District 11 Rep. Craig Williams (R-Manning) reported a packed week at the Iowa Capitol as lawmakers wrapped up the second funnel deadline and continued work on key legislation, including public safety bills and distracted driving reform. Williams noted that only bills that have passed one chamber and cleared a committee in the opposite chamber remain viable, excluding Ways and Means or Appropriations bills, which are still in play until the session’s end, expected in early May. One major development last week was the signing of Senate File 22, which bans handheld phone use while driving. The law takes effect on July 1, with a six-month warning period before enforcement begins. Williams also highlighted four newly signed laws focused on harsher penalties for Iowans convicted of grooming offenses and assaults on public workers, open containers of THC-infused beverages in a motor vehicle, and updated drug classifications. Outside the chamber, Williams engaged with homeschool families during Iowa Homeschool Day on the Hill and met TeenPact students learning about state government. He also toured the Capitol with constituents and discussed agriculture policy in Coon Rapids with local farmers and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
