From the Desk of Senator Drey
It was a busy seventh week at the Capitol packed with debate each day as we worked through bills on the floor!
If you’re wondering what survived funnel week, be sure to scroll down for the full list.
In the middle of floor debate and caucus, I was still able to sneak away to meet with some incredible folks visiting the Capitol. Those conversations are what this work is truly about!
Sen. Drey stands with advocates from Lutheran Services in Iowa in Sioux City. Pictured left to right: Amira Faraah, Abdulliah Yusuf, and Laura Thako, Assistant Director of Immigrant and Refugee Community Services (IRCS).
Capitol Highlight: Lutheran Services in Iowa
On Thursday, Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) and its Immigrant and Refugee Community Services (IRCS) team visited the Iowa State Capitol to share the work they’re doing to strengthen families and communities across our state.
LSI is one of Iowa’s largest nonprofit human service agencies, supporting Iowans through behavioral health care, services for people with disabilities, early childhood programs, and family support. Through IRCS, LSI also helps welcome immigrants and refugees with English and citizenship classes, workforce development, small business support, and case management that helps families secure housing, jobs, and stability.
On Wednesday, I had a full day with folks from back home in Sioux City!
Professor Patrick Cross, who leads Briar Cliff’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, brought a group of students for their Day on the Hill. Watching students step into the Capitol and advocate for better policy never gets old!
I also spent time with Sioux City’s Environmental Protection Department talking water quality. Clean water isn’t theoretical. It’s about our kids, our farms, and the long-term health of our communities.
Sen. Drey stands with Matt Eide, Trisha Rivers, Water Resources Technician – Conservation, and Ase Overfelt, Water Quality Specialist, all with Sioux City’s Environmental Protection Department.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa Teen Council Visits the Capitol to Advocate for Access to Care.
Later on Wednesday, I met with the Teen Council from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa to talk about HPV prevention and access to care. These young women showed up prepared, thoughtful, and clear about why prevention and treatment matter. Hearing directly from them was easily one of the highlights of my week.
Heidi Machin and Monica Olson representing the Iowa LEND program at the State Capitol.
On Tuesday, I met with Monica Olson of Sioux City, a Des Moines University student visiting the Capitol with fellow student Heidi Machin to represent the Iowa LEND program.
Iowa LEND is part of a national network that provides interdisciplinary leadership training to graduate students, family members, and self-advocates to strengthen the workforce serving people with disabilities across the lifespan. Each year, trainees from a range of disciplines participate through the Center for Disabilities and Development at the University of Iowa.
Sen. Drey stands with Deidre DeJear, President and CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood; a Des Moines-based nonprofit providing affordable housing and supportive services to help families achieve stability and long-term success.
On Tuesday, Sen. Drey caught up with Melanie Hickey and her group of social work students visiting the Capitol from Briar Cliff University to learn more about the legislative process and how state policy impacts the communities they serve.
Dead or Alive: Where things stand after the first funnel
The Senate was back to regular business this week with three days of debate and dozens of bills passing through the Senate for consideration. The funnel narrowed the slate of eligible bills, but there are still some big issues left to manage. Here’s the lay of the land after the first funnel:
It’s important to note that this list does not include everything in front of the Legislature this year. There are still a couple of big, complicated issues out there. Such as…
Property Tax Reform
The reason why you don’t see a bullet point on the list above talking about property taxes is because bills that deal with taxes are considered “funnel proof,” meaning they don’t have to adhere to the same calendar deadlines as other policy bills.
As a reminder, there are three property tax reform proposals from the majority party in front of the Legislature at this time. HSB 596 from the House Republicans, SSB 3001 from the Senate Republicans, and SSB 3034/HSB 563 from the governor.
The House has already held subcommittees for and advanced the House Republicans’ and governor’s bills. On the Senate side, the governor’s bill went through a subcommittee this week. The Senate Republican bill will likely be scheduled for sometime next week.
Each of the existing proposals has different elements, so it is still to be determined what we will actually vote on in a final bill. If we can get a simpler, more predictable system that prioritizes taxpayers over corporations, ensures local governments can continue to provide the essential services that Iowans want, and encourages investment in the state, then you will see broad bipartisan support. We won’t support another giveaway to corporate interests or the wealthy that leaves working families and communities shortchanged.
The Budget
Like tax bills, budget bills are not subject to the funnel deadline. The state budget is usually the last, but arguably most important, work the Legislature does each year. It’s a complicated process under the best of circumstances – but we are not operating under the best of circumstances.
In 2025, Republican lawmakers passed a budget that spent $1.26 BILLION more than we took in, creating a massive deficit crater. In doing so, they are breaking two of their own budgeting rules: never spend more than the state takes in and never use one-time money to pay for ongoing expenses.
We know that the majority party is planning on passing another billion-dollar deficit this year, digging our hole even deeper and dropping the mess on a new governor’s desk in 2027. They argue that they “planned” for this, but the reality is they didn’t plan for this. The original five-year projections we saw in 2025 have been off by over $1.3 billion thus far and the governor decided not to include any projections in her budget book at the beginning of this session.
If the situation weren’t difficult enough, Senate Republicans are also pushing a bill that would allow them to pass the buck if they fail to pass a budget, kicking the can down the road and abdicating their responsibility.
All of this is to say that, while the funnel narrowed things down for us somewhat, we still have a lot of work ahead of us this session.
Save Iowa Whirlpool Jobs
This week, Iowa’s legislative Democrats, in both the Senate and the House, sent an appeal to the Whirlpool Corporation to reconsider the decision to lay-off hundreds of Iowa workers in Amana.
The Amana plant has employed generations of Iowans and has been a cornerstone of the community for nearly 100 years. These layoffs – the second round in less than a year – will deeply impact a community that has directly contributed to Whirlpool’s long-term success.
In the letter, we argue that Whirlpool has accepted tens of millions of dollars in state grants and tax credits while sending hundreds of jobs and corporate investment to Mexico. It’s an insult to the men and women who have spent years building the appliances that Americans around the country have relied on.
We hope the Whirlpool Corporation will reverse course and protect the jobs that have served as a foundation for the Amana community for decades.
Quick Updates
Governor signs school funding: This week, Senate Republicans passed SF 2201 by a vote of 27-20. The bill sets the annual increase in school funding at just 2%, below the level of inflation and far below what our public schools, and the students they serve, deserve. The bill was sent to the governor, and she signed it into law on Thursday.
Voice your concerns on impaired waterways: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking comment on the draft Integrated Report on water quality, initiating a 30-day public comment period. This biennial report, required by the federal Clean Water Act, acts as a roadmap for Iowa’s rivers, lakes, and streams, identifying which water bodies are meeting their designated goals for recreation, fishing, and drinking water. Public comment is welcomed now through March 19, 2026, and should be sent to: IRcomment@dnr.iowa.gov
Iowa Leads on Responsible AI with New Chatbot Safeguards: The Iowa Senate just took an important step toward keeping artificial intelligence safe, transparent, and family-friendly. The Iowa Senate unanimously passed SF 2417 – Chatbot Regulations, a first-of-its-kind law that sets clear ground rules for how conversational AI systems, like popular chatbots, interact with users. The new standards focus on protecting minors, setting healthy emotional and content boundaries, and ensuring that anyone showing signs of distress is directed to help and crisis resources. It also requires clear AI disclosures. With SF 2417, Iowa joins a growing movement of states exploring ethical AI legislation. To learn more about this bill and how it compares to policies in states like California, Texas, and New York, visit AI Policy Tracker – State Legislation Overview.
Poster competition highlights school bus safety: Iowa K–12 students are encouraged to show off their creativity in the first annual Iowa School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest. This year’s theme — “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” — celebrates the importance of school bus safety across the state. All entries will be split into five different grade-level divisions. Students can submit either a hard copy or digital poster by April 17. To see full contest details, including specifications and allowable materials, visit the Department’s Iowa School Bus Safety Poster Contest webpage.