Iowa General Assembly
General information
Type:	State legislature
Term limits:	None
Session start:	January 12, 2026
Website:	Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:	Amy Sinclair (R)
House Speaker:	Pat Grassley (R)
Majority Leader:	Senate:Michael T. Klimesh (R) House:Bobby Kaufmann (R)
Minority Leader:	Senate:Janice Weiner (D) House:Brian Meyer (D)
Structure
Members:	50 (Senate), 100 (House)
Length of term:	4 years (Senate),2 years (House)
Authority:	Legislative Department, Iowa Constitution, Sec 3
Salary:	$25,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Redistricting:	Iowa Board of Apportionment

TheIowa General Assembly (orIGA) is thestate legislature ofIowa. The General Assembly convenes within the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. It is abicameral legislature composed of an upper house, theIowa State Senate, and alower house, theIowa House of Representatives.

Iowa State Capitol

Iowa has a Republicantrifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

See also:Iowa House of Representatives,Iowa State Senate,Iowa Governor

Senate

TheIowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing fifty single-member districts across the state.

As of the 2020 Census, Iowa state senators represented an average of63,848 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented61,076 residents.

The Senate meets at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Unlike thelower house, the Iowa House of Representatives, Senators serve four-year terms and half of the chamber is up for re-election every two years. There are noterm limits.

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Iowa State Senate in 2016. In2024, they won a 34-16 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Iowa Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Before 1992

The Iowa State Senate switched partisan control 10 times from 1900 to 2022.

House of Representatives

The Iowa House of Representatives is thelower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives.

As of the 2020 Census, Iowa state representatives represented an average of31,924 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented30,538 residents.

Unlike the upper house, the Iowa Senate, state representatives serve two-year terms with the whole chamber up for re-election in even-numbered years. There are noterm limits.

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Iowa House of Representatives in 2010. In2024, they won a 64-36 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Iowa House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Before 1992

The Iowa House of Representatives switched partisan control 10 times from 1900 to 2022.

Elections

2026

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2026 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2026

Elections for theIowa State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isJune 2, 2026. The filing deadline isMarch 13, 2026.

Elections for theIowa House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The primary isJune 2, 2026. The filing deadline isMarch 13, 2026.

2024

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2024 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2024

Elections for theIowa State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasJune 4, 2024. The filing deadline wasMarch 15, 2024.

Elections for theIowa House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasJune 4, 2024. The filing deadline wasMarch 15, 2024.

2022

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2022 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2022

Elections for theIowa State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 18, 2022.

Elections for theIowa House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 18, 2022.

2020

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2020 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2020

Elections for the office ofIowa State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was March 13, 2020.

Elections for the office ofIowa House of Representatives took place in 2020. All100 seats were up for election.Forty-seven were held by Democrats and53 were held by Republicans.

The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was March 13, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Iowa House from53-47 to59-41.

2018

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2018 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2018

Elections for theIowa State Senate took place in2018. Aclosed primary election took place on June 5, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline wasMarch 16, 2018.

Elections for theIowa House of Representatives took place in 2018. Aclosed primary election took place on June 5, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline wasMarch 16, 2018.

2016

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2016 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for theIowa State Senate were held in2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016.

Elections for theIowa House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 18, 2016.

2014

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2014 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for theIowa State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014.

Elections for theIowa House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014.

2012

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2012 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Iowa State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2012.

Elections for the office of Iowa House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held onNovember 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 16, 2012.

2010

See also:Iowa State Senate elections, 2010 andIowa House of Representatives elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Iowa State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 19, 2010.

Elections for the office of Iowa House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 19, 2010.

Sessions

The Legislative Department of the Iowa Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to be in session. Section 2 of the article states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the second Monday of January of each year. The General Assembly can also be called into special session by a proclamation of theGovernor of Iowa or by a written request of two-thirds of both houses of the General Assembly.

Bills may be pre-filed for the senate between odd year and even year sessions.^[1]

2025

See also:2025 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 13, 2025, and adjourn on May 14, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024 See also:2024 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2024, and adjourn on April 20, 2024. 2023 See also:2023 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 9, 2023, and adjourn on May 4, 2023. 2022 See also:2022 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 10, 2022, and adjourn on May 24, 2022. 2021 See also:2021 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2021, and adjourn on May 19, 2021. 2020 See also:2020 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 13, 2020, and adjourn on June 14, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic See also:Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. TheIowa State Legislature suspended its session, effective March 16, 2020, through June 3, 2020. The suspension was initially scheduled to last through April 15, 2020. It was subsequently extended further, first to April 30, 2020, then to May 15, 2020, and then to June 3, 2020. The legislature adjourned on June 14, 2020.[2][3] 2019 See also:2019 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 14, 2019, through April 27, 2019. 2018 See also:2018 Iowa legislative session andDates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 8, 2018, through May 5, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, clickhere. 2017 See also:Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2017, through April 22, 2017. 2016 See also:Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 11 through April 29. 2015 See also:Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 12 through June 5 (extended session). Major issues in 2015 Major issues during the 2015 legislative session included road funding, state budget, income tax cuts, broadband expansion, school calendars, local option sales taxes, medical marijuana, eminent domain, banning traffic cameras, and a sales tax increase.[4] 2014 See also:Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 13 through May 2. Major issues in 2014 Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included cutting the state income tax, increasing the gas tax, and a minimum wage increase.[5] 2013 See also:Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 14 to May 23. Major issues in 2013 Major issues during the 2013 legislative session included education reform, providing healthcare for low-income and other uninsured residents, and a tax relief package that sought to lower property taxes.[6] 2012 See also:Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the General Assembly was in session from January 9 to May 9. 2011 See also:Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions In 2011, the General Assembly was in session from January 10 through July 1. The legislature had an extended session due to concerns on how to reduce commercial property taxes. House Republicans favored a 25 percent reduction in commercial property tax rates, while Senate Democrats proposed a tax credit that would be paid directly to the owners of the commercial properties.[7] During the extended session, legislators did not receive per diem. Iowa legislative rules allow lawmakers to receive per diem for a maximum of 100 days in even numbered years, and 110 days in odd numbered years. The 110th calendar day of the 2011 session was April 30. The rules may be amended at any time to extend the legislative session. Session highlights Budget Iowa ended its 2011 fiscal year with $54.5 million in revenue collections above estimated figures, an increase of six percent over fiscal 2010. The six percent increase was one percent higher than expected.[8] As a whole, Iowa collected $329.3 million more in revenue than it did in 2010.[8] School funding A disagreement over state spending on public schools ended in compromise, withDemocrats agreeing to aRepublican-proposed two percent increase in spending (equivalent to about $60 million) for FY 2012. TheSenate approved the plan by a vote of 26-19 and theHouse by 56-39. ThoughDemocrats had originally asked for a three percent overall increase in funding, they secured an extra $24 million for preschool programs in exchange for their support for theRepublican plan.[9] No property tax reform Lawmakers failed to agree on reforms to the state's property tax system.HouseRepublicans called for across-the-board property tax cuts, whileDemocrats sought to limit tax concessions to small businesses.[10] At the time, Iowa collected commercial property taxes based on 100 percent of a property's assessed value, a considerably higher level than in neighboring states; in Missouri, for instance, taxes were only calculated based on 33.3% of a property's value. 2010 See also:Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions In 2010, the General Assembly was in session from January 11th to March 30th.

Role in state budget

See also:Iowa state budget and finances

Iowaon

Check outBallotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets •Civil liberties •Education •Elections •Energy •Environment •Healthcare •Pensions

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[11]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies betweenJune andJuly.
2. Agency requests are submitted to thegovernor byOctober 1.
3. Public hearings are held inDecember.
4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to theIowa State Legislature byFebruary 1.
5. The legislature adopts a budget inApril orMay.
6. The fiscal year begins inJuly.

Iowa is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[11][12]

The governor is statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is statutorily required to adopt a balanced budget.^[11]

Legislators

Salaries

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries

Swearing in dates

See also:When state legislators assume office after a general election

Iowa state representatives always assume office the first day of January after their election.^[14] Iowa state senators assume office on the first day of January which is not a Sunday or legal holiday.^[15][16]

Redistricting

See also:Redistricting in Iowa

The Legislative Services Agency prepares redistricting plans for approval by theIowa State Legislature. According toAll About Redistricting, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) consists of "civil servants committed to nonpartisanship and otherwise charged with tasks like legal and fiscal analysis of state legislation and state government oversight." The LSA is assisted by a commission, which consists of the following members:^[17]

1. one member selected by the majority leader of theIowa State Senate
2. one member selected by the majority leader of theIowa House of Representatives
3. one member selected by the minority leader of theIowa State Senate
4. one member selected by the minority leader of theIowa House of Representatives
5. one member selected by the first four members

The members of this commission cannot "hold partisan public office or an office in a political party, and none may be a relative or employee of a federal or state legislator (or the legislature as a whole)."^[17]

Working with this commission, the LSA drafts congressional and state legislative district lines. The maps are presented as a single bill to the state legislature, which may approve or reject the bill without altering it (the legislature can provide feedback). If the legislature rejects the plan, the LSA must draft a second proposal. If the legislature rejects the second proposal, the LSA must draft a third, and final, set of maps. If the legislature rejects this plan, it may then approve its own maps. Since the implementation of this process in 1980, the state legislature has never chosen not to approve an LSA proposal. Redistricting plans are also subject to gubernatorial veto. In addition, the legislature may repeal or revise the maps at any time, though it has never done so.^[17]

State law establishes the following criteria for both congressional and state legislative districts:^[17]

1. Districts must be "convenient and contiguous."
2. Districts must "preserve the integrity of political subdivisions like counties and cities."
3. Districts must "to the extent consistent with other requirements, [be] reasonably compact–defined in terms of regular polygons, comparisons of length and width, and overall boundary perimeter."

In addition, state House districts are required to be contained within state Senate districts "where possible, and where not in conflict with the criteria above." It is explicit in state law that district lines cannot be drawn "to favor a political party, incumbent, or other person or group."^[17]

2020

See also:Redistricting in Iowa after the 2020 census

On November 4, 2021, Iowa Gov.Kim Reynolds (R) signed new congressional and state legislative maps into law after the state's Legislative Services Agency had proposed them on October 21, 2021. The Iowa legislature approved the maps on October 28, 2021, by a vote of 48-1 in thestate Senate and 93-2 in thestate House.^[18] The legislature could only vote to approve or reject the maps and could not make any amendments. These maps took effect for Iowa's 2022 congressional and legislative elections.

2010

See also:Redistricting in Iowa after the 2010 census

Iowa's population grew 4.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Iowa's population was 2.93 million in 2000, and rose to 3.05 million in 2010. This rate was less than half of the national growth rate of roughly 10 percent between 2000 and 2010.^[19] Due to this slow growth, the U.S. Census Bureau determined that Iowa would only be represented by four members of the U.S. House of Representatives, rather than the five seats Iowa had during the 2000-2010 decade.^[20] Most of Iowa's growth occurred in the urban and suburban areas of the state, while most of the rural counties grew slowly or lost population.^[21]

On March 31, 2011, theIowa Legislative Service Agency released its first map. This map paired two incumbent Republicans together in one U.S. House district and two incumbent Democrats together in another U.S. House district. The map also created 7 potential incumbent versus incumbent matchups in the State Senate elections as well as seven districts without incumbents. The State House map created 14 vacant districts and 14 more potential incumbent versus incumbent races.^[22]

The Iowa State Senate passed the plan 48 to 1. The House of Representatives approved the plan 90 to 7.^[23]

The new State House districts varied from the ideal population count by no more than 1.93 percent, or less than a 300-resident deviation from the target for the least accurate district.^[24]

District maps

State Senate

State House

Veto overrides

See also:Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Iowa are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

Authority:Legislative Department, Section 16 of theIowa Constitution.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also:Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States andBallotpedia:Who Runs the States, Iowa

Partisan breakdown of the Iowa legislature from 1992-2013

Iowa State Senate:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Iowa State Senate for 12 years while the Republican Party was the majority for 8 years. During the final seven years, the senate was controlled by the Democrats.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Iowa State House of Representatives:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Iowa State House of Representatives for five years while the Republicans were the majority for 17 years.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of Iowa, theIowa State Senate and theIowa House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on theState Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, clickhere.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Iowa state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Iowa had a nine-year period in the top-10 of the SQLI ranking between 2003 and 2012, under both divided government and a Democratic trifecta. During the period of the study, Iowa was in the top-10 of the SQLI ranking for twelve out of twenty years. Iowa claimed the top spot in the SQLI ranking twice, once in 2009 and again in 2012. The state’s lowest SQLI ranking came in 1995 (14th) under divided government.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 3.50
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 12.00
• SQLI average with divided government: 8.87

Chart displaying the partisanship of Iowa government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process forreferring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states,initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are alsomany other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Iowa Constitution can be amended:

See also:Article X of the Iowa Constitution andLaws governing ballot measures in Iowa

TheIowa Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution— a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Iowa requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Legislature

See also:Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions with an election for state legislators in between for theIowa State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in theIowa House of Representatives and 26 votes in theIowa State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also:Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According toSection 3 of Article X of theIowa Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is toautomatically appear on the state's ballot every 10 years starting in 1970. Iowa is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.

The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:

See also

Elections	Iowa State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
Iowa elections, 2024 Iowa elections, 2022 Iowa elections, 2020 Iowa elections, 2018	Iowa State Senate Iowa House of Representatives Governor of Iowa Iowa Supreme Court	State legislative elections:2025,2024,2023,2022,2021,2020,2019, and2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links

• Iowa General Assembly

Footnotes