Amy Campbell – Page 3 – LWVIA | League of Women Voters of Iowa

House Republicans Announce Committee Leadership

Amy Campbell on November 22, 2024

Rep. Pat Grassley, Speaker of the Iowa House, announced his line-up of committee chairs and vice chairs for the 2025 legislative session.

“In response to our agenda to introduce sound budgeting principles, reduce burdensome red tape, innovate new ways to grow a strong workforce, cut taxes, and keep our common sense on social issues, Iowans have once again grown our majority,” Grassley said. “We continue to represent all 99 of Iowa’s 99 counties and with this expansive representation, we can hear from Iowans and stay in touch with their priorities better than ever before. This group of House Republicans is ready to get to work for the people of Iowa.”

Committee leadership is as follows:

Standing Committees:

Administrative Rules Review
Rep. Chad Ingels (R-Randalia) – Chair

Agriculture
Rep. Mike Sexton (R-Rockwell City) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Chad Behn (R-Boone) – Vice Chair

Appropriations
Rep. Gary Mohr (R-Bettendorf) – Chair
Rep. Dan Gehlbach (R-Urbandale) – Vice Chair

Commerce
Rep. Shannon Lundgren (R-Peosta) – Chair
Rep.-Elect David Blom (R-Marshalltown) – Vice Chair

Economic Growth and Technology
Rep. Ray Sorensen (R-Greenfield) – Chair
Rep. Devon Wood (R-New Market) – Vice Chair

Education
Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R-Hull) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Samantha Fett (R-Carlisle) – Vice Chair

Environmental Protection
Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour) – Chair
Rep. Tom Gerhold (R-Atkins) – Vice Chair

Ethics
Rep. Bill Gustoff (R-Des Moines) – Chair
Rep. Craig Johnson (R-Independence) – Vice Chair

Government Oversight
Rep. Charley Thomson (R-Charles City) – Chair
Rep. Jeff Shipley (R-Birmingham) – Vice Chair

Health and Human Services
Rep. Carter Nordman (R-Panora) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Brett Barker (R-Nevada) – Vice Chair

Higher Education
*This is a new committee
Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis) – Chair
Rep. Jeff Shipley (R-Birmingham) – Vice Chair

International Relations
Rep. Eddie Andrews (R-Johnston) – Chair

Judiciary
Rep. Steve Holt (R-Denison) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Judd Lawler (R-Oxford) – Vice Chair

Labor
Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla (R-Pella) – Chair
Rep. Josh Meggers (R-Grundy Center) – Vice Chair

Local Government
Rep. Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Craig Williams (R-Manning) – Vice Chair

Natural Resources
Rep. Derek Wulf (R-Hudson) – Chair
Rep. Cindy Golding (R-Palo) – Vice Chair

Public Safety
Rep. Mike Vondran (R-Davenport) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Sam Wengryn (R-Pleasanton) – Vice Chair

State Government
Rep. Jane Bloomingdale (R-Northwood) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Jennifer Smith (R-Dubuque) – Vice Chair

Transportation
Rep. David Young (R-Van Meter) – Chair
Rep. Tom Determann (R-Clinton) – Vice Chair

Veterans Affairs
Rep. Brooke Boden (R-Indianola) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Jason Gearhart (R-Strawberry Point) – Vice Chair

Ways & Means
Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R-Wilton) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Christian Hermanson (R-Mason City) – Vice Chair

Appropriations Subcommittees:

Administration and Regulation Appropriations
Rep. Michael Bergan (R-Dorchester) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Travis Sitzmann (R-Le Mars) – Vice Chair

Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations
Rep. Norlin Mommsen (R-DeWitt) – Chair
Rep. Helena Hayes (R-New Sharon) – Vice Chair

Economic Development Appropriations
Rep. Shannon Latham (R-Sheffield) – Chair
Rep.-Elect Ryan Weldon (R-Ankeny) – Vice Chair

Education Appropriations
Rep. Austin Harris (R-Moulton) – Chair
Rep. Bob Henderson (R-Sioux City) – Vice Chair

Federal and Other Funds
*This is a new committee
Rep. Martin Graber (R-Fort Madison)
Rep. David Sieck (R-Glenwood)

Health and Human Services Appropriations
Rep. Ann Meyer (Fort Dodge) – Chair
Rep. Tom Moore (R-Griswold) – Vice Chair

Justice Systems Appropriations
Rep. Brian Lohse (R-Bondurant) – Chair
Rep. Mark Thompson (R-Clarion) – Vice Chair

Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations
Rep. Jacob Bossman (R-Sioux City) – Chair
Rep. Steven Bradley (R-Cascade) – Vice Chair

Senate Republicans have not yet released their committee leaders, and Democrats in both chambers have yet to release their ranking members. Full committee assignments will be announced at a later date. The 91st General Assembly begins Monday, January 13, 2025.

2024 Election Recap

Amy Campbell on November 6, 2024

Updated November 22. Election night has ended and the table is now set for the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session, which will begin on January 13, 2025. Republicans now have a super majority in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature, picking up one seat in the Senate (35 Rs, 15 Ds) and gaining three in the House (67 Rs, 33 Ds). As a reminder, only even numbered Senate seats were up this year, since Senate terms are four years and elections are staggered.

Iowa Senate 2025

Two Democratic Senators and one Republican Senator lost their re-elections.

Sen. Eric Giddens (D-Black Hawk) lost by 386 votes.
Sen. Nate Boulton (D-Polk) lost by just 44 votes. A recount is likely.
Sen. Brad Zaun (R-Polk) lost by more than 1,700 votes.

Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D-Dallas) won her seat by only 24 votes. Her challenger (Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson) has requested a recount, as has Sen. Boulton. These are the only two Senate seats with active recounts.

There will be seven new faces in the Iowa Senate (although one – Art Staed – is moving over from the House):

Mike Pike (R-Polk) – beat Sen. Nate Boulton
Matt Blake (D-Polk) – beat Sen. Brad Zaun
Kara Warme (R-Story) – retiring Sen. Jeff Edler’s seat (note Warme works for a behavioral health/youth services provider, YSS)
Doug Campbell (R-Cerro Gordo) – Sen. Waylon Brown’s seat (he resigned after the primary) Campbell is a retired pharmacist.
Tom Townsend (D-Dubuque) – retiring Sen. Pam Jochum’s seat
Dave Sires (Giddens) – beat Sen. Eric Giddens
Art Staed (D-Linn) – retiring Sen. Todd Taylor’s seat; Staed is a current Representative

Iowa House 2025

Three Democratic Representatives lost their races:

Rep. Chuck Isenhart (D-Dubuque) lost by more than 1,000 votes
Rep. Sue Cahill (D-Marshall) lost by 568 votes.
Rep. Molly Buck (D-Polk) lost by 138 votes.

Rep. Monica Kurth (D-Scott) won her re-election by only 45 votes; it is currently being recounted. Democrats picked up the open Republican seat (retiring Rep. Luana Stoltenberg) in Scott County, but Republicans flipped the open Democratic seat (retiring Rep. Sharon Steckman) in Cerro Gordo County.

There will be 16 new faces in the Iowa House:

Travis Sitzman (R-Plymouth)- retiring Rep. Ken Carlson
Craig Williams (R-Carroll) – retiring Rep. Brian Best
Samantha Fett (R-Warren) – retiring Rep. Stan Gustafson; Fett is the co-founder of the Iowa chapter of Moms for Liberty
Sam Wengryn (R-Decatur) – retiring Rep. Joel Fry
Rob Johnson (D-Polk) – retiring Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad
Ryan Weldon (R-Polk) – beat Rep. Molly Buck
Larry McBurney (D-Polk) – retiring Rep. John Forbes
Chad Behn (R-Boone) – retiring Rep. Phil Thompson
Brett Barker (R-Story) – retiring Rep. Dave Deyoe; Barker is a pharmacist and former pharmacy association lobbyist
David Blom (R-Marshall) – beat Rep. Sue Cahill
Christian Hermanson (R-Cerro Gordo) – retiring Rep. Sharon Steckman; Hermanson is a former police officer
Jason Gearhart (R-Clayton) – retiring Rep. Anne Osmundson
Jennifer Smith (R-Dubuque) – beat Rep. Chuck Isenhart; Smith is a college professor (economics/accounting)
Aime Wichtendahl (D-Linn) – retiring Rep. Art Staed; Wichtendahl will be Iowa’s first known transgender legislator
Daniel Gosa (D-Scott) – retiring Rep. Luanna Stoltenberg
Judd Lawler (R-Johnson) – retiring Rep. Brad Sherman

In addition to the three recounts noted above, US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ race is being recounted as well. Her race was close (800 votes) but not as close as in 2020 when she won by only six votes. You can see all the results on the Secretary of State’s website here. We will update this post when recounts have been completed and races are finalized.

Effects of Six Week Abortion Ban

Amy Campbell on October 22, 2024

Iowa’s six week abortion ban is now in effect and bans most abortions after “cardiac activity” is detected. The law includes some exceptions in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities and when the mother’s life is in danger, but there are requirements that may complicate access for many women and girls in those situations. Former Des Moines Register columnist Julie Gammack has a great podcast that explores the impact of this law in her “Potluck” podcast with Dr. Rebecca Shaw (a West Des Moines OB/GYN), Mary Riche (Iowans for Health Liberty), and Mazie Stilwell (Planned Parenthood). Check it out on Substack: https://okobojiwriters.substack.com/p/loss-of-abortion-rights-in-iowa

Welcome to the LWVIA Public Policy Blog!

Amy Campbell on September 11, 2024

The League of Women Voters of Iowa wants to make sure all our members are up to date on current public policy discussions. Instead of our monthly legislative updates, you can check in here to find the latest on LWVIA priorities. Look for more frequent posts during the legislative session, as well as check-ins throughout the year. Stay tuned!