From the Desk of Senator Donahue
As we move past the halfway mark of the legislative session, the focus has shifted. The bills that survived funnel week are now coming to the floor for debate, and we are beginning the serious work of building the state budget. These next few weeks will reveal, in very real terms, what this Legislature values — because a budget is more than numbers on a page. It is a statement of priorities.
Democrats are focused on investing in the fundamentals that make Iowa strong: fully funding public schools, supporting working families, protecting access to healthcare, strengthening childcare and mental health services, and making our communities more affordable. We believe our state budget should reflect the everyday needs of Iowans — not special interests.
Republican leadership, however, continues to prioritize private school vouchers over public school classrooms, tax policies that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Iowans, and culture war legislation that distracts from the real economic pressures families are facing. As we debate these bills and shape the appropriations process, the contrast could not be clearer.
The decisions we make now will determine whether Iowa moves toward greater opportunity and fairness — or continues down a path that leaves too many communities behind.
Events around the area:
90’s Name That Tune Trivia @ Mulligan’s Pub
Survey Says @ Lindale Neighborhood Pub
Walking Tour – Skywalk North Route
Here are this week’s BIG birthdays. If you know any of these folks, make sure to wish them a very happy birthday.
| Jessica | Heiar |
| Elizabeth | Finch |
| Janet | Debold |
| Jason | Brown |
| Esther | Churchill |
| Blake | Dunshee |
| Karen | Evans |
| Mary | Carlson |
| Darryl | Brown |
| Danette | Chavez |
| Sarah | Hayes |
| Jeffrey | Knott |
| Robert | Dawson |
| Robert | Tiernan |
| Donald | Nelson |
| Sherrie | Mauren |
| Casey | Downing |
| Douglas | Bowers |
| Terry | Wegener |
| Carla | Underwood |
| Sarah | Schmidt |
| Peter | Zevenbergen |
| Craig | Thorn |
| Matthew | Ivey |
| Gwendolyn | Kirkwood |
| Joyce | Engretson |
| Jon | Young |
| Mark | Bigler |
| Lynn | Dedecker |
| Leo | Sobolik |
| Debra | Rau |
| Gordon | Gibson |
| Erika | Battern |
| Margaret | Trotta |
| Henry | Johnson |
| Donna | Sacco |
| Douglas | Larson |
| Bonita | Moore |
| Mary | Geho De Souza |
| Peggy | Marks |
| Lauri | Coolley |
| Dawn | Baughman |
| Jared | Meyers |
| Casey | Port |
| Sarah | Michaelis |
| Brittney | Stepanek |
| Rabindra | Behera |
| Mary | McKune |
| Mistie | Jones |
| Ryan | Rydstrom |
| Brent | Ihringer |
| Deborah | Usher |
| Jake | Thomsen |
| Gregory | Derner |
| Virginia | Bailey |
| Thomas | Wolle |
| Margaret | Rummel |
| Sarah | Melichar |
| Jean | Rabary |
| Katherine | McCullough |
| Patricia | Cole |
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.
This Week in the Capitol and around the district:
