Iowa

A look at America 250 events around Iowa this year

Published

2 months ago

January 24, 2026

A look at America 250 events around Iowa this year

It’s the United States’ semiquincentennial year. Or just call it USA 250. Throughout 2026, Iowans will be celebrating 250 years since the 13 colonies declared their independence in 1776. Here’s a listing of some upcoming Iowa events marking the big year.

Iowa towns photo collage

Sons of the American Revolution is collecting a photograph of every Iowa city and town for a combined collage of all 934 in Iowa. Do you have a great photo from an Iowa town to contribute? Send it to MJR1825@gmail.com.

Bald Eagle Day

Feb. 7: Bald Eagle Day. 10 a.m.-noon, Southeast Sixth Street bridge, Des Moines

Join a Des Moines Parks and Recreation environmental educator on the bridge to see the national bird swooping over the Des Moines River. Free.

Our American Experiment

Feb. 10: “Our American Experiment ― 250 Years On.” 7 p.m., Great Hall of the Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way, Iowa State University, Ames

Asma Khalid, former White House correspondent for NPR and host of the BBC news podcast “The Global Story,” which explores the intersection of global and American affairs, will appear as the 2026 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics to present a lecture about the state of American democracy in the context of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Winner of many awards for her reporting, Khalid is a native of Indiana. Free admission.

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Iowa

Iowa law enforcement issues thousands of citations under hands-free driving law

Published

9 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Iowa law enforcement issues thousands of citations under hands-free driving law

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Law enforcement has issued thousands of citations since Iowa’s hands-free driving law went into effect, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The law went into effect in July 2025, prohibiting using phones while driving unless in hands-free mode. Citations started on January 1.

Since then, officers have issued over 2,400 citations and over 1,900 warnings.

The violation is a moving violation in Iowa, with a fine of $170.

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Iowa

See which Iowa lawmakers voted to hike private health insurance taxes

Published

21 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

See which Iowa lawmakers voted to hike private health insurance taxes

Some Iowa health insurance plans will see a tax hike under a bill headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds to be signed into law.

House File 2739 raises taxes on health insurance providers known as health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, to bring in millions of dollars to fill a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid budget.

That group includes companies that offer some of the state’s largest private insurance plans, like Wellmark, Sanford, Wellpoint and Aetna.

Fourteen Republicans across both chambers broke from their party to join Democrats and oppose the proposal, which put the GOP majority in the rare position of being at odds with business groups lobbying against tax hikes. But Republicans in each chamber had enough votes to pass the measure.

How much will health insurance taxes increase?

The taxes will increase from the current rate of 0.925% up to 3.5% between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026. Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, the tax would drop to 0.95%.

The tax increase would allow the state to access federal matching funds and is expected to bring in $123 million to shore up Iowa’s growing Medicaid budget deficit, which is expected to climb to $167.6 million in fiscal year 2027.

The bill also appropriates $89 million to cover the state’s current-year Medicaid budget deficit of $90.6 million.

Democrats warned Iowans will face higher insurance costs as a result of the bill.

Scott Sundstrom, a lobbyist for Wellmark, said at a March 18 public hearing that Wellmark estimates that its customers who are covered by the company’s plan will see a $115 tax increase per person. The company expects to pay $24.2 million more in taxes this year because of the increase.

Why are Iowa Republicans raising taxes?

Republicans have pointed to insurance companies’ profit margins and said health insurers — who have been highly critical of the bill — do not need to raise premiums to cover the cost of the tax increase.

GOP legislative leaders have said there’s a limited window to bring in matching federal funds because of Republicans’ sprawling tax and spending package dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

“This bill will bring investments that benefit our neighbors on Medicaid and those providing the services to them,” said Sen. Mark Costello, R-Imogene.

Here’s how every Iowa lawmaker voted.

How every Iowa House lawmaker voted on health care tax increase

The Iowa House voted 53-40 to pass the measure on March 19.

Ten Republicans joined every Democrat in voting against the bill: Reps. David Blom, R-Marshalltown; Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine; Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines; Thomas Jeneary, R-Le Mars; Judd Lawler, R-Oxford; Norlin Mommsen, R-De Witt; Jennifer Smith, R-Dubuque; Ray Sorensen, R-Greenfield; Ryan Weldon, R-Ankeny; and David Young, R-Van Meter.

Representatives voting yes

Andrews (R), Barker (R), Behn (R), Bergan (R), Bloomingdale (R), Boden (R), Bossman (R), Bradley (R), Collins (R), Determann (R), Dunwell (R), Fett (R), Fisher (R), Gearhart (R), Gehlbach (R), Grassley (R), Harris (R), Hayes (R), Henderson (R), Hermanson (R), Holt (R), Hora (R), Ingels (R), Johnson, C. (R), Jones (R), Kaufmann (R), Kniff McCulla (R), Larson (R), Latham (R), Lohse (R), Lundgren (R), Meggers (R), Meyer, A. (R), Mohr, G. (R), Moore, T. (R), Nordman (R), Rinker (R), Shipley, (R) Sieck (R), Siegrist (R), Sitzmann (R), Stone, (R), Thompson, M. (R), Thomson, C. (R), Vondran (R), Watkins (R), Wengryn (R), Wheeler (R), Williams (R), Wills, J. (R) , Wilz, H. (R), Wood (R), Wulf (R)

Representatives voting no

Baeth (D), Bagniewski (D), Blom (R), Brown-Powers (D), Cisneros (R), Cooling (D), Croken (D), Ehlert (D), Gjerde (D), Gosa (D), Gustoff (R), Jacoby (D), James (D), Jeneary (R), Johnson, R. (D), Judge (D), Konfrst (D), Kressig (D), Kurth (D), Lawler (R), Levin (D), Madison (D), Matson (D), McBurney (D), Meyer, B. (D), Mommsen (R), Nielsen (D), Olson (D), Ramirez (D), Scholten (D), Smith (R), Sorensen (R), Srinivas (D), Turek (D), Weldon (R), Wichtendahl (D), Wilburn (D), Wilson (D), Young (R), Zabner (D)

Representatives absent or not voting

Amos Jr. (D), Dieken (R), Gaines (D), Gerhold (R), Golding (R), Wessel-Kroeschell (D), Windschitl (R)

How every Iowa Senate lawmaker voted on health care tax increase

The Iowa Senate voted 26-19 to pass the bill on Tuesday, March 24, sending it to Reynolds.

Four Republican senators joined Democrats in voting against the bill: Sens. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny; Doug Campbell, R-Mason City; Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett; and David Sires, R-Cedar Falls.

Senators voting yes

Alons (R), Gruenhagen (R), Costello (R), Dawson (R), Dickey (R), Driscoll (R), Evans (R), Green (R), Guth (R), Klimesh (R), Koelker (R), Kraayenbrink (R), Pike (R), Reichman (R), Rozenboom (R), Salmon (R), Schultz (R), Shipley (R), Sinclair (R), Sweeney (R), Taylor (R), Warme (R), Webster (R), Westrich (R), Whitver (R), Zumbach (R)

Senators voting no

Bennett (D), Bisignano (D), Blake (D), Bousselot (R), Campbell (R), Donahue (D), Dotzler (D), Drey (D), Hardman (D), Knox (D), McClintock (R), Petersen (D), Sires (R), Staed (D), Townsend (D), Quirmbach (D), Weiner (D), Winckler (D), Zimmer (D)

Senators absent or not voting

Garrett (R), Lofgren (R), Rowley (R), Trone Garriott (D), Wahls (D)

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.

Tim Webber is a data visualization specialist for the Register. Reach him at twebber@registermedia.com and on Twitter at @HelloTimWebber.

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