The fact that these terrible bills did not pass is a victory. We have to count it as a win and be glad about it.  Things are already bad but these failed bills, had they passed, would have made things super-bad.  

We are stuck in a time where the best good news seems to be when something terrible could have happened, but didn’t. But Republicans will keep trying, we can count on that.

Today I thought I would share my state representative Elinor Levin’s end-of-session newsletter.  Our Democratic reps and senators work hard and it can’t be easy. I see my rep. Elinor and my state senator Janice Weiner at every major political event in Iowa City that I attend, including #handsoff and the 50501 day of action. They are out there helping win special elections and knocking on doors, too.

Scroll down to see what Republicans didn’t get done this session so you can feel temporarily relieved knowing that it could have been much worse. When you read through the list of failed bills, even though you already knew what Republicans were up to,  you will be shocked all over again at the anti-people policies they thought were good ideas and tried to pass.  

Have a happy Wednesday to the extent you are able.

Closing my third legislative session at the Iowa State Capitol, I feel compelled to speak plainly and directly to you about what did — and more importantly, what did not — happen this year.

Time and again, House Republicans make bold promises to the people of Iowa. They told us they would tackle the pressing issues facing our families, our schools, our seniors, and our communities. They stood behind microphones and promised to support Iowa’s public schools, pledged action on property taxes, swore to address the childcare crisis, and vowed to strengthen protections for nursing home residents.

And then… they did… next to nothing.

Schools? No meaningful investment increase. No plan to ease the burdens on teachers, no effort to address crumbling infrastructure, no serious moves to ensure every child in every district in Iowa, receives the education they deserve.

Property Taxes? They talked a good game but failed to deliver any significant relief for working families and seniors struggling to stay in their homes – instead continuing to shift burden onto middle-class Iowans and local municipalities.

Protecting our Nursing Home Residents? While headlines continue to expose horrifying neglect and abuse, House Republicans ignored Iowans lucky enough to have made it to elder status. No sweeping reforms. No new protections. Just empty words.

Childcare? In a state where families scramble daily to find and afford safe, quality care for their children, this Republican majority offered no real solutions. The best we can say is that the Governor’s proposal to take funds away from 0-3 year olds to increase transportation services for 4 year olds died this morning.

This Legislative Session Summary: Majority leaders said they were going to do something — and did nothing. Well, nothing but take away Civil Rights and healthcare from trans Iowans and give tax breaks to multinational companies that lay off workers.  So, what would I do differently?

Iowans deserve leaders who don’t just campaign on promises but actually show up, roll up their sleeves, and get to work for the people of Iowa. Who open their minds to policy ideas that offer the changes Iowans are asking for!

This is about priorities. It’s about whether we choose to invest in our children, care for our elders, and build a state where working families can thrive. Whether we embrace protecting our water and soil so we can have a future.

I promise you this: I will keep fighting. I will keep speaking out. And I will keep holding this majority accountable for the promises they make but refuse to keep. I don’t know what else to do.

Iowa deserves action — not bait and switch.

Legislature Concludes 2025 Session

After weeks of overtime, the 2025 Legislative Session adjourned in the early hours of Thursday, May 15th. The extended session reflected deep divisions over key issues such as school funding, property tax relief, and support for working families. While some bipartisan progress was made, many important proposals were left unresolved.

Thank You for Speaking Out

To every Iowan who stood up, spoke out, and took action, thank you for being part of the fight. Using your voice to stand up for what’s right is a core part of what it means to be an Iowan.

Legislative Democrats heard those voices and stood in opposition to harmful bills that would have cut critical services, opened the door to more discrimination, restricted reproductive healthcare, and allowed the government to overstep.

Because of Iowans’ advocacy, the following bills failed to advance this year:

• Prohibition of mRNA vaccines – almost all COVID vaccines (SF 360)
• Expands the ability to carry a gun into a school (HF 621)
• Criminalizing homelessness (SSB 1195/ HSB 286)
• the Governor a $100,000 pay raise (SF 544)
• First step to eliminate Social Security & Medicare (HJR 11)
• Taking away unemployment benefits for short-term workers (SF 466)
• Cuts funding to libraries based on affiliation (HF 880)
• Immunity for pesticide companies giving people cancer (SF 394)
• Overturn marriage equality (SCR 3)
• Allow unlicensed chaplain services in public schools (HF 884)
• Gadsden flag plate to raise money for the NRA (SF 488)
• Limit food options for hungry children (HF 970)

Together, we pushed back against efforts that don’t reflect who we are as Iowans. While the fight isn’t over, your voices made a difference, and it will continue to guide us as we work toward Iowa’s future.

Missed Opportunities

At the start of the session, Iowa House Democrats prioritized lowering costs, recognizing that too many Iowa families are struggling with rising healthcare and childcare expenses, stagnant wages, and growing concerns about potential layoffs across the state.

While many Iowans hoped for meaningful property tax relief this session, Republican lawmakers failed to reach a resolution. In contrast, House Democrats introduced two proposals aimed at delivering real relief to Iowa families:

• Expanding property tax credits to all seniors (HF 916)
• A $1,000 property tax rebate for homeowners/$500 rebate for renters (HF 691)

House Democrats also introduced several bills that would have put working families first by raising wages and lowering costs. Those included:

• Creating more affordable housing units & making it easier to buy a first home (HF 659)
• Neighborhood grants to help current homeowner improve and stay in their home (HF 659)
• Capping rent increases & refunding 50% of the rental application fee to anyone denied housing by a landlord (HF 266)
• Expand the Childcare Tax Credit and Childcare Assistance program to provide immediate relief to families (HF 611)
• Raising wages & expanding benefits for childcare workers (HF 661)
• Tax credits for small businesses that provide childcare employee benefits (HF 661)
• Raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour (HF 283)
• Capping the price of insulin to $25 per month (HF 658)
• Ending state taxes on tips & overtime pay

Unfortunately, the voices of most Iowans were repeatedly ignored this session. Instead of putting Iowans first, the Governor and Republican leaders prioritized special interests and political power, advancing bills that do just that:

• 44% increase in funding for private school vouchers, but just a 2% increase for public schools (SF 167)
• Stripping Civil Rights from Iowans (SF 418)
• Requiring public schools to provide false information to kids on pregnancy (SF 175)
• Ending Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Iowa (HF 856)
• $1 billion in new tax breaks for corporations that lay off Iowa workers (SF 607)
• Putting the health care of 182,000 Iowans at risk (SF 615)

Some Common Ground

Iowans expect lawmakers to listen and work together to get things done. And while it’s to be expected that there are honest policy differences between Republican and Democratic lawmakers, there were a few issues that lawmakers found common ground on, including:

• Ban cell phone usage in schools (HF 782)
• Expanding parental leave for adoptive parents & state employees (HF 889/HF 248)
• New tools to address human trafficking (HF 649)
• Protected landowner rights (HF 639)
• Expanded cancer and health care coverage for firefighters (HF 969)
• Hands-free driving (SF 22)
• Helping Iowans impacted by the opioid crisis (HF 1038)
• $14 million for paraeducators’ pay (SF 660)

Capitol and Community Updates

GOVERNOR SIGNS SCHOOL FUNDING 103 DAYS LATE: Governor Reynolds was 103 days late signing school funding and then gave 44% more new money to private schools while Iowa’s 485,000 public school students got a 2% increase.