This week at the Capitol, the House continued work on school funding, economic development, higher education, and health policy. Below is an update on several bills and budget issues that moved forward as we head deeper into the session. more

According to Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Sadly, it seems Iowa House Environmental Protection GOP committee members missed this Bible study class. This is my fourth year on the committee and I’ve never been more disappointed by the lack of meaningful progress to “keep,” must less restore, our Garden of Eden. more

As we wrap up Week 6 of the Iowa House Legislature, we mark a significant milestone with the conclusion of the first funnel. This critical period required all bills to pass through the committee process to remain eligible for debate in the upcoming session, set to begin next week. Additionally, we will begin reviewing Senate files for potential House approval. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I’m pleased to report that we’ve managed over 30 pieces of legislation through our committee in just six weeks. This busy first funnel has involved addressing a wide range of issues crucial to the safety and well-being of our communities. The dedication of my fellow committee members has been instrumental in navigating this challenging workload. more

The Constitution does not guarantee a right to an education and the 10th Amendment clarifies that powers not explicitly stated become the responsibility of the states. When Iowa became a State on Dec. 28, 1846, education was provided when groups of families pooled their resources to hire a teacher and build one-room schoolhouses. Eighteen years later, the 1864 Iowa legislature created a new governance board (precursor to the Iowa Department of Education) and created what we now call local school boards and defined what authority they would have. more

Iowa continues long-term efforts to improve water quality through conservation and land management programs, including the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). more

Among the many misguided and dangerous GOP proposals to make it through House subcommittee approval this session, HF2171 is by far the most reckless. But of course, the session is not yet over. HF2171 proposes to eliminate immunization requirements for children entering childcare centers as well as elementary and secondary schools. This includes vaccines against preventable diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles and varicella. Not just foolish, deadly. Moreover, this proposal would remove the reporting requirements now in place. So, parents will no longer have access to reliable information about the level and nature of disease exposure their children will encounter when they answer the morning bell. more

This week, as chair of the Public Safety Committee, I focused on advancing key pieces of legislation aimed at making Iowa safer and stronger. I firmly believe public safety must always come first. That’s why I moved House Study Bill 641 forward. It is a practical, common-sense step toward safer communities and a bail system that Iowa families can trust to keep repeat offenders off the streets. more

This week marked the fifth week of the legislative session, and the Capitol rotunda remained busy with visitors and advocates. With our first legislative deadline approaching next week, much of our time continues to be focused on subcommittee and committee meetings as we work through proposals for the year. more

This week at the Capitol, the House continued work on budget discussions, tax policy, and legislation impacting Iowa families and businesses. Below is an update on several issues that moved forward this week. more

Recently, my colleague, Senator Catelin Drey, rose on the Senate floor to announce she had been diagnosed with uterine cancer. Catelin is an otherwise healthy woman in her 30s. Her predecessor, Senator Rocky De Witt, passed away in 2025 after a lengthy fight against pancreatic cancer. He was just 66. more

Cancer touches nearly every family in Iowa. More than one in 20 Iowans has received a cancer diagnosis, and our state has one of the highest rates of new cancer cases in the nation. Those numbers are not abstractions. They are neighbors, coworkers, parents, and children. As chair of the Iowa Senate Health and Human Services Committee, I believe we owe Iowans not only honesty about these facts, but a clear plan to act on them. more

As we wrap up Week Four of the 2026 legislative session, it's clear that the pace of activity has been brisk. With numerous bills under discussion and meeting with constituents, this week has gone by quickly. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone in the 94th district for your ongoing communication and invaluable insights. Your perspectives not only inform my decisions but also strengthen our collective voice in the legislature. Together, we can navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, making progress that truly reflects our community's needs and aspirations more

This week at the Capitol, the House continued to work on legislation focused on affordability, workforce development, public safety, and consumer protection. Below is an update on several bills and issues discussed this week. more

The 2026 Legislative Session is officially underway.  The Legislature meets in two-year increments and this year is the second and final year. This session will be different for me than any other year because I have now been elected Majority Leader of the Iowa House of Representatives.  Each caucus (House Republicans, House Democrats, Senate Republicans, and Senate Democrats) chooses a leader. My colleagues bestowed this honor on me, but I do not consider the office of Majority Leader to be my office… I consider it to be the office of the citizens of Cedar, Muscatine, and Scott Counties.  I will aggressively push for legislation that is good for our district and reject legislation that is not. more

I wish this newsletter could begin on a positive note, but I cannot remain silent after viewing the multiple killing video recordings of our Minnesota neighbors Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Iowan servicemen Sgts. Nate Howard and Edgar Torres-Tovar sacrificed their lives protecting the U.S. Constitution, which includes the 1st Amendment right to protest, 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, and the 14th Amendment for the due process of law, all of which have been under attack by the current immigration enforcement policy. Regardless of the immigration narrative that one subscribes to, no stance should support the killing of Americans exercising their Constitutional rights by our own Government. This policy approach has to stop NOW! more

As Week Three wraps up in the Iowa legislature, I want to take a moment to share with you the important actions we've made in enhancing public safety. I have the honor of serving as chair of the Public Safety Committee, where we introduced three significant bills aimed at strengthening our community and state safety. more

This week at the Capitol, the House worked on several pieces of legislation focused on public safety, affordability, and protecting Iowans. Below is an update on the bills and policy issues discussed this week. more

Iowa’s economy is built on agriculture. What happens at the farm gate ripples through our entire state. When farmers are doing well, Main Street businesses thrive, equipment dealers stay busy, manufacturers expand production, and rural communities remain strong. When agriculture struggles, the effects are felt everywhere. more

Nick Larson and a quarter of Iowa farmers get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. When ACA provisions expired at the end of 2025, Larson’s family faced an immediate tax increase of $3,000 per year. more

Monday, Jan. 12, marked the official start of the 2026 legislative session. This session, I am honored to continue serving as Chair of the Government Oversight Committee. I am also now the chair of the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee and will be serving as a member of the Agriculture, Appropriations, Commerce, Education, and Ways and Means committees. more