Friday, April 21 was the last day of work for legislators at the Iowa Capitol, three days after the 2017 session was supposed to end. This session is said by many to be one of the most controversial sessions in years. With the House, Senate, and Executive branch being GOP controlled, it has been all hands on deck the last four months pushing through a conservative Republican agenda.

Here is an overview of the major bills this session:

Chapter 20

By far, this bill had the largest pushback by Iowans at the capitol. People by the hundreds came to sway lawmakers to change the way they vote. After multiple days of debate in the House and 30+ hours of straight debate in the Senate, both chambers called a time certain and voted on the new law. It passed the House 53-47 and the Senate 29-21. It was signed by the Governor the next day into law. Many people are still uncertain about how this bill will affect their lives, but it is now a reality every state employee must live with.

Voter ID

This bill that has been signed into law is aimed to strengthen the integrity of voting in the State of Iowa. The law requires all voters to present government-issued identification at their polling location. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• An Iowa Driver’s License
• An Iowa Non-operator ID
• A United States Passport
• A Veteran or Military ID
• A voter identification issued by the Secretary of State (provides eligible voters a free Voter Identification card if they cannot afford another form of ID)

-Implements the use of E-Poll books to modernize and streamline the voting process at polling locations

-Eliminates straight-ticket voting from Iowa Ballots

Democrats opposed this bill saying it would hinder people’s voting rights and make it harder on minority groups and the elderly. The GOP says with the provisions they put in place, it will not make it harder for any citizen to vote.

2nd Amendment rights

Stand your ground and carrying rights on government grounds/buildings was debated for many hours in both legislative chambers. The bill expands the rights Iowans have when defending themselves both on their property and in public, when/where you can carry a concealed weapon, allowing parents to teach their children gun safety, and the right to shoot targets on your own property. The gun passed both chambers and was signed into law.

20-week abortion ban

After both a Pro-Life and Pro-Abortion rallies took place at the capitol, the Iowa legislature passed a ban that would prevent abortions after 20 weeks with exceptions for rape or incest situations. Many Republican legislators were against this legislation because it does not go far enough. The bill did pass both chambers and was signed by the Governor.

There have been a wide range of issues this session that has caused many long nights and heated debates. With that being said, there have also been pieces that have garnered bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle. The 2018 session will start in January with many issues that will spark just as many heated debates and late nights at the capitol building- the only difference, there will be a new Governor.