DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Friday is the end of what’s called the “first funnel” of the Iowa legislative session. It’s the deadline for most bills to be passed out of committees if they’re going to continue this legislative session.

After a rush of meetings to get bills out of committee and ready for debate, the first funnel week is over.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley said, “So I think at this point we’re continuing on pace. We know we have a lot of work left to do to get those things done.”

Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner said, “The legislature’s been doing a lot this week but it hasn’t been doing anywhere near enough for Iowa’s workers.”

Some bills made it, others didn’t.

Two vaccine bills failed. One Senate bill that proposed a ban on mRNA vaccines like the covid-19 shot did not advance out of committee. Another bill in the House banning vaccines unless manufacturers waived legal protections also isn’t moving forward.

Rep. Steve Holt says he withdrew his bill requiring local police to do work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But – lawmakers could still vote on Holt’s bill that would jail and decertify police officers who don’t honor ICE requests to hold suspects.

Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R-Hull) said, “I wish we didn’t have this in front of us. It’s unfortunate that one individual wanted his five minutes of fame and made a absolutely ridiculous statement.”

A bill targeting obscenity protections for public libraries will continue this session.

Michelle Warren, a supporter of the bill said, “The children’s and young adults’ sections of the library should serve as spaces for learning and growth, not repositories for sexualized content that confuses and distress young minds.”

Berry Stevens, who opposes the bill, has concerns the bill could impact what sex ed materials are available for minors.

“Don’t take away appropriate materials for educational purposes. Iowa’s youth deserve the knowledge and wellness,” she said.

There’s still ways for bills that “died” to be brought back up for votes.

House Speaker Pat Grassley says now that the first funnel is over, his members are turning their attention to various tax cuts, such as property tax reform.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV on X/Twitter @ConnerReports, and on TikTok @ConnerReports.

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