It’s the first funnel week of the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session, and District 11 Rep. Craig Williams (R-Manning) says lawmakers are working to ensure critical bills stay alive before Friday’s deadline. Hundreds of bills are introduced at the start of each session, but not all of them are destined to become law. To pare that number down, any bill not passed out of committee in the originating chamber is considered dead for the year, except for bills pertaining to appropriations, taxes, or other similar areas. The second funnel date is March 20, when bills from one chamber must be passed out of the opposite chamber’s committees to remain eligible. In his most recent newsletter, Williams highlights letters that Kuemper Catholic students penned during Catholic Schools Week and meetings with nurses advocating for Alzheimer’s and mental health services. Williams says lawmakers also heard from geologists with the Iowa Geological Survey about the potential for hydrogen exploration in western Iowa, particularly in Audubon County. Currently, Iowa has limited codified language concerning “mineral rights,” and Williams says Iowa needs to be ready for an influx of exploration and production companies if sufficient hydrogen is discovered. As for Williams’ committee work, he says most legislation is bipartisan, but he notes several bills that passed strictly on party lines. House Study Bill (HSB) 664 is a proposed law that would prevent municipal governments from adding provisions to Iowa’s Civil Rights Code. HSB 666 defines habitual offenders who would be subject to the “three strikes” bill making its way through the legislature, and HSB 669 clarifies that using a child’s biological pronouns is not abuse. Williams also highlights HSB 656, which loosens restrictions on automotive resellers; House File (HF) 981, which cracks down on “squatters” and facilitates their removal; and HF 2191, which consolidates city/school elections with the general elections held in even-numbered years. Constituents with questions, concerns, or complaints are encouraged to contact Williams directly by email at craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov.
