Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — This is the 11th week of the 2026 Iowa Legislative session, and top leaders have said completing their work in late April is the goal, but agreements on two major issues remain elusive.
Republicans, including Governor Kim Reynolds, have said reducing property taxes is their top priority this year, but House Republicans and Senate Republicans have offered vastly different proposals. Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh says aiming for a consensus takes time, and the conversations are starting to narrow down.
House Republicans have folded some of the ideas from Governor Reynolds and Senate Republicans into their proposal, but House Speaker Pat Grassley says there’s no agreement among the key players yet.
The House passed a bill in January to forbid the use of eminent domain to seize land for carbon pipeline projects. House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans feel strongly that the legislature needs to act and continue to look for ways in which compromise can be reached.
An alternative proposed by the Senate’s Republicans has yet to come up for debate in the Senate, and Klimesh says the hunt for middle ground continues.
Republicans control a majority of seats in the legislature and decide what bills get passed.
House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer says it appears House and Senate Republicans have a lot of work to do before they reach agreements on property taxes and the future of the carbon pipeline.
Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says she was surprised Republicans hadn’t already worked out a plan. She added that many Iowans are struggling with property taxes, and with the session moving into its later stages, lawmakers need to shift their attention to the budget.
The legislature’s primary duty, every year, is to develop a spending plan for state government.
KIWA Staff Photo
