Under the Golden Dome
62 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 42 ratingsThe policymaking process in the Iowa Legislature can be complicated. Host John Pemble breaks it down and makes it easier to understand. Under the Golden Dome provides context, depth and a better understanding of the Iowa legislative session and the laws that come out of it. Learn about the elected officials, influencers, issues and bills working their way through the statehouse.
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Episodes
Return and adjourn
May 25, 2022 19:07The 2022 Iowa legislative session ends after many weeks of little to no activity in the House or Senate. During a busy two days, final budget bills are approved. Most come revised from the Senate including the education appropriation that funds the public universities. Also a number of policy bills are eligible for the governor to consider, including one changing Iowa’s four decade old can and bottle redemption law. One of the final bills, known as the “standings bill” includes a section that...
Retiring and waiting for Senate budgets
April 09, 2022 09:20Around this time, legislators who have announced they aren’t seeking re-election in the Iowa legislature are granted a “retirement” speech from the chamber floor. Between the House and Senate, around 35 legislators are not running for re-election. A few are seeking to run in the other chamber and there are some running for congressional seats. Some of these decisions are also due to redistricting. Also, many large budget bills have passed in the House, but so far the Senate has not taken them...
Disagreement between the House and Senate
April 02, 2022 09:20Proposals about public schools pass in the Senate and House requiring online publishing of curriculums. Private schools are exempt from doing the same. Unlike the House version, the Senate’s includes millions of dollars in scholarships for students attending private schools. One Republican says this is necessary after accusing some public schools of promoting a “leftist agenda.” And the House passes a budget with no increase to the regents universities’ general fund. But the bill does propose...
Posting curriculum online, surplus vs failure to appropriate, and contentious debate about unemployment benefits
March 26, 2022 09:20A bill requiring teachers to post everything they use in a classroom online before a semester begins, advances. After a committee, it now has something that may let teachers update that information as they teach. Budgets are now starting to pass out of the House. Democrats say the $1 billion surplus should be used to provide more funds to state departments. And the longest debate so far this year is for a bill about unemployment benefits. It reduces the maximum number of weeks for unemploymen...
First Department of Corrections budget and striking bills
March 19, 2022 09:20The Department of Corrections director lays out the condition of the prisons to a committee that determines its annual budget. The House reduces one budget item, makes it up with money from a previous fiscal year, then allocates 7 million new dollars for fiscal year 2023. The House passes a bill allowing midwifery to be licensed in Iowa, but the bill is derailed in a Senate committee. And a bill changing how Iowa’s four decades old container redemption system operates advances from a subcommi...
Changing confirmation, time, and property tax notifications
March 12, 2022 10:22A bill removing Senate confirmation for some of the governor’s appointees advances. Confirmation for those exempt appointees is still possible if 26 senators want it, but the 18 Democrats in the Senate say it isn’t fair. A bill that would overturn an Iowa Supreme Court ruling about police searching garbage without a warrant passes in the Senate. As it comes to a House committee, the bill’s potential to become a law that stays on the books is in question. There’s a proposal that would require ...
Private scholarships, drug changes, and a ban becomes law
March 05, 2022 10:19Two of the governor’s priorities advance at the Capitol. First, a bill creating scholarships for private schools advances from a committee. It also requires teachers to publish online everything that will be used in the classroom. And, the Senate passes a bill banning transgender girls from playing on female sports teams at K-12 schools, colleges and universities in Iowa. The governor signs the bill into law. In the House, two drug-related bills pass. One is about experimental treatments for ...
Israel, child care, and athletes
February 26, 2022 10:20There are state requirements for staff levels at child care facilities. A bill comes to the full Senate for debate that increases the ratio of staff for young children. In the House there are bills involving interests with Israel, including one related to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. And a ban on transgender girls and women playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams passes the House.
Deadlines, taxes, and buying land
February 19, 2022 10:53The House passes a bill that will gradually lower income tax rates. It requires the state to consistently have a revenue growth of 3.5% for several years. Republicans say last year’s nearly billion dollar surplus should be used to reduce taxes. As school spending is approved by both chambers at a growth of 2.5%, Democrats say it should be higher especially with the recent surplus. Bills race to be passed out of committees during this funnel week, where most bills must pass out of one chamber’...
Curriculum and state standards
February 12, 2022 09:52There are two versions of a bill about equal treatment for religious and secular organizations. The Senate version contains language some say could invite discrimination and evasion of Iowa laws, but the House version does not. A Senate bill advances that would require the State Board of Education to create course standards for elective social studies classes about the Bible. And a House bill would prohibit transgender girl athletes from being on girls’ school sports teams.
Moving to the chambers
February 05, 2022 17:10There are still in excess of 100 bills a week being considered by subcommittees and some have also passed a full committee. That makes them eligible for a chamber to consider passage. The first bill to do so expands biofuels in Iowa. Unlike similar legislation that didn’t advance last year, this builds in exemptions for some fuel stations that don’t have the infrastructure for biofuels. It passes in the House with bipartisan support. Many education proposals have passed through a committee th...
Returning bills
January 29, 2022 09:49Every year bills that didn’t pass in previous legislative sessions get another shot through the subcommittee process. In 2022 bills that would restrict or further regulate traffic enforcement cameras advance through Senate subcommittees. Governor Reynolds has written a bill that would increase biofuels options at gas stations, that is less aggressive than her renewable fuels bill from last year. A proposal allowing Iowa schools to go year-round stalls. And a new bill advances that would chang...
Subcommittees lay session groundwork
January 22, 2022 09:58It’s the first of several full weeks of subcommittees. Not all bills advance from their first subcommittee hearing. Last year a large bill passed in the Senate about eligibility requirements for many public assistance programs. It did not advance in the House. Now part of the Senate bill dealing only with SNAP benefits comes to a House subcommittee. Also in subcommittees is proposed amendment to the state constitution that would expand and reinforce victims rights. There's a proposal to limit...
Opening priorities: taxes, workforce and school libraries
January 15, 2022 10:00The first week of the second half of the 89th Iowa General Assembly is mostly filled with legislators announcing their priorities for this planned 100-day session. With a billion dollar surplus from the last fiscal year, Republicans have suggested various tax reductions. But the first proposal comes during Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State address, with a flat income tax and the elimination of taxes on most pensions and retirement accounts. Another one of her proposals is to reduce th...
Taxes, Masks, & Sine Die
May 20, 2021 20:55 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBLast day of the 2021 legislative session featured a surprise amendment to a bill prohibiting schools and cities from implementing mask mandates stricter than state policies and code.
Bottle Redemption, More Budgets And A Large Law Enforcement Bill
April 23, 2021 21:11 - 21 minutes - 20.7 MBAs the 2021 session comes to a close, changing Iowa’s bottle redemption system received a public hearing. Another large department budget passed out of an appropriations committee, and includes a controversial income verification qualification for public assistance programs. And a large bill about law enforcement passed out of the House.
Counter Proposal
April 16, 2021 21:47 - 20 minutes - 19.6 MBA week after House committees presented appropriations budgets, the Senate followed. There are a few differences between the two chambers and they must be resolved for the budget bills to pass. Two of the governor’s appointees are in danger of not being confirmed by the Senate. Confirmation requires two-thirds majority and if Democrats unite in opposition, an appointee will be removed from their position.
Booze, Broadband And Budgets
April 09, 2021 21:40 - 27 minutes - 26.2 MBThis week, the Iowa House of Representatives passed a bill allowing third-party services to deliver beer, wine, or liquor to a customer’s home. Grants to increase faster internet service received unanimous support in the Senate and House, and the House appropriations committee advanced budgets to be debated in the chamber.
Robot Delivery And Trespassing Penalties
April 02, 2021 21:57 - 21 minutes - 20.6 MBAutonomous personal delivery devices may start operating in residential areas of Iowa communities. The House has passed a bill allowing for these robot deliveries and now a Senate committee has modified the bill. The House has also passed a bill adding penalties for those who trespass and take animal, plant, or land samples from an agricultural-producing property. It also includes penalties for taking a photograph while trespassing.
First Signs Of New Budget And Tax Changes
March 26, 2021 21:26 - 25 minutes - 24 MBLegislators are beginning the sprint to the end of the legislative session. Budgets are starting to form in the Senate and House. So are more tax reduction proposals, including one that would change funding for mental health to come from the general fund instead of local property taxes. Some of those other divisions would eliminate backfill payments to cities and counties.
Diversity Training Restrictions and Expanding Vaccination
March 19, 2021 16:16 - 21 minutes - 20.7 MBWith demand for a COVID-19 shot expected to be high this year, the House has passed a bill allowing dentists to administer these vaccines. The House also passed a bill placing restrictions on what concepts can be included in diversity training for state workers and public school staff. The floor debate lasted four hours.
Penalties and Questions
March 12, 2021 22:11 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBA bill in the Iowa Senate passes that would add penalties for protesters who cause damage or interfere with police trying to break up a disorderly protest. Another passes prohibiting a city or county from reducing the budget for law enforcement. The House Government Oversight Committee meets with members from Ames Community School District about concerns for using Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action in their schools.
Funnel Deadline
March 05, 2021 22:30 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBThe legislative season is around the halfway mark, where there is a deadline for most bills to pass out of one full committee. Bills with a financial impact are not subject to this “funnel.” On this episode we walk through six bills that passed this funnel week.
Election Changes and School Boards
February 26, 2021 21:58 - 22 minutes - 21.4 MBA controversial bill proposes changing Iowa’s election laws and increasing penalties. It receives a public hearing, then two days later it passes in the House and Senate. Also, a bill from a Senate Education subcommittee advances that would make it easier for superintendents and school board members to be removed if they willfully violate Iowa laws concerning Iowa schools.
Fuels and Elections
February 19, 2021 23:12 - 24 minutes - 23.5 MBA bill about fuel would require gas stations to greatly expand renewable fuel pumps for gasoline and diesel. Opponents of the bill mostly say they aren’t against biofuels but implementing the quantity of these pumps especially in rural areas isn’t feasible. A 58-section bill changing election laws and penalties fast tracks through Senate and House committees.
Education Appropriations & Appropriateness
February 12, 2021 20:28 - 23 minutes - 22.3 MBThe Senate and House pass an increase of 2.4% funding of state supplemental aid for K-12 public schools. The House Education subcommittee advances a bill that would remove some funding from a school that uses material from The 1619 Project and the Senate Education subcommittee advances a bill about gender identity and bathroom use.
Asking for Funds
February 06, 2021 02:48 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBThe three state universities are asking for $26 million more for the next fiscal year. A House subcommittee advances a bill that would not allow public or private colleges to implement a mask or social distancing rule for students and employees when they are off-campus. And the governor’s broadband bill is discussed in a Senate subcommittee.
Vaccine Supply and Demand
January 30, 2021 04:58 - 27 minutes - 25.7 MBStates decide how to prioritize COVID-19 vaccines. In Iowa, there are two phases that involve nearly one million Iowans. The will be around 50,000 doses per week in February. While it’s expected to increase, it will be awhile until the supply begins to meet the demand.
Accessing Subcommittees
January 22, 2021 23:22 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBThe Iowa House and Senate committees and subcommittees are available to the public using video conference systems but both have different rules. There are also changes to the House rules for this new Iowa General Assembly, but those changes do not include amendments from Democrats that would require masks to be worn at the Capitol.
The Conditions Of The 2021 Legislative Session
January 22, 2021 23:05 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBAs the 89th Iowa General Assembly begins, House Republicans have more seats from the November election and the party maintains a majority status in the Senate. With a Republican governor, this is the fifth year for the party’s trifecta. As is common in a session’s first week, leaders lay out their goals including the governor as she delivers her Condition of the State.
Last-Minute Legislation
June 15, 2020 14:12 - 34 minutesDuring the last week of the 2020 legislative session a series of changes about absentee voting passes in the Senate, but the House changes the bill dramatically. A proposal titled "More Perfect Union" is drafted and passes unanimously in both chambers during one afternoon. And in the last 24 hours of the session a newly-introduced abortion restriction amendment passes. Also, the budget is amended with a new requirement about how county auditors must contact voters when there is incorrect vote...
Resuming Session Amid Pandemic And Protests
June 07, 2020 00:31 - 28 minutesWhile the session was suspended for 12 weeks, 564 Iowans died from COVID-19 complications. Before returning, the legislative council met to discuss how to come back to the Capitol with new health and safety measures. The Revenue Estimating Conference also met to provide the legislature with a new number on which to base the FY 2021 budget. A legislative proposal, “More Perfect Union” is aimed at preventing violent conflicts between law enforcement and Iowa residents. And a constitutional amen...
Suspending Session
March 17, 2020 19:27 - 9 minutesWith the coronavirus reaching community spread, Gov. Kim Reynolds and legislative leaders are suspending the 2020 legislative session. In order to do this, first the House and Senate must meet to pass some spending measures and a resolution. In this podcast episode, we bring you the final day of the session before they pause for 30 days.
Estimates - Coronavirus Impact - Expanding Cannabidiol Act
March 13, 2020 21:16 - 24 minutesThe Revenue Estimating Conference meets to share a forecast of how much revenue the state will take in. For Fiscal Year 2020, things are on track from previous estimates, but FY 2021 is revised downward a bit over concerns about coronavirus. As of Thursday March 12, legislative leaders and the governor have not called to pause the session or restrict public access to the Capitol over coronavirus concerns. The 2017 Cannabidiol Act is revised this year in the House. The same was attempted last ...
Making Compromises
March 06, 2020 21:57 - 29 minutesThree weeks ago the Senate and House passed different funding levels for K-12 public education. This week the chambers announced a compromise and now schools know where to set the budgets they will be submitting in April. A bill to help citizens of Puerto Rico move to Iowa for jobs passes a subcommittee, but with a much lower level of funding that originally proposed. Another House subcommittee moves forward a bill that passed in the Senate last year changing language and penalties in Iowa’s ...
Glass Pipe Tax - Confirmation - Income Verification - Abortion Testimony
February 28, 2020 21:29 - 30 minutesThe governor appoints hundreds of people to positions requiring Senate confirmation. This week some of the individuals making it through the required two-thirds majority vote are Department of Natural Resources director Kayla Lyon and Department of Human Services director Kelly Kennedy Garcia. The Senate takes up a bill requiring a third-party vendor to verify the income of a person on a public assistance program. And the House holds a public hearing on a controversial constitutional amendmen...
Religion - Vaccination - Redemption
February 21, 2020 23:19 - 27 minutesDuring funnel week, dozens of bills come before subcommittees hoping to make it past the committee level to stay in play for the rest of the session. One bill that would add clarity about “bona fide religious purpose” to Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965 doesn't make it. Legislators say the language is too broad for it to advance. A bill requiring vaccination information to be on a child's death certificate passes a committee and is eligible for floor detate. And two bills about Iowa’s 41-year-ol...
Education: Spending, Parental Notification, Athlete Compensation
February 14, 2020 22:39 - 26 minutesOne of the first legislative debates of the year is over school state aid. Forty-three percent of the state’s budget goes to K-12 public education. This year the Senate and House are at odds over how much to increase funding. A bill in the House Education subcommittee has advanced that would require K-12 schools to notify parents if sexual orientation or gender identity are part of curriculum or school instruction of any kind. Parents would have the option of excusing the student from partici...
Tax Department Upgrade, Driving & Phones, Expanding Veterans Treatment Courts
February 07, 2020 21:54 - 18 minutesDirectors of state agencies visit appropriations subcommittees to explain their department goals, budget needs, and to answer legislators questions. The Iowa Department of Revenue director Craig Paulsen and deputy director Mory Mosiman speak about IT upgrades and improvements made in their taxpayer call center. A House subcommittee passes a bill that would fine drivers for using electronic communication devices. In the Senate, a subcommittee advances a bill expanding veterans drug treatment c...
Cutting
January 31, 2020 19:09 - 18 minutesCurrent law does not allow barbers in Iowa to cut hair in a mobile facility, but a bill is gaining support to change that as a Waterloo barber visits the Capitol to convince lawmakers.
A Changing Judiciary
January 24, 2020 22:28 - 16 minutesLast year a law changed how justices make their way to the bench. Senate Republicans supported the change because they claim some court rulings are examples of “judicial activism.” Acting Chief Justice David Wiggins says the job of the court is to make sure laws don’t violate the constitution. This year, Senate Republicans are trying to pass a state constitutional amendment in response to a 2018 Iowa Supreme Court ruling about abortion access. This is also happening at a time when the governo...
Restarting The 88th Iowa General Assembly
January 17, 2020 20:13 - 26 minutesThe Iowa General Assembly lasts two years. As legislators pick up where they left off in 2019, we hear priorities from both parties and Gov. Kim Reynolds lays out her budget and policy proposals in the Condition of the State. The first week of this session also has new leadership roles for the majority party in the House of Representatives.
Under the Golden Dome: End Game
April 28, 2019 00:29 - 43 minutesThis is the last week for the 2019 Iowa Legislative Session. It was scheduled for 110 days,but ended a bit early on day 104.
Under the Golden Dome: Splitting the Difference
April 19, 2019 19:51 - 26 minutesGov. Kim Reynolds invited Republicans to a press conference to announce the creation of a Flood Recovery Advisory Board. She says it will help decide what to do and how to use funds from the federal and state level. The governor is asking legislators to make $15 million available from fiscal year 2019’s ending balance go to the flood mitigation fund. She’s also asking for $10 million in the next fiscal year for the Workforce Housing Tax Credits to accelerate housing improvements in flooded ar...
Under the Golden Dome: Financial Roads
April 12, 2019 20:35 - 29 minutesIn the first month of the legislative session it’s common to see heads of large departments visit a committee to explain their budget requests. In January, the Department of Transportation asked for $259 million dollars for its highway division.
Under the Golden Dome: Second Deadline
April 05, 2019 20:15 - 33 minutesSome bills move through a chamber quickly. A bill changing the testing to obtain a teaching license passes in the Senate after three and half minutes of discussion. In the House, the discussion is quite different.
Under the Golden Dome: Banning, Expanding & Broadening
March 29, 2019 19:07 - 26 minutesEvery year, the Herbert Hoover Foundation awards two members of the Iowa legislature the Uncommon Public Service Award. Only a few people in the House and Senate chambers know who the recipient of the award will be until it is announced. Like previous winners, legislators Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, and Rep. John Forbes, D-Urbandale, had no idea they were being honored until it was announced on the chamber floor.
Under the Golden Dome: Work, Power and Health
March 22, 2019 20:42 - 31 minutesThere are around 650,000 people enrolled for Medicaid in Iowa. Around 170,000 are through the Iowa Health and Wellness plan. Under a bill in the Senate, 40 percent of those on the Iowa Health and Wellness plan will need have part time work or volunteer to say on the program.
Under the Golden Dome: Appointing
March 15, 2019 19:24 - 33 minutesThe governor appoints hundreds of people to serve in state departments. The roles range from board member, director, or member of a judicial nominating commission. All of these individuals require confirmation by the Senate by a two thirds majority for them to continue in their appointed role.
Under the Golden Dome: In the Middle of It
March 08, 2019 18:10 - 22 minutesMarch 8 was the deadline for most bills and resolutions to pass a House or a Senate committee. Most of those that haven’t are no longer eligible for a subcommittee. Exceptions include appropriations, ways and means and government oversite. There are others ways a bill subject to the deadline could emerge later, but most won’t. This is also called the "funnel deadline."