The bill consolidates five student loan repayment programs into one, repeals existing residency and fellowship programs, and directs the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to partner with University of Iowa Health Care and Broadlawns Medical Center to draw down $150 million in federal funding to create 115 new medical residency positions. The proposal passed the Iowa House on a 95-1 vote and awaits Senate consideration.

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Iowa's agricultural trespass law on March 19, ruling that the state statute, which enhanced penalties for individuals using recording devices while committing criminal trespass on farms, did not violate First Amendment protections. The law was enacted to protect farmers from activists entering agricultural operations without permission to document animal treatment. Judge Stephanie M. Rose determined that the law's targeted approach served the state's interests in protecting property rights and privacy while leaving alternative legal channels for activists to communicate their message.

Senate File 397, which increases penalties for assaults against first responders, law enforcement, correctional officers, and health care workers, passed the Iowa House on Thursday with a vote of 91-2 and was sent to Governor Reynolds for signature. The bill elevates penalties from a Class D felony to a Class C felony when the assailant intends to cause serious injury or uses a weapon, and creates graduated penalties for other assaults ranging from Class D felonies to aggravated misdemeanors with mandatory minimum sentences. The legislation also extends protections to juvenile detention staff and employees of the Department of Inspection, Appeals and Licensing.

Reynolds proposed the Rural Health Care bill during the 2025 legislative session, which includes provisions to unbundle Medicaid payments and increase reimbursement rates for providers serving maternal and infant health. The bill also proposes additional funding for loan repayment programs and an enhanced partnership with Iowa's teaching hospitals to create new residency slots in rural areas. These initiatives were presented as responses to challenges facing Iowa's rural health care system, including financial strain on rural hospitals and access issues in nonmetropolitan areas.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit against Winneshiek County and Sheriff Dan Marks on March 28, 2025, alleging that a February 4th Facebook post violated Iowa Code Chapter 207AA by discouraging cooperation with federal immigration authorities and threatening to interfere with ICE detainers. The lawsuit seeks to strip the county of all state funding and was filed after the sheriff's office declined to delete the original post and replace it with language specified by the Attorney General's office. Governor Reynolds' office stated in a social media post that Iowa law banning sanctuary counties exists for a reason and that law enforcement is expected to follow it.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed suit against Winneshiek County and Sheriff Dan Marx in Polk County District Court following an investigation into a February 4 Facebook post by Marx that Bird's office determined violated Iowa's 2018 law requiring local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Bird's office had concluded its investigation and given Marx until 5 p.m. Wednesday to remove the post and publish a replacement statement written by Bird's office, which Marx did not do. Governor Kim Reynolds announced her support for the lawsuit on social media, stating that Iowa's ban on sanctuary counties should be enforced and that state law requires law enforcement to comply with federal immigration detainer requests.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit against Winneshiek County and Sheriff Dan Marks following an investigation into a February 4 Facebook post regarding the sheriff's office's role in immigration enforcement. Bird's office determined the post violated Iowa Code Chapter 207AA by discouraging cooperation with federal immigration authorities and making false claims about threatening to interfere with ICE detainers. The sheriff deleted the original post on March 27 but declined to post a replacement statement prepared by the attorney general's office, stating the language was unacceptable to the county.

The Iowa House of Representatives passed legislation banning handheld cellphone use while driving with an 84-11 vote on March 26, 2025. Governor Kim Reynolds requested passage of the bill in her January Condition of the State address and is expected to sign it into law. The legislation would take effect on July 1, 2025.

Senate File 22, legislation prohibiting drivers in Iowa from operating cellphones and other handheld devices while driving unless using hands-free or voice-activated technology, passed the Iowa Legislature and was sent to Governor Reynolds for signature in March 2025. The bill passed the Iowa House with an 84-11 vote and the Iowa Senate with a 47-1 vote. Reynolds had called for the bill's passage during her January 2025 Condition of the State address to the Iowa Legislature.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation in 2023 that prohibited school libraries and classrooms from carrying books depicting sex acts. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher temporarily blocked enforcement of this provision in March 2025, determining that the unconstitutional applications of the book restrictions substantially exceeded constitutional applications. The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Iowa State Education Association, major publishing houses, and authors challenging the law as overly broad.

In March 2025, Reynolds submitted a request to the Trump administration's Education Department asking it to consolidate Iowa's federal education aid into a single block grant with minimal spending requirements. Reynolds wrote in an opinion piece that the consolidation would benefit Iowa's students, teachers, families, school districts, and taxpayers, and suggested the administration had the authority to act without congressional approval. The request prompted other Republican-led states, including Oklahoma and Florida, to indicate they would pursue similar block grant arrangements.

The Iowa House unanimously passed House File 706 on March 24, 2025, legislation that strengthens the state's open meetings laws by increasing penalties for violations and requiring public information accessibility training for most public officials. Republican Rep. Gary Mohr of Bettendorf introduced the bill in response to public access difficulties surrounding the 2023 Davenport apartment building collapse and a city separation agreement with a former administrator that was not subject to public vote. The legislation had previously passed both chambers in 2024 but was vetoed by Governor Kim Reynolds over a Senate-added amendment regarding executive compensation disclosure.

Governor Reynolds issued her first COVID-19 proclamation five years prior to the publication date of March 21, 2025, in response to the emerging pandemic threat in Iowa communities. The proclamation initiated a series of public health measures that affected schools, businesses, and daily operations across the state. Reynolds's action marked the beginning of Iowa's official response to the pandemic at the state level.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds attended the White House signing of an executive order on Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education and return education authority to states and local communities. Reynolds issued social media statements characterizing the order as historic and stating that education decisions should be made by parents, teachers, and local communities. The executive order calls for the federal education department to be reduced to minimal core functions, though implementation would require Congressional action.

Governor Reynolds attended President Trump's signing of an executive order directing the Secretary of Education to take all steps permitted by law to begin closure of the Department of Education. Reynolds posted on social media that education decisions should be made by parents, teachers, and local communities. The executive order directs the transfer of education authority to individual states, a shift Reynolds indicated her support for at the signing event.

Governor Reynolds introduced House File 782, legislation that would ban the use of personal electronic devices in K-12 schools during instructional time at a minimum. The Iowa House passed the bill on March 18, 2025, by a vote of 88-9. The bill requires school boards to adopt policies establishing communication procedures for parents during school hours and emergencies, allows parents to petition for exceptions based on legitimate needs, and permits students with Individualized Education Programs to retain devices as needed for their plans.

Governor Kim Reynolds proposed House File 782, which would prohibit K-12 students from possessing cellphones during classroom instructional time. The Iowa House approved the bill on a vote of 88-9 in March 2025. Reynolds stated that the legislation would help students engage fully in their education and achieve their highest potential in the classroom.

The Iowa House approved House File 269, which would ban regents universities from requiring courses that teach concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion or critical race theory. The chamber also passed House File 401, establishing new general education standards for Iowa's public universities that prohibit material teaching identity politics or systemic racism, sexism, or oppression, and House File 856, which bans state agencies and local governments from spending money on DEI offices or staff. These bills build upon legislation signed by Governor Reynolds in the previous year that had banned DEI offices and programs at the state's public universities.

Reynolds declared Lutheran Services in Iowa Day on Tuesday at the Iowa Capitol, recognizing the organization's 160-year history of providing behavioral health, early childhood, foster care, adoption, disability, and refugee resettlement services throughout Iowa. The declaration came as Lutheran Services in Iowa announced layoffs at locations in Sioux City, Waterloo, and Des Moines following President Trump's order halting the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and the Department of State's directive for resettlement agencies to cease services to recent arrivals. Reynolds stated that the federal government's failure to reimburse more than $1.5 million in outstanding reimbursements for services rendered was imperiling the organization's operations.

Governor Reynolds proposed a bill to reduce unemployment insurance taxes paid by Iowa businesses, citing an unemployment trust fund balance of $1.8 billion. The proposal, which advanced through an Iowa Senate committee in March 2025, would lower the top unemployment tax rate from 7 percent to 5.4 percent, reduce the number of tax tables, and decrease the taxable wage base by half. According to Reynolds' office, the measure would save businesses approximately $1 billion over five years.

Reynolds signed Senate File 615 into law in June 2021, which established a framework allowing Iowa counties to declare emergency medical services essential and request voter approval for property tax levies to fund EMS operations. The legislation fundamentally altered how emergency medical services are funded in Iowa, where EMS had not previously been designated as an essential service statewide. This framework enabled counties to create referendums for EMS funding independent of state designation of the service as essential.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation in the previous year that barred state universities from starting, funding, or maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. During the current legislative session, the House Higher Education Committee advanced House Study Bill 61 to ban DEI offices from community colleges, House Study Bill 60 to ban DEI offices at private colleges receiving state funding through the Iowa Tuition grant, and House File 269 to prohibit public universities from requiring classes related to DEI or critical race theory. Members of the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus raised concerns about these proposals and their potential effects on state institutions.

Governor Reynolds signed legislation in March 2023 restricting transgender minors in Iowa from accessing puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgery for gender transition. The restriction has prompted some transgender Iowans and their families to seek care in neighboring states with less restrictive policies, including Illinois and Minnesota, or to relocate entirely. Healthcare providers in Iowa have reported discussing out-of-state and international treatment options with minor patients seeking gender-affirming care.

Governor Reynolds signed SF 418 into law, legislation that removes gender identity as a protected characteristic under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, bans transgender women from women's public restrooms, prisons and shelters, and eliminates the process to change sex designation on Iowa birth certificates. The law takes effect July 1, 2025. Following the signing, LGBTQ legal organizations reported increased demand for assistance with changing gender markers on state identification documents before the law's implementation date.

Senate File 464, advancing in the Iowa Senate, would increase the annual salary for state representatives and senators by $20,000, raising their compensation from $25,000 to $45,000 per year. The bill would also increase the governor's salary by $100,000 annually, from $130,000 to $230,000, and would raise salaries for other statewide elected officials including the attorney general, auditor, treasurer, and secretary of agriculture. The legislation, sponsored by Republican Senator Jason Shultz, represents the first salary increase for these positions since 2007.

Reynolds signed legislation that removes gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, which previously prevented discrimination in housing, employment, and other areas. The bill eliminates state protections for transgender individuals in these domains. Additionally, three separate bills were active in the Iowa Statehouse that would restrict public library funding and expose libraries to lawsuits based on their membership in advocacy organizations.

Reynolds signed legislation removing gender identity as a protected characteristic from the Iowa Civil Rights Act on Friday. The law takes effect July 1 and eliminates state anti-discrimination protections for transgender people in housing, employment, public accommodations, and other areas. The legislation also restricts transgender women's access to certain facilities including public bathrooms, prisons, and domestic violence shelters.

Governor Reynolds proposed legislation to reduce unemployment insurance taxes paid by Iowa businesses by approximately $1 billion over five years. The Iowa Senate Workforce Committee advanced Reynolds' bill on a largely party-line vote in March 2025, with one Republican joining Democrats in opposition. The proposal, which Reynolds had previously introduced the prior year, would lower employer contributions to the state's unemployment trust fund while maintaining current benefit levels and duration for unemployed workers.

On May 26, 2023, Reynolds signed Iowa Senate File 496 into law, which restricts gender-affirming accommodations in schools without guardian approval, prevents discussions of gender identity in kindergarten through sixth grade, removes student input on library material selection, and requires school libraries to contain only materials deemed age-appropriate and excluding books describing acts deemed sexual. The legislation has resulted in the removal of titles including "The Bluest Eye," "To Kill a Mockingbird," and "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" from Iowa school libraries. The law has begun affecting how Iowa educators approach curriculum and literature instruction in schools.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving state Medicaid coverage during her Condition of the State Address, requiring recipients to work at least 80 hours per month to maintain eligibility in the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. Statehouse Republicans advanced legislation on Thursday that would direct the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to implement these work requirements as a condition of maintaining Medicaid eligibility. Reynolds stated on social media that the work requirement policy would advance economic stability and self-sufficiency among low-income Iowans receiving government assistance.

Reynolds testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Oversight Committee on February 5, 2025, regarding a hearing on government efficiency, during which she discussed Iowa's executive agency reorganization efforts. In 2023, Reynolds signed into law a government reorganization bill that reduced the number of cabinet-level agencies from 37 to 16 and eliminated or merged 83 state boards and commissions. Reynolds also announced in her 2024 Condition of the State address that the state had cut 21 agencies, eliminated 620 open positions, and maintained a commitment not to lay off any state employees.

Gov. Reynolds introduced legislation designed to address doctor shortages in rural Iowa, which she highlighted during her January Condition of the State address. The proposal, contained in House Study Bill 191 and Senate Study Bill 1163, would consolidate state loan repayment programs while doubling funding to $10 million and direct the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to secure $150 million in federal funding to train approximately 115 new medical residents at 14 hospitals across the state. Both companion bills advanced on Tuesday with bipartisan support, approved unanimously by the House Health and Human Services Committee and by a three-member subcommittee in the Iowa Senate.

Governor Reynolds requested a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to permit E15 gasoline sales in Iowa during summer months, which the EPA approved in February 2025. E15 is a gasoline blend containing 15 percent ethanol that is typically prohibited from summer sales due to air quality concerns. Reynolds's waiver request was granted following an executive order issued by President Trump in January 2025 directing the EPA to approve such waivers.

An Iowa House committee advanced legislation that would restore the independence of the Office of Consumer Advocate, which was placed under the Iowa Attorney General's Office through a government realignment plan signed by Governor Reynolds in 2023. Under the proposed bill, the governor would nominate a consumer advocate subject to Iowa Senate confirmation from candidates selected by a committee of the state auditor, secretary of agriculture, and state treasurer, with the person serving a five-year term. The change addresses concerns about the office's ability to represent consumer interests in utility matters, including its role in proceedings related to the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide capture pipeline project.

The Iowa House Judiciary Subcommittee advanced House Study Bill 187, which would require all state and local law enforcement agencies in Iowa to enter into written memorandums of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by January 1, 2026. The bill would mandate participation in ICE's jail enforcement model and warrant service officer program, allowing law enforcement to identify, process, and detain individuals based on citizenship status. Subcommittee chair Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, stated the legislation was necessary for community safety, while Rep. Rick Olson, D-Des Moines, declined to support the measure.

Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Sac County following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock affecting more than 29,000 birds. This marks the fourth detection of H5N1 bird flu in Iowa in 2025 and the second detection within a week. The disaster proclamation enables state resources and coordination in response to the outbreak.

Reynolds introduced legislation that would consolidate multiple separate loan forgiveness programs for health professionals into a single $10 million financial incentive program, more than doubling current funding levels. The bill advanced through the Iowa House on February 19, 2025, with bipartisan support. Reynolds' proposal also requests that state health officials seek federal permission to utilize Medicaid funding flexibility to expand health care access across Iowa.

State Auditor Rob Sand requested documents from the Iowa Department of Education regarding the state's education savings accounts program, which allows families to use state funding for private school tuition, but was denied access to the information by the Reynolds administration. Reynolds defended the refusal to provide the documents to Sand's office, stating that Sand did not follow the correct procedure for requesting the materials. Sand stated that without access to the documents, his office could not conduct a complete audit to determine whether proper financial controls exist to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the program.

Governor Reynolds proposed Senate Study Bill 1092, legislation designed to address declining mathematics proficiency in Iowa schools through early screening and intervention measures. The bill would require school districts to screen students in kindergarten through sixth grade at least three times annually to identify mathematical proficiency levels, with mandatory assessments and personalized intervention plans for students identified as at risk. The Iowa Senate Subcommittee unanimously advanced Reynolds' proposal on February 18, 2025.

Governor Reynolds proposed House Study Bill 123 and Senate Study Bill 1112 as part of her energy infrastructure plan, with both bills advancing from subcommittees in February 2025. The bills would establish a flexible rates tool for electric utilities, permit anaerobic digesters through the Iowa DNR, allow utilities to seek ratemaking principles for certain projects, and grant existing utility companies right of first refusal on new transmission projects. Reynolds' office removed a section addressing ratemaking principles related to carbon capture and storage after public concern about its potential application to carbon dioxide pipelines.

Governor Reynolds requested a $1 million investment in cancer research by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Iowa during her Condition of the State address in January 2025, directing funds toward examining behavioral, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to Iowa's rising cancer rates. The proposal emerged as Iowa faces the fastest-growing rate of new cancers in the nation and ranks second-highest in cancer rates among states. Reynolds highlighted the issue after announcing that her husband's lung cancer had entered remission following treatment.

Governor Reynolds signed a 2022 biofuels bill that requires Iowa gas stations to offer E15, a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol, by a 2026 deadline. Stations that fail to comply face fines of up to $1,000 per day per violation and potential revocation of their fuel sales licenses. The requirement necessitates substantial infrastructure investments in storage tanks and dispensers, with the state having spent $53.5 million and private investors contributing $260 million toward implementation as of early 2025.

The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday in a 58-35 vote to increase the state supplemental aid rate for public schools by 2.25 percent, providing districts with approximately $8,000 per student, about $200 more than the previous year. School district superintendents in central Iowa stated that the increase falls short of meeting operational needs, citing rising costs for health insurance, property casualty premiums, and teacher compensation that exceed the proposed funding growth. The bill now proceeds to the Iowa Senate, where Governor Reynolds and Senate Republicans have proposed a 2 percent increase alternative while Democrats had sought a 5 percent increase.

Governor Reynolds issued a directive last year that banned the existence and creation of diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and programs at Iowa's three public universities. Iowa lawmakers are currently considering at least three bills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, all targeting higher education and the state's control over their implementation on college campuses. Community colleges in the state have responded by placing diversity-centered programs on hold and restructuring strategic plans to remove specific references to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Governor Reynolds filed a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General's office regarding Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx's statement that he would not comply with federal immigration detainers without a judge-signed warrant, citing violation of Iowa Code 27A.8. Reynolds subsequently sent a letter to the sheriff threatening to pull funding from the sheriff's office and county if the office did not comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement immigration enforcement efforts. The Iowa Attorney General's office launched an investigation into the county and its sheriff based on Reynolds' complaint.

Iowa Senate File 22, which would prohibit all cell phone use while driving except for hands-free or voice-activated functions, advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with nearly unanimous approval on Tuesday. The bill would increase penalties for violations from $45 to $100. Reynolds indicated support for the legislation, which Senator Mark Lofgren stated would be instrumental in securing passage during the current legislative session.

During a U.S. House Government Oversight Committee hearing on February 5, 2025, Iowa Gov. Reynolds declined to directly answer Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi's question about whether she believes Lutheran Services, a charity organization with an Iowa chapter, is a money-laundering operation after the allegation was made by former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. At a press conference on February 10, 2025, Reynolds issued a clarification statement saying she does not believe Lutheran Services is a money-laundering organization. Reynolds' clarification came in response to criticism generated by her noncommittal responses during the congressional hearing.

Iowa Governor Reynolds signed an executive order on February 10, 2025, establishing a government efficiency task force named Iowa DOGE. The task force will be led by Emily Schmitt, chief administrative officer and general counsel of Sukup Manufacturing, and will include business leaders and government representatives. Reynolds charged the task force with three objectives: maximizing taxpayer return on government investment, advancing workforce job training, and leveraging new technologies including artificial intelligence.

The Iowa Labor Services Division adopted administrative rules that reduce civil penalties for businesses violating the state's child labor hour restrictions from $10,000 per instance to $2,500 per instance, effective Wednesday. The rules also increase penalty reductions available to smaller businesses, allowing those with 25 or fewer employees to receive a 35 percent reduction. The rules were adopted following a 2023 Republican-led law that loosened work requirements for teenagers as young as 14 and expanded permissible work hours and job types.

Reynolds signed an executive order on February 10, 2025, establishing the Iowa DOGE task force to identify methods for reducing government spending. The task force was directed to pursue three objectives: maximizing return on taxpayer investment, refining workforce and job training programs, and leveraging technology including artificial intelligence. Reynolds stated the task force would examine efficiencies across federal, state, and local government levels and make recommendations for streamlining government processes.

Reynolds testified at a Congressional hearing on government efficiency, where she discussed Iowa's government realignment efforts. House Republicans praised her testimony while Democrats criticized it. Reynolds' presentation focused on Iowa's government efficiency initiatives as examples of streamlined state operations.

Reynolds announced a March 11 special election to fill Iowa House District 100, a seat previously held by Republican Martin Graber who died in January 2025. The announcement came as Iowa House Republicans proposed a 2.25 percent general state funding increase for K-12 public schools in the 2025-2026 school year, which exceeded the 2 percent increase proposed by both the Iowa Senate Republicans and Reynolds. The House proposal also included $22.6 million in one-time funding to address inflationary costs in school districts.

Reynolds filed a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General's office regarding Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marks, who announced his office would not comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers without court-issued warrants. Attorney General Brenna Bird opened an investigation into the sheriff and Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors, citing Iowa law that requires law enforcement to comply with ICE detainers or face loss of state funding.

Reynolds proposed legislation during the 2025 legislative session that would require Iowa school districts to establish their own electronic device policies, with mandatory restrictions on device use during instructional time. The bill would allow individual school boards to implement stricter limitations beyond instructional hours and would include exceptions for students with individualized education plans and provisions for parental petitions based on student health needs. The proposed legislation would also require schools to provide training on the effects of social media and establish procedures for parent-guardian communication during emergencies.

Reynolds testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on February 5, 2025, regarding Iowa's executive branch reorganization that she proposed and signed into law in 2023. The restructuring reduced cabinet-level agencies from 37 to 16, eliminated approximately 600 open positions, removed 1,200 state regulations in the first year, and generated $217 million in savings over two years. Reynolds described specific operational improvements resulting from the reorganization, including reducing medical licensing processing time from 65 days to three days and unemployment rulings from three months to 11 days.

Governor Reynolds proposed that Iowa apply for a federal waiver to implement work requirements for able-bodied adults enrolled in Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for low-income individuals. Reynolds stated in her Condition of the State address that "getting back to work can be a lifeline to stability and self-sufficiency" and framed the work requirement as part of broader economic strengthening efforts. The proposal would require able-bodied adult Medicaid enrollees to work or engage in work-related activities to maintain coverage, similar to existing requirements in Iowa's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Reynolds signed legislation in May 2024 restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at Iowa's public universities. Republican lawmakers in the Iowa House subsequently advanced bills during the 2025 legislative session to establish uniform general education requirements across the state's public universities, prohibit universities from requiring students to take diversity, equity, and inclusion courses, and create a school of intellectual freedom at the University of Iowa. These actions followed similar restrictions on DEI programs at the federal level through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

Iowa House Democrats introduced House Joint Resolution 5, which would allow eligible Iowa voters to initiate the process of amending the state constitution through petition collection. Currently, Iowa is among 26 states that do not permit citizen-led constitutional amendment processes, requiring all constitutional amendments to begin with legislative proposals or occur through constitutional conventions held once every ten years. The proposal would align Iowa's amendment process with 24 states that already allow citizens to start constitutional amendment initiatives.

Reynolds visited Alburnett Community Schools on Tuesday during a statewide school choice week tour and stated that school districts experiencing enrollment declines have the responsibility to address the issue internally rather than seek state intervention. Reynolds referenced the Iowa Legislature's 2023 passage of her school choice proposal, which established education savings accounts allowing students to enroll in private schools using public funding. Reynolds said school districts and boards should examine what changes might retain families within their districts rather than look to state government for solutions to enrollment losses.

Iowa Governor Reynolds sent a letter to the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office regarding that office's cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in deportation efforts. The letter followed the sheriff's office statement about its policies on working with federal immigration authorities as part of the Trump administration's deportation initiatives. Reynolds communicated her position to the sheriff's office in early February 2025 as local law enforcement agencies across the Midwest were clarifying their stances on ICE collaboration.

Governor Reynolds intends to introduce legislation to create 115 new medical residency slots in Iowa, with total funding of approximately $150 million for the initiative. The proposed legislation would also double funding for and streamline Iowa's physician loan repayment programs, increasing total funding for those programs to $10 million. These measures align with recommendations from the Iowa Medical Society's Operation I.O.W.A. summit, which was convened to address Iowa's physician workforce shortage.

Governor Reynolds signed and submitted Iowa's application to enroll in the federal Home Energy Rebate programs, which provide rebates to homeowners for energy efficiency upgrades and electric appliance purchases funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. President Trump issued an executive order titled "Unleashing American Energy" on his first day in office that directs federal agencies to pause disbursement of funds under the Inflation Reduction Act, creating uncertainty about the timeline for the Iowa program. The Iowa Economic Development Authority stated that the state must await further direction from the federal government regarding the application and that the program launch may be delayed by several months.

Reynolds addressed the Iowa Prayer for Life rally at the Iowa Capitol rotunda on Monday, where she stated that recent electoral victories demonstrate that "life can win" and that Iowa Republicans have "repeatedly won the (abortion) debate at the ballot box." Reynolds referenced Iowa Republicans' passage of legislation banning abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, which the party has pursued twice through legislative action. Reynolds quoted scripture in her remarks, stating that the pro-life movement has "always proclaimed this truth with both clarity and love."

Governor Reynolds appointed Chris Cournoyer as lieutenant governor on December 16, 2024, which created a vacancy in Iowa Senate District 35. Reynolds subsequently set a special election date of January 28, 2025 to fill the vacated Senate seat. The special election allowed voters in Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott counties to select between Republican Katie Whittington and Democrat Mike Zimmer.

Iowa House Republicans introduced House Study Bill 52, which would require the University of Iowa to establish a "School of Intellectual Freedom" within its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences focused on teaching historical ideas and texts that shaped the American constitutional order. The bill was among fifteen higher education proposals introduced by the newly formed Iowa House Higher Education Committee, established to direct reforms toward what Republican leaders described as academic excellence. House Study Bill 56, introduced simultaneously, would mandate that all three public universities require undergraduate students to complete a course on American history and civil government covering U.S. governmental structure, landmark Supreme Court cases, and comparisons to other governmental systems.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order in January 2025 establishing a Nuclear Energy Task Force to develop recommendations for advancing nuclear energy in Iowa. The task force was created in response to increased electricity demand from data center construction in the state, particularly projects proposed by Google and other companies in southwest Cedar Rapids. Reynolds stated the task force would support a "forward-focused, all-of-the-above energy strategy that serves to keep consumer prices low and position Iowa for future growth."

Iowa Gov. Reynolds released a legislative proposal on January 24, 2025, to establish statewide restrictions on cellphone use in K-12 classrooms, which would require school districts to ban cellphone use during instructional time as a minimum standard to be adopted by July 1. Reynolds first announced the policy initiative during her Condition of the State address earlier that month, citing research showing that smartphones distract students and hinder classroom learning. The proposal follows similar statewide bans enacted in eight other states, including Florida, Indiana, and Virginia, and builds on existing cellphone policies already implemented by several Iowa school districts.

Governor Reynolds issued a memo ordering state law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Public Safety and Department of Corrections, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts and to detain individuals on reasonable suspicion of immigration law violations pending federal custody transfer. Reynolds previously signed legislation in the prior year designating illegal reentry by previously deported immigrants as a state crime, which a federal judge enjoined and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit affirmed as unconstitutional. The memo directs state officers to contact federal officials when they have reasonable suspicion of immigration law violations and to comply with federal detainer requests.

Reynolds signed Senate File 2340 in April 2024, legislation that made it a state crime for a person to be in Iowa if previously denied admission to or removed from the United States, with potential penalties including up to two years imprisonment and deportation orders by Iowa judges. The United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block the law, and a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction in June 2024. On January 24, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the injunction, determining the law would likely conflict with federal immigration authority.

Governor Reynolds sent a letter to the presidents of Iowa's three public universities on January 23, 2025, stating that President Trump's executive order abolishing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs eliminated any justification for the universities to maintain DEI offices, policies, or staff. Reynolds referenced a 2024 state law that had already prohibited Iowa's public universities from operating DEI offices or employing DEI staff, noting that the federal executive order reinforced this existing state requirement. The letter instructed university presidents to comply with both the state law and Trump's executive order, with a copy also sent to the Iowa Board of Regents.

Reynolds issued a memo to the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa Department of Corrections on Friday directing law enforcement to fully cooperate and assist with the implementation of federal immigration laws under the incoming Trump administration. Reynolds previously stated that Iowa is prepared to use the state's National Guard to support federal immigration enforcement efforts. A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety confirmed the department is prepared to comply with the directive from Reynolds.

Governor Reynolds presented plans to address Iowa's physician shortage by increasing medical residency slots in the state, which would train 460 new doctors over four years. The initiative aims to bolster access to physician services and rural healthcare in a state that ranks 44th nationally in patient-to-physician ratio and has the fewest OB/GYNs per capita of any state. Implementation challenges include ensuring that new residency slots can be supported across the state, as many small hospitals lack the infrastructure necessary to establish residency programs.

The State Judicial Nominating Commission approved a rule change in December 2024 that took effect in January 2025 prohibiting commission members from discussing judicial applicants with Governor Kim Reynolds before nominations are submitted to her for appointment. The amended rule replaced previous language that allowed commissioners to communicate with the governor about applicants subject to confidentiality provisions, which commission chair Janece Valentine stated was confusing regarding the timing of such communications. Under the new rule, commissioners may only communicate with the governor after the nominating commission has completed its screening and submitted its nominees.

Iowa Governor Reynolds issued a memo to the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa Department of Corrections directing state officers to fully cooperate with federal immigration agencies and proactively contact those agencies if officers have reasonable suspicion that a federal immigration law has been violated. The memo, issued on January 17, 2025, stated the directive was intended to prepare Iowa for the incoming Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. Reynolds stated the order was designed to promote public safety by ensuring Iowa's readiness for federal policy implementation regarding immigration.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst reintroduced Sarah's Law, legislation that would require federal authorities to detain anyone unlawfully present in the United States who has been charged with a crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury of another person. The bill was named after Sarah Root of Council Bluffs, who was killed in 2016 by a drunken driver in the country illegally. Ernst proposed Sarah's Law as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act, which was being considered by the Senate in January 2025.

Governor Reynolds issued a memo on January 17, 2025, directing the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa Department of Corrections to fully cooperate and assist federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice in enforcing federal immigration laws. The memo instructed these state agencies to contact federal authorities when criminal investigations result in the apprehension of individuals where reasonable suspicion exists that federal immigration laws have been violated. Reynolds stated that the specific scope of state assistance would depend on implementation decisions made by the incoming Trump Administration.

Reynolds vetoed House File 732, legislation that would have removed Iowa's 3 percent cap on THC in medical cannabis and instead limited prescriptions to 25 grams over 90 days. Reynolds stated the proposed increase was too substantial and instead supported the state medical cannabis board's recommendation of a 4.5 gram cap over 90 days. Reynolds pledged to work with the Legislature during the interim to identify an alternative approach to expanding medical cannabis access.

Governor Reynolds proposed using approximately $700 million from the state's Taxpayer Relief Fund to address a projected budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year. The proposal was made in response to projected state revenue of $8.7 billion against a proposed budget of $9.4 billion, with Reynolds' office indicating that 95 percent of the budget increase was allocated to K-12 education funding and Medicaid costs. Iowa House GOP leaders indicated they were not concerned about the proposal to utilize state reserves for budgetary purposes.

Reynolds called for restricting cell phones in classrooms during her 2025 Condition of the State Address delivered to lawmakers on January 14, 2025. She also announced her intention to establish an Iowa task force modeled after the federal "DOGE" initiative to review state government efficiency. Additionally, Reynolds proposed incentivizing public-private partnerships to increase child care availability and requested federal permission to implement Medicaid work requirements.

Governor Reynolds delivered her 2025 Condition of the State address proposing a statewide policy requiring school districts to restrict cellphone use in classrooms. She also outlined proposals to strengthen Iowa's child care workforce, address physician shortages, seek work requirements for Medicaid recipients, lower business tax rates for unemployment benefits, and address gaps in math and civics education. Additionally, Reynolds announced the creation of an Iowa task force on government efficiency modeled after the Department of Government Efficiency planned by President-elect Donald Trump.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen delivered her fifth Condition of the Judiciary address to lawmakers on January 15, 2025, outlining recommendations for the state's judicial system. Christensen proposed the Kansas Plan, which would increase the salary of state district court judges to 75 percent of a federal district court judge's salary over a four-year implementation period, up from the current 68 percent, while maintaining existing percentage relationships for other judicial positions. Christensen also recommended changes to the magistrate system and noted that Iowa currently ranks 41st nationally in judicial compensation, trailing surrounding states.

Governor Reynolds proposed a $9.4 billion state budget for the fiscal year beginning in July, presented to the Iowa Legislature in January 2025. The proposal calls for using state cash reserves to bridge the gap between projected revenues of $8.7 billion and proposed spending, allocating roughly 83 percent of available reserve funds. The budget includes $240 million in education spending increases and additional Medicaid funding, representing a $486 million increase over the current budget year, though final approval requires agreement from both chambers of the legislature.

Governor Reynolds issued an order on January 14, 2025, directing all flags at the Iowa Capitol and state buildings to be raised to full-staff on January 20 for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, after which they would return to half-staff. Reynolds had previously ordered flags lowered to half-staff on December 30, 2024, following the death of former President Jimmy Carter, with instructions to maintain that position until sunset on January 28. The flags would be raised to full-staff for a single day and then lowered again until January 28 to resume the Carter remembrance period.

Reynolds signed legislation in 2024 that restructured Iowa's nine Area Education Agencies by shifting funding to school districts and transferring special education oversight to the state education department. In response to this law, the Area Education Agencies submitted reports to the Iowa Department of Education detailing how they would prioritize services with the greatest impact on student outcomes and improve efficiency and collaboration. Grant Wood Area Education Agency's report outlined plans to have staff work more closely with educators serving students with disabilities to ensure evidence-based practices are used in literacy and math instruction.

Governor Reynolds signed into law in 2023 legislation that loosened work requirements for teenagers as young as 14, allowing them to work longer hours and in jobs previously classified as hazardous. The Iowa Labor Services Division subsequently adopted administrative rules that cap civil penalties for child labor violations at $2,500 per instance, reduced from a maximum of $10,000, and increase the penalty reduction available to small businesses from 25 percent to 35 percent. Union leaders have stated that these rule changes weaken protections for Iowa teenagers working in dangerous conditions or extended hours.

Governor Reynolds announced the allocation of grants through the Iowa Childcare Business Incentive grant program, distributing more than $14 million to 13 child care providers across the state. Reach For Your Potential Inc. in Iowa City received $911,000 through the program to renovate an existing building and establish a new child care facility. The grant program, which reopened in November, is estimated to create 874 new child care slots statewide.

Governor Reynolds announced $14 million in grants through the Child Care Business Incentive program to Iowa businesses and schools for building and expanding child care facilities. The grants were awarded to 13 employers, with nine receiving awards for the first time and four receiving additional funding after previous grants in 2022. The funded projects are estimated to create 874 new child care slots across Iowa communities, including construction of new facilities in Colfax and Carroll and expansions in Glenwood.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced plans to introduce legislation that would authorize the revocation of voter registration for individuals whose U.S. citizenship cannot be confirmed by state elections officials. The proposal follows Pate's November 2024 directive to local elections workers to automatically challenge ballots of approximately 2,000 Iowans identified through cross-checking voter registration records with state Department of Transportation documents, resulting in hundreds of challenged ballots and discovery of some noncitizen voters. Pate stated the legislation would use the same verification process and information sources employed during the 2024 election cycle, and indicated he seeks increased cooperation from federal immigration agencies to resolve cases where citizenship status is unclear.

Reynolds signed legislation at Big Creek State Park near Polk City that requires the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to research and develop recommendations to increase accessibility in Iowa state parks for people with disabilities. The bill was signed during a Thursday ceremony in January 2025. University of Iowa researchers subsequently began developing an interactive statewide map to identify publicly accessible parks and recreational spaces, with input from the public through an ongoing survey.

Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2442 in May 2024, legislation that reduces Iowa's top individual income tax rate from 5.7 percent to a flat rate of 3.8 percent for all taxpayers, effective January 1, 2025. The law accelerates a 2022 income tax overhaul that had previously been scheduled to reach a 3.9 percent flat tax by 2026. Reynolds also signed legislation establishing new consumer data protection requirements and expanding drunken driving restrictions, both of which took effect on the same date.

Governor Reynolds signed tax cut legislation in 2024 that contributed to Iowa's income tax rate declining to 3.8% effective January 1, 2025. The rate reduction resulted from multiple rounds of tax cuts enacted by Republican lawmakers beginning in 2018, when the top income tax rate was approximately 9%. Reynolds stated the latest tax cut would save Iowa residents approximately $1 billion in taxes over the first two years, though state economic forecasters project this will result in reduced revenue relative to spending in the subsequent budget year.