As we count down the days until the Iowa Legislature convenes in 2025, here’s a quick update on a couple items from the Capitol.

First, this past week marked a leadership change as Senate Democrats elected Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Johnson) as their new Senate Minority Leader. Leader Weiner steps into the role following the retirement of Senator Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque), who served as Senate minority leader since June 2023.

Second, Senate and House Republicans finalized and announced their committee chairs for the upcoming session. These appointments bring notable changes to key committees, including Commerce, Judiciary, Health and Human Services (HHS), Technology, Transportation, and Local Government, among others. A full list of the newly appointed chairs is included below.

“The Iowa Legislature will have their work cut out for them in 2025,” said NFIB Iowa State Director Matt Everson. “With issues like inflation and property taxes impacting small business owners, the lawmakers must prioritize reform during the upcoming session. I anticipate the complete committee assignments to be released in mid-December. Keep an eye out for an update once those are announced.”

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver appointed the following Committee Chairs:

• Agriculture:
  • Senator Dawn Driscoll (R-Williamsburg)
• Appropriations:
  • Senator Tim Kraayenbrink (R-Ft. Dodge)
• Commerce:
  • Senator Mike Bousselot (R-Ankeny)
• Education:
  • Senator Lynn Evans (R-Aurelia)
• Ethics:
  • Senator Dave Rowley (R-Spirit Lake)
• Government Oversight:
  • Senator Kerry Gruenhagen (R-Walcott)
• Health and Human Services:
  • Senator Mike Klimesh (R-Spillville)
• Judiciary:
  • Senator Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig)
• Local Government:
  • Senator Scott Webster (R-Bettendorf)
• Natural Resources and Environment:
  • Senator Annette Sweeney (R-Alden)
• Rules and Administration:
  • Senator Jack Whitver (R-Ankeny)
• State Government:
  • Senator Chris Cournoyer (R-LeClaire)
• Technology:
  • Senator Charlie McClintock (R-Alburnett)
• Transportation:
  • Senator Dan Zumbach (R-Ryan)
• Veterans Affairs:
  • Senator Jeff Reichman (R-Montrose)
• Ways and Means:
  • Senator Dan Dawson (R-Council Bluffs)
• Workforce:
  • Senator Adrian Dickey (R-Packwood)
• Appropriations Subcommittees:
  • Administration and Regulation:
    • Senator Dennis Guth (R-Klemme)
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources:
    • Senator Tom Shipley (R-Nodaway)
  • Economic Development:
    • Senator Mark Lofgren (R-Muscatine)
  • Education:
    • Senator Jesse Green (R-Boone)
  • Health and Human Services:
    • Senator Mark Costello (R-Imogene)
  • Justice Systems:
    • Senator Julian Garrett (R-Indianola)
  • Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals:
    • Senator Carrie Koelker (R-Dyersville)

• Other Committee Chair Assignments:
  • Administrative Rules Review:
    • Senator Mike Klimesh (R-Spillville) – Vice Chair
  • International Relations:
    • Senator Annette Sweeney (R-Buckeye) – Vice Chair

House Speaker Pat Grassley appointed the following House Committee Chairs:

• Standing Committees:
  • Administrative Rules Review:
    • Rep. Chad Ingels (R-Randalia) – Chair
  • Agriculture:
    • Rep. Mike Sexton (R-Rockwell City) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Chad Behn (R-Boone) – Vice Chair
  • Appropriations:
    • Rep. Gary Mohr (R-Bettendorf) – Chair
    • Rep. Dan Gehlbach (R-Urbandale) – Vice Chair
  • Commerce:
    • Rep. Shannon Lundgren (R-Peosta) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect David Blom (R-Marshalltown) – Vice Chair
  • Economic Growth and Technology:
    • Rep. Ray Sorensen (R-Greenfield) – Chair
    • Rep. Devon Wood (R-New Market) – Vice Chair
  • Education:
    • Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R-Hull) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Samantha Fett (R-Carlisle) – Vice Chair
  • Environmental Protection:
    • Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour) – Chair
    • Rep. Tom Gerhold (R-Atkins) – Vice Chair
  • Ethics:
    • Rep. Bill Gustoff (R-Des Moines) – Chair
    • Rep. Craig Johnson (R-Independence) – Vice Chair
  • Government Oversight:
    • Rep. Charley Thomson (R-Charles City) – Chair
    • Rep. Jeff Shipley (R-Birmingham) – Vice Chair
  • Health and Human Services:
    • Rep. Carter Nordman (R-Panora) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Brett Barker (R-Nevada) – Vice Chair
  • Higher Education (*this is a new committee*):
    • Rep. Taylor Collins (R-Mediapolis) – Chair
    • Rep. Jeff Shipley (R-Birmingham) – Vice Chair
  • International Relations:
    • Rep. Eddie Andrews (R-Johnston) – Chair
  • Judiciary:
    • Rep. Steve Holt (R-Denison) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Judd Lawler (R-Oxford) – Vice Chair
  • Labor:
    • Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla (R-Pella) – Chair
    • Rep. Josh Meggers (R-Grundy Center) – Vice Chair
  • Local Government:
    • Rep. Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Craig Williams (R-Manning) – Vice Chair
  • Natural Resources:
    • Rep. Derek Wulf (R-Hudson) – Chair
    • Rep. Cindy Golding (R-Palo) – Vice Chair
  • Public Safety:
    • Rep. Mike Vondran (R-Davenport) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Sam Wengryn (R-Pleasanton) – Vice Chair
  • State Government:
    • Rep. Jane Bloomingdale (R-Northwood) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Jennifer Smith (R-Dubuque) – Vice Chair
  • Transportation:
    • Rep. David Young (R-Van Meter) – Chair
    • Rep. Tom Determann (R-Clinton) – Vice Chair
  • Veterans Affairs:
    • Rep. Brooke Boden (R-Indianola) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Jason Gearhart (R-Strawberry Point) – Vice Chair
  • Ways & Means:
    • Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R-Wilton) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Christian Hermanson (R-Mason City) – Vice Chair
• Appropriations Subcommittees:
  • Administration and Regulation Appropriations:
    • Rep. Michael Bergan (R-Dorchester) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Travis Sitzmann (R-Le Mars) – Vice Chair
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations:
    • Rep. Norlin Mommsen (R-DeWitt) – Chair
    • Rep. Helena Hayes (R-New Sharon) – Vice Chair
  • Economic Development Appropriations:
    • Rep. Shannon Latham (R-Sheffield) – Chair
    • Rep.-Elect Ryan Weldon (R-Ankeny) – Vice Chair
  • Education Appropriations:
    • Rep. Austin Harris (R-Moulton) – Chair
    • Rep. Bob Henderson (R-Sioux City) – Vice Chair
  • Federal and Other Funds (*this is a new committee*):
    • Rep. Martin Graber (R-Fort Madison)
    • Rep. David Sieck (R-Glenwood)
  • Health and Human Services Appropriations:
    • Rep. Ann Meyer (Fort Dodge) – Chair
    • Rep. Tom Moore (R-Griswold) – Vice Chair
  • Justice Systems Appropriations:
    • Rep. Brian Lohse (R-Bondurant) – Chair
    • Rep. Mark Thompson (R-Clarion) – Vice Chair
  • Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations:
    • Rep. Jacob Bossman (R-Sioux City) – Chair
    • Rep. Steven Bradley (R-Cascade) – Vice Chair