Iowa Legislature plans to return to Des Moines

     On March 16, the Iowa Legislature vacated the Capitol in Des Moines due to the widespread COVID-19 pandemic. On March 17, Gov. Kim Reynolds began her shutdown of businesses statewide, urging Iowans to stay home.

     Now, senators and representatives across the state are planning to return to business in Des Moines when the legislative session resumes on June 3.

     Prior to that, the Capitol once again opened to the public on May 18, with some restrictions. Additional safety measures were put into place to adhere to the state’s public health guidelines, and to protect the wellbeing of the public and legislators. Those included:

     • Encouraging lawmakers and staff to stay home when sick

     • Requiring everyone to undergo a health screening when entering the Capitol

     • Recommending everyone follow social distancing guidelines

     • Recommending everyone use a facemask if unable to social distance

     • Establishing hand sanitizer stations throughout the Capitol

     • Limiting the number of people on the Senate floor

     When the legislature adjourned in March, they took measures to extend the funding levels for July and August, the first two months of the fiscal year. (The fiscal year starts July 1.)

     Due to the increased costs and uncertainty associated with the pandemic, they’ll now be tasked with putting together what could be an $8.24 billion budget.

     Rep. Lee Hein of Monticello felt now is a good time to return to Des Moines.

     “As businesses start to re-open, it is time for us to return to finish our work,” he said.

     Hein shared that all committee meetings will take place in the Chamber, with access to live streaming services.

     “Only representatives will be allowed in the Chamber and will be asked to use social distancing whenever possible,” he said.

     When they left in March, Hein said the legislature was a week away from the second funnel. Hein said in order to wrap that process up, every committee will be allowed to meet to finish the work that began previously.

     “Bills that are still alive are bills the Senate has passed out of their chamber,” he said. “I think the committee chairs need to be very selective and only move bills that are time sensitive.”

     On the House side, of which Hein serves, he said there are some priories he would like to see end up on the governor’s desk. Those include: childcare, rural broadband, and EMS funding.

     However, Hein said the most important job at hand will be completing the budget.

     “The Revenue Estimating Committee will meet on May 29 to give us their number, which we will use to build the budget,” he said. “This picture has changed drastically since we left, and still is cloudy as we look forward to how the economy will perform this summer and through the fall.

     “But I am sure we will pass a budget that is conservative and meets the needs of Iowans.”

     Rep. Andy McKean said “whether it’s the ideal time or not,” the legislature needs to finish what they started in Des Moines.

     “After all, countless other Iowans have returned to work under difficult circumstances.”

     McKean acknowledged the challenge of bringing 150 legislators together from across the state, especially with social distancing.

     Like Hein, McKean agreed that they need to pass a budget for the 2021 fiscal year, their number-one priority.

     “Needless to say, given the impact of COVID-19 on state revenues, this will be a challenging undertaking,” said McKean. “However, it’s time for government to tighten its belt and get through this difficult time just as many Iowans have had to do. It is clear that a lot of difficult decisions will need to be made.”

     Aside from the budget, McKean feels there are policy issues that needed to be considered as well, many left hanging when the legislature left the Capitol in March.

     “We are going to have to work together to prioritize the issues that we are in a position to proceed with this year,” he urged. “I am hopeful that we will see a willingness to compromise during this very challenging time in Iowa’s history.”

     Sen. Dan Zumbach said he feels comfortable returning to Des Moines. He’s hoping to have everything wrapped up within the next two weeks or so.

     “We’ll stay until we’re done,” he said.

     Again, the state budget is the biggest item placed before the legislature, and the most complicated, Zumbach noted.

     “We’re in uncharted territory,” he said of revenues and expenditures, basically both ends of the stick.

     With the pandemic, Zumbach expects little growth on the expenditure side throughout the state. He said the state does have some cushion with emergency funds for potential shortfalls in revenue.

     In terms of helping small-town businesses, Zumbach said the state “stuck its neck out as far as they financially could afford.

     “We’ll see how quickly the economy grows,” he added. “People are ready to get out and back get back to work and be productive again.”

     Sen. Carrie Koelker shared that she’s made preparations to make her return to Des Moines as well.

     “We have all been hard at work during this suspension, ready to hit the ground running when we start back up,” she said.

     She noted the record unemployment across Iowa, with many families struggling to make ends meet. Koelker said the Senate’s priorities this session will help to address these issues: growing the state, providing sustainable and reliable funding for budgets, and passing a tax reform to enable Iowans to keep more of their hard-earned money.

     “When the legislature suspended its session, there were still a number of bills to help support these goals,” Koelker noted of things left on their plate as they return. “Even with a shortened timeline, I’m hoping we can pass these important priorities for Iowans and start focusing on what else we can do in the coming months to provide Iowans the help they need.”