This week in Iowa organizing…
Last Wednesday, the Washington Community School District passed our Public School Strong resolution. They become the 10th Iowa school district to call on our legislature to fully fund our public schools and gradually phase out private school vouchers.
And yet, also last week the state Senate sent their school funding bill to the House for consideration, a proposal of a meager 1.75% increase in state aid. This is despite incredibly clear signs that recent school funding under the Reynolds administration falls well behind inflation.
More on that and other updates from the statehouse, along with other ways to take action in the coming weeks. Let's get to it,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
Funnel week
This Friday marks the first legislative funnel deadline to winnow down most bills that can be considered by the legislature moving forward. Feb. 20 is when bills need to pass out of both subcommittee and full committee to stay alive for consideration outside of spending bills.
That makes this week an especially important week for legislators to hear from constituents, and a reminder you can find your legislators and their contact information here. Here's other opportunities this week and in the coming weeks to engage your lawmakers on key issues:
Feb. 18 @ 1pm Immigrant Rights rally at the statehouse hosted by our allies at Iowa MMJ
Feb. 19 @ 1pm "Our water, our health" lobby day (more information below)
This weekend and upcoming weekends: legislative forums held in districts. See our webpage for forums we're tracking
March 4 @ 10am: CCI Action citizen lobbying at the statehouse, RSVP here. New to lobbying or want to know what to expect? Check out this short video of a recent lobby day to learn more!
Where some key bills stand that we're tracking:
The good:
SF 2008: would make private schools utilizing vouchers to have the same transparency and reporting requirements as public schools. Introduced by Sen. McClintock (R - Alburnett). Must pass subcommittee and Education committee to survive funnel.
SF 2225: would provide owners of manufactured homes the same rights as traditional tenants. Must pass subcommittee and Judiciary committee to survive funnel.
SF 2269: funds the Iowa Water Quality Information System at $500,000 for fiscal year 2026-27. Assigned to Senate Appropriations committee, funnel proof.
The bad:
HF 2104: would have ban the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. Sen. Klimesh pulled a bait-and-switch and amended the bill to mirror language of SF 2067. Funnel proof, eligible for debate on the Senate floor.
SF 2201: would fund public schools with a 1.75% increase - far below the 5% students need. Passed Senate, assigned to House Appropriations committee, funnel proof.
HF 2296: would take local control away from municipalities by prohibiting them from issuing Community IDs to their residents. Funnel proof, eligible for debate on the House floor.
HSB 657: would prevent the DNR from adding a waterway to an impaired water list until they can ID what kind of animal contributed to fecal bacteria levels. Passed House Agriculture committee, funnel proof.
HSB 688: would remove several affirmative action and equal opportunity measures currently required under Iowa state law. Must pass House Judiciary committee to survive funnel.
Take action
This Thursday - Feb. 19: Our water, our health rally & lobby day
During the 2026 legislative session it’s our job to keep the Cancer Gag Act dead and to push for common sense policies – like restoring funding for water quality monitoring and increasing funding to map our aquifers.
On February 19 from 1 - 4pm we'll be joining with our allies at Food & Water Watch and Progress Iowa for a lobby day to tell our legislators it's time to take meaningful action to protect our water and crack down on big ag polluters. RSVP to join us here.
Feb. 23: Public School Strong orientation
10 school boards have passed our resolution calling on the Governor and state legislature to fully fund public schools at a 5% increase in state supplemental aid (SSA) and a phase out of the private school vouchers. Will your district be next?
Full funding for public schools starts at the school board level and we invite you to join other Iowans to our next Public School Strong orientation on Feb. 23 at 7 pm on zoom (register here).
At this meeting folks will learn more about what’s behind the attacks on public education, the purpose and goals of Public School Strong, and receive a free PSS t-shirt!
Feb. 24: How taxpayers are propping up the factory farm industry & corporate ag
RSVP here to join us for the Farm & Environment Monthly organizing call on Feb. 24 from 6 - 7:30 PM. At this meeting we will:
Dig in on how our public dollars are being used to prop up the factory farm and industrial ag model.
Get updates on what's happened at the statehouse related to the Cancer Gag Act, the CO2 pipeline, water quality, and more.
Find ways to take action to protect our water and health.
Mark your calendar for Feb. 24 at 6 PM and RSVP here to get the information to join the call.
Feb. 26: clean water meeting w/ Prof. Rosburg
CCI is hosting our second clean water meeting with Drake professor Tom Rosburg on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 6-7:30PM in Grinnell. Tom is an Ecology and Botany Professor and long time prairie warrior fighting for Iowa's most vulnerable ecosystems.
Join us to hear more about the state of Iowa's water, how it effects our local ecosystems and our health, and the positive impacts of prairie systems on our water. Learn about native ecosystems, leave with native prairie seeds! RSVP to join us here.
Take action for a Farm Bill that puts our health and independent producers before corporate $
The US House Agriculture Committee is anticipated to debate and amend the House version of what’s left of the Farm Bill early next week! Both Representatives Randy Feenstra and Zach Nunn sit on the committee.
Send them an email today and ask them to do two things:
Oppose any version of the Cancer Gag Act or the EATS Act!
Support the New Producer Economic Security Program and Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling!
You can find talking points for these issues and emails to contact Feenstra and Nunn here!
We're Hiring!
Iowa CCI is looking to hire an Administrative Assistant to work with the broader CCI staff to carry out essential tasks that support our office working environment. This is a part time, permanent position that would average 20hrs a week.
Learn more and how to apply at iowacci.org/jobs
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Trump needs to end his assault on Minnesota (by CCI member Julia Rendon) [Storm Lake Times Pilot]
Foes of DEI can't have it both ways [Bleeding Heartland]
Iowans must stand up to chronic underfunding of public schools (by CCI member Fred Maharry) [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
The key to defeating Trump? Mass non-cooperation (by CCI member Mark Engler and Paul Engler) [The Guardian]
The people are leading. The leaders should follow [The Bulwark]