Week 11 of the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session is in the books, and State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Manning) highlighted key legislative developments in his weekly letter to constituents. Among the topics addressed was the ongoing debate over school funding, which remains unresolved weeks past its deadline. The House has proposed a 2.25 percent increase in state supplemental aid with additional one-time funding for schools, while the Senate and governor’s office are holding at 2 percent. Williams noted that the session, which is scheduled to conclude on May 2, will not end until the legislature can finalize a budget. Williams says landowners’ property rights have been a priority in the House, with two bills passing to strengthen protections against eminent domain abuse. House File 943, which prohibits taking agricultural land for CO2 pipelines, passed 81-12. House File 639 introduces new insurance requirements for hazardous liquid pipelines and mandates Iowa Utilities Commission members’ presence at hearings. It passed 85-10. It is unclear if those bills will make it to the floor for debate in the Senate. Williams notes election security also saw movement, with House File 928 standardizing recount procedures and House File 954 tightening voter roll verification. Both measures passed with bipartisan support. Additionally, the legislature advanced measures on distracted driving, health care expansion, Medicaid work requirements, and SNAP benefit restrictions. Notably, House File 970 would limit SNAP purchases to nutritious foods if a federal waiver is granted.
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