Next week, 6th District Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig begins his 17th year in state government, and he says he is as excited to work for Iowans as he was in his first year. The 2025 Iowa Legislative Session convenes in Des Moines on Monday, Jan. 13. Republican leaders in the House and Senate have already indicated further property tax reform is on the GOP’s agenda, but Schultz says it is not clear yet what shape that may take.
Republicans now hold a 19-seat supermajority in the Senate, 34-15, which could grow to 20 seats after the special election to replace former Sen. Chris Cournoyer, who was selected to serve as lieutenant governor. Schultz is now one of the longest-serving senators in the chamber, which is reflected in his committee assignments.
Schultz says committees are generally where the bulk of legislative work gets done, and he will use his Judiciary Committee appointment to target eminent domain and human traffickers.
He adds that the House and Senate are likely to pursue pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) transparency after the legislature approved study bills last year. Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to give the 2025 Condition of the State address to the legislature on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and Schultz says he anticipates her laying out some of her priorities for the upcoming session.
Hundreds of bills are introduced every legislative session, so Schultz says he will be ready to address whatever issues might appear. He encourages his constituents to stay in touch with him via email or catch him at one of the many forums he attends throughout his district while the legislature is in session. Senate District 6 includes Ida, Crawford, Carroll, Shelby, and Audubon counties and a small section of northeast Pottawattamie County.
