Senate Republicans spent the last few moments of the legislative session further restricting access to healthcare in Iowa.

The school year may be almost over, but there's always time to thank a teacher!

Sen. Petersen ran an amendment today to give victims of sexual abuse more time to seek justice from their abusers. The amendment failed 17-28. All 28 no votes were Republican.

The Veterans Homeownership Assistance Program is one of many areas of need left wanting in this year's HHS budget.

The FY27 education budget places a higher burden on students and families which will force many Iowans to look out of state for higher education opportunities. When they go somewhere else, they often don't come back.

HF 2348 has passed the Iowa House and now heads to the governor's desk for final approval.

Today and always, we stand in solidarity with and celebrate Iowa's workers in every corner of the state.

Show me your budget, I'll show you your priorities. Republican legislators' education budget makes a 44% cut to AEA mental health support training and support, but adds $1 million to the Center for Intellectual Freedom.

It's my way or the highway, according to Senate Republicans. No need to negotiate budget appropriations with any potential Democratic governor in the future.

Animal torture has no place in Iowa. Senate Democrats unanimously voted in support of HF 2348 today, elevating animal torture from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Every effort counts when it comes to cancer. Today, the Iowa Senate took a small, positive step with HF 2297. The bill will require passive radon mitigation measures to be included in new single- and multi-family housing construction.

SF 472 could cost taxpayers millions in unnecessary litigation costs while undermining our public unions. Despite bipartisan opposition in both chambers, this bad bill is headed to Gov. Reynolds' desk.

Today, we honor the lives of Iowans who went to work and were never able to return home to their families.

HF 2754 isn't about choice or competition. It's a corporate handout that pushes public school kids to the back of the line while private interests reap the benefits.

Read Sen. Bisignano's full release on today's report from the state auditor here: bit.ly/4vUnxFE

Apprenticeships are a great way to develop a highly skilled workforce. We're proud to celebrate them during National Apprenticeship Week!

Workers Memorial Day is a somber reminder that the fight for worker safety continues.

One piece of Republican lawmakers' charter school expansion bill asks that the state give preferential treatment to private preschools. It rigs the system and allows lawmakers to pick winners and losers in education.

This unhealthy omnibus bill keeps bouncing back and forth between the Senate and House, but the big issues, like complicated SNAP restrictions, stay the same.

Listen to Sen. Catelin Drey talk about the good and the bad of her first legislative session in an interview with Siouxland Public Media here: bit.ly/4mXk6dp

Whirlpool, CASE, UnityPoint, Wells Fargo — the list goes on and on. When jobs disappear, so do opportunities for Iowa workers.

The numbers don't lie. Iowa's workforce faces tough headwinds with an aging population, increasing outmigration, and decreasing immigration. Growing our economy has to start with making Iowa a more attractive place to live and work, and the legislature plays a big role.

Nope, we're still here!

Senate Democrats voted today to support SF 2480, which will provide funding to pediatric cancer research. It's a small, positive step in the right direction.

Happy Earth Day!

Read our full statement regarding today's confirmation vote here: bit.ly/4mTn9mP

The legislative session was scheduled to conclude today, but once again we're headed to overtime.

Thank you, Sen. Dotzler, for your decades of service to the Iowa Legislature!

Thank you for your years of service to the Iowa Senate, Sen. Wahls!

Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa, Sen. Knox!

As long as private schools can deny admission to Iowans, vouchers will never be about "choice."

It's National Library Week! Iowa has some incredible public libraries, including the beautiful Law Library at the Iowa State Capitol. Which Iowa library is your favorite?

Senate Democrats unanimously supported this good bill that puts guardrails on AI chatbots to protect Iowa kids.

Instead of focusing on the issues Iowans really care about, Republican lawmakers are pushing a charter school expansion bill that will drain more resources from Iowa's public schools and the students they serve.

We can hardly go a month without seeing another round of layoffs, but Republican lawmakers have slashed the unemployment benefits Iowans earned. We've filed bills, year after year, to restore those benefits and we won't stop until Iowa's workers are better protected.

Misclassified workers in Iowa lose out on thousands of dollars they're rightfully owed, often without ever realizing it. That's why we continue to advocate for stronger wage theft laws, like in our proposal, SF 2046. Iowa workers deserve to take home what they've earned.

Working families need real solutions to the problems they face every day. These ideas prioritize and protect Iowa's workers.

SF 2425 isn't about competition or choice. It's about Republican lawmakers picking winners and losers in education.

All Iowans deserve housing they can afford. These ideas could help expand home ownership, protect renters, and keep rising energy costs in check.

Affordable childcare is essential for attracting a growing workforce. We think these ideas are a great place to start.

Don't forget!

HF 2543 is a good bill that expands access to critical mental health care for Iowans. Senate Democrats supported the bill unanimously.

Iowans deserve access to reliable, affordable, local healthcare. Here are just a few of the legislative tools we would use to expand that access.

It's time to call off Iowa's managed care experiment. Read the Register's editorial on why here: bit.ly/4cirFGv

Tomorrow, the Red Cross will visit the Capitol to host a blood drive. Donations can be used to save lives around the state. To make an appointment, call the number in the graphic or visit redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code.

The Senate voted on Wednesday to advance a proposal on property tax reform. The bill does A LOT, but the key difference between it and the proposal in the House is that SF 2472 prioritizes bringing property tax savings to homeowners.

Republican lawmakers may have slightly different budget targets, but they're all headed toward the same goal: a billion-dollar budget deficit.

Healthcare costs are skyrocketing and access to care is disappearing. Iowas deserve better.

Big money for contractors, diminshed healthcare access for Iowans.

SF 2472, reforming the state's property tax system, passed the Senate today on a vote of 41-4.