LauraRBelin4h ago
I interviewed Michael Hurley, government affairs counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), about three of Iowa's proposed higher education bills that threaten academic freedom. #Iowa #highered #ialegis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=727zbOka-EQ
FIRE attorney on Iowa's overreaching higher ed bills

YouTube
LauraRBelin3d ago
Readers: "Sad."
"These are not serious people."
"What strikes me most is that three medical professionals — a pharmacist, a dentist, and a nurse — voted to keep ivermectin language in the bill. These are people who took oaths to do no harm." #ialegis
https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/03/08/only-six-iowa-house-republicans-voted-against-over-the-counter-ivermectin/
Only six Iowa House Republicans voted against over-the-counter ivermectin

Laura Belin: The Iowa House debate about ivermectin illustrated how conspiracy theories now drive the mainstream Republican agenda.

Bleeding Heartland
LauraRBelin5d ago
Who's up early?
I wrote about a revealing Iowa House debate on ivermectin, which illustrated how conspiracy theories—once confined to fringe elements of the conservative movement—now drive the mainstream Republican agenda. #ialegis
https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/03/08/only-six-iowa-house-republicans-voted-against-over-the-counter-ivermectin/
Only six Iowa House Republicans voted against over-the-counter ivermectin

Laura Belin: The Iowa House debate about ivermectin illustrated how conspiracy theories now drive the mainstream Republican agenda.

Bleeding Heartland
LauraRBelinFeb 21

New post: The Iowa Capital Dispatch team compiled a very long list of bills that did and didn't get past an important legislative deadline on Friday. #ialegis

https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/02/21/which-bills-survived-or-died-in-iowa-legislatures-first-funnel-of-2026/

Which bills survived or died in Iowa legislature's first "funnel" of 2026

The Iowa Capital Dispatch team prepared this comprehensive look at what did and didn't get past the legislature's first "funnel."

Bleeding Heartland
LauraRBelinFeb 20
Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley took Qs from reporters on Thursday after House Republicans approved a K-12 school funding bill.
Topics covered included school funding and proposals on abortion, libraries, raising the tobacco tax, and property taxes.
My video: #ialegis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Wt4LRyHKk
Iowa House speaker takes reporter Qs (Feb. 19, 2026)

YouTube
LauraRBelinFeb 20
New post: Bruce Lear sounds the alarm about a bill pending in the Iowa House, which would eliminate school immunization requirements.
(This bill did get through a committee before the first #ialegis "funnel" deadline)
https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/02/19/iowa-school-anti-vaccination-bill-puts-politics-before-protection/
Iowa school anti-vaccination bill puts politics before protection

Bruce Lear sounds the alarm about a bill pending in the Iowa House, which would eliminate school immunization requirements.

Bleeding Heartland
LauraRBelinFeb 20
Thursday morning, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh took questions from statehouse reporters, which doesn't happen often. (Tomorrow's a big deadline for policy bills in #ialegis)
Q&A covered lots of topics, described in the notes below my video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFuK3EEEQj8
Iowa Senate leader answers reporter Qs (Feb. 19, 2026)

YouTube
LauraRBelinFeb 19

Top Democrats in the Iowa House and Senate spoke to reporters this morning ahead of a major #ialegis deadline.

I missed the first couple of minutes of Senator Janice Weiner talking about GOP failure to address the real problems facing Iowans but got the rest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZoTUuD96ac

Iowa Dem leaders answer reporter Qs (Feb. 19, 2026)

YouTube
LauraRBelinFeb 17
You can listen to tonight's episode of "KHOI's Capitol Week" now on podcast platforms. We talked about the #IASen Democratic shake-up, some news from Congress & lots of news from #ialegis.
Tomorrow I'll send the audio & a detailed written recap on my free newsletter: https://laurabelin.substack.com
Iowa politics with Laura Belin | Substack

Where you get in-depth coverage and exclusive reporting about Iowa politics. Click to read Iowa politics with Laura Belin, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

LauraRBelinFeb 16

Tuesday morning's subcommittee on an Iowa House bill that would completely ban "elective abortion" has been canceled.

Not clear whether it will be rescheduled later this week.
Thursday is an Iowa legislative deadline for most policy bills. #ialegis

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF2332

Iowa Legislature - BillBook

Information pertaining to the Iowa Legislature as well as the Executive and Judicial branch in as much as they relate to the legislative branch