A bill for an act relating to the submission of proposed legislation by the governor and state departments and agencies. (Formerly SF 2037.) Vetoed 6-2-26.
Summary
Senate File 2207 changes the deadline for the governor and state departments and agencies to submit proposed bills and joint resolutions for consideration by the Iowa General Assembly. Under current law, those proposals must be submitted at least 45 days before the session convenes; the bill extends that requirement to 60 days before the session. It also keeps the existing requirement that the governor’s proposals be submitted by the Friday before the session begins, except in the governor’s initial inauguration year.
The bill preserves the role of the Legislative Services Agency in reviewing proposed legislation, formatting it properly, and forwarding it to the presiding officers for referral to the appropriate standing committee. It also maintains the process for returning proposals to the relevant department, agency, or governor’s office for review before submission in final form. Overall, the measure is an administrative timing change affecting pre-session bill drafting and submission procedures rather than substantive policy areas.
Impact
SF 2207 amends Iowa Code section 2.16 governing how executive-branch proposals are introduced to the legislature. The practical effect is to require earlier submission of governor, department, and agency proposals, giving legislative staff and lawmakers more time to review executive-initiated legislation before the session starts. It affects the governor’s office, state departments and agencies, and the Legislative Services Agency, but does not directly change substantive rights, programs, or regulatory schemes.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have had generally favorable support in both chambers, passing the Senate and House with comfortable margins and receiving strong committee approval. The votes suggest broad agreement that the change is a procedural improvement to the legislative process. However, the governor ultimately vetoed the bill, indicating executive disagreement with the change despite legislative support.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to have been the balance of power and timing between the executive branch and the legislature. Supporters likely viewed the longer deadline as improving transparency and giving lawmakers more time to evaluate executive proposals before session begins, while the veto suggests the governor objected to the imposed earlier deadline or the practical burden it created for the executive branch. Because there were no committee transcripts provided, the specific arguments on each side are not documented here.
A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the department of management, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1083; See SF 630.)
Appropriations from State General Fund for executive, legislative, and judicial agencies of the State, other functions of government, debt service, and capital outlay for fiscal year ending September 30, 2027
A bill for an act relating to oil and gas production, including filing requirements, the authority of the department of natural resources, confidential information, and pooling orders.(Formerly SF 268; See SF 2449, SF 2490.)