Iowa lawmakers issue statements marking end of 2025 legislative session
Iowa Senate Democratic leader State Sen. Janice Weiner: 'This was a session marked by division, special interest giveaways, and partisanship. There were limited occasions when the people's interests were truly served in the Senate chamber. Senate Democrats offered a number of opportunities for the majority party to join us in reducing costs, improving access to critical services and resources, and prioritizing Iowa's working families. I believe government works best when we work together, bridge divides, and work for the common good of Iowans – unfortunately, that was all too rare. Senate Democrats will continue to offer a positive alternative as we fight for lower costs, well-funded public schools, economic security for workers, and a better deal for ALL Iowans.'
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Top Story: Iowa lawmakers issue statements marking end of 2025 legislative session
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Iowa Senate President State Sen. Amy Sinclair: 'The 2025 session of the 91st Iowa General Assembly has been marked by a number of pieces of common-sense legislation. As I spoke about when we opened session, Iowans made a choice, and they chose common sense.
'This year, we passed common-sense legislation to allow Iowa businesses to keep more of their money to reinvest in growth, wages, and employee benefits. This legislation cuts taxes by $1 billion. That's $1 billion businesses will invest in our economy. It's common sense to take less from Iowans and allow the market to dictate how to invest in our state.
'We continued to enact common-sense laws to restore and protect the rights of Iowans. We took additional measures to secure our elections, protecting a fundamental right of our citizens. Iowans can continue to believe in Iowa's elections and know our elections meet the highest levels of integrity. We repealed an antiquated law regarding the manner of firearms conveyance. No longer do Iowans need to be concerned about whether or not they are in compliance when exercising their right to protect themselves while traveling. It's common sense to protect the rights of law-abiding Iowans.
'It's common sense. There is dignity in work, and the vast majority of Iowans know this. Having a sense of purpose and accomplishment is not only good for one's well-being, but it is good for our state. Enacting policies that help put people back to work, like work requirements for able-bodied Iowans on assistance programs, provides opportunities for Iowans to earn a living, find a sense of purpose, and contribute to the growth of our economy. I'm proud of the work we did to enact legislation to this effect. It's common sense that there is satisfaction in a good day's work.
'As we return to our regular lives at home, I wish each of you the best this interim. I hope you all take pride in the common-sense legislation we passed this year, knowing we continue to make Iowa the best place to live, work, and raise a family. I look forward to seeing you all back next session as we continue our work on behalf of Iowans. Thank you, may God bless you all and continue His blessing on the State of Iowa.'
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Iowa Senate Majority Leader State Sen. Jack Whitver: 'At the start of this legislative session, we told Iowans, 'We hear you.' We hear your concerns about the high costs in our everyday lives, the concerns about costs and access to health care, and concerns about safe communities. Iowans have consistently told us time and time again they support our agenda and the work we have done. I am proud to say throughout the 2025 legislative session, we continued building on those accomplishments to make Iowa the best state for families to live and grow in.
'We addressed a wide range of issues this year as Iowans brought us their concerns, their stories of successes or struggles, and their experiences and expertise. We passed bills on the biggest priorities of Iowans, including education, health care, and public safety. We always are putting the taxpayers first, and it consistently showed as we passed bills to protect our freedoms, budget responsibly, and fund important priorities.
'The Iowa economy and specifically the agricultural economy is under a lot of pressure from outside issues. The legislature responded by implementing another nearly billion-dollar tax cut for Iowa small businesses. A few years ago, the legislature reformed the unemployment system, and it was a huge success. The number of Iowans on unemployment dropped by half, and the time they spent on unemployment also dropped by half. This success created a massive surplus in the trust fund to pay unemployment claims. This session the legislature reduced those unemployment taxes on businesses by nearly a billion dollars. Every dollar goes back to Iowa employers so they can invest in their workers, their business, and their communities.
'On the topic of jobs and work, the legislature also passed a bill requiring people on taxpayer-funded health care to work at least 80 hours a month if they are able-bodied and do not fit one of several exemptions of caring for young children or elderly parents, going to school, or medically exempt. Work has both tangible and intangible benefits to both individuals, their families, and our communities at large. Further, taxpayer-funded health care should be preserved for those Iowans truly in need and not a permanent plan for someone able to work.
'With our historic flat tax going into effect this year, ways we can continue to help hard-working families and taxpayers remains our focus. Protecting the tax relief measures we have passed is one we can do that, and that is why the Senate passed SJR 11. It requires a two-thirds majority in order to increase taxes in Iowa, making it harder for politicians to take more money out of the pockets of Iowans and protecting the historic tax relief bills for generations to come.
'2025 was another successful year for Republicans in the legislature. Thank you all for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to conservative values, common-sense solutions, and making Iowa a better place for all.'
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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds: 'I'm proud of the work we did this session to expand on the strong foundation we've built over the last several years in healthcare, education, and tax reform. We prioritized rural and maternal healthcare and created a new physician pipeline that will result in 460 new medical residents over the next four years. We invested in cancer research and, for the first time in Iowa history, established a parental leave program for state employees alongside 24 other states and the federal government. We took steps to improve math and civics proficiency among Iowa students and removed digital distractions from the classroom so they can focus on learning. We cut taxes for the sixth time—this time reducing unemployment insurance taxes by half—resulting in nearly $1 billion in savings over five years for businesses of all sizes.
'To keep taxes low and ensure Iowans keep more of what they earn, we passed a responsible, balanced budget that puts taxpayers first and keeps Iowa on a strong, fiscally sustainable path. Some have claimed Iowa is facing a deficit. Let's be clear: this isn't a deficit—it's the result of the state collecting more from taxpayers than it needed. Now we're giving it back. That's what the Taxpayer Relief Fund is for. With $3.75 billion set aside specifically to offset income tax reductions, the fund ensures that we can cut taxes today while maintaining essential services and long-term stability.
'I look forward to continuing this work next session—especially when it comes to reducing Iowans' property tax burden. And to make sure tax cuts remain sustainable, even as we continue to make smart investments, we'll keep streamlining government. Our alignment efforts, so far, have already saved taxpayers more than $250 million, and we're just getting started.'
Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer: 'Governor Reynolds has delivered on her promise to continue Iowa on an upward trajectory. She made hands-free driving a reality, making Iowa's roads safer and saving the lives of those we love. She is investing in rural healthcare, making sure we have excellent care and more providers in all four corners of our state. And she continues to improve our education system by raising math and civics standards and removing digital distractions from instructional time so our students are free to achieve their greatest potential. And because of her fiscal leadership, Iowa is the best place for those students to find jobs and thrive. It's been my honor to stand by her as she leads Iowa forward.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Whether they are conservative or liberal, they want what their students need: safe and welcoming public schools that are engaging and relevant and that prepare students for college, career and life." Oklahoma Superintendent for Public Instruction Ryan Walters told CNN: "We will not allow these leftists' plans and schemes to take place here in Oklahoma. They are trying to warp the minds of our kids to turn them into social justice warriors, instead of kids that are getting the most of their god given talents to go get a good job, to go live a fulfilling life." He told the New York Post: "Here in Oklahoma, our academics are going to be grounded in fact. "We've seen states like New York and California go so radical with gender theory and Marxist indoctrination, they are warping the minds of young people. … We need our teachers to agree to not be woke indoctrinators in the classroom. "We're also going to be teaching the foundations of American history. … So we can continue to be the greatest country in the world. We want our students to be patriots." PragerU CEO Marissa Streit told CNN that the questions were aimed at "undoing the damage of gender ideology that is forced and taught through some of these other tests like the PRISM test." PRISM is a training program created to help teachers support LGBTQ+ students in California. Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair John Waldron, a former teacher, told the outlet that Walters' plan was a "loyalty test" and an "insult to our profession." What Happens Next If Walters goes ahead with his tests, they are likely to face legal challenge. If they pass the courts, it remains to be seen what effects they will have on Oklahoma's education system and whether they will be extended to teachers coming from beyond New York and California.
