This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Katie Bryan

Following the news coming out over the weekend, I struggled to think of how to kick off today's email. Which led me to thinking about what happened on this day in history.

Not a bad day in history!! In 1955, nine months before Rosa Parks gave up her seat on a bus, 15 year-old Claudette Colvin was arrested for giving up her seat on a bus. In 1807, Congress abolished the African slave trade. 

Bobby Kennedy (not the one who recently embraced glyphosate of all things) in 1967 proposed a three-point plan to end the Vietnam War. Something refreshing in light of what appears to be an emerging war in the Middle East.

Quite a bit of interesting history for March 2. Let's see what today holds for the records,

 

Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director

At the Statehouse

The dust has settled from the first legislative funnel deadline, but the second one is already on the horizon. Friday, March 20, is the next deadline where bills not related to spending must pass a chamber (House or Senate) AND a corresponding committee in the other chamber to remain alive for consideration. You can read more on the funnel aftermath from CCI Action Board member Barb Kalbach here.

We'll be back up at the statehouse this Wednesday to lobby lawmakers on bills we want to see survive, and those that must not make it any further in the process. If you're in Des Moines on March 4, RSVP to join us here. And a reminder you can find your legislators and their contact information here.

Key bills we're tracking that survived the funnel:

The good:

  • HF 2447: would require data centers to submit regular reports on their water and energy use, and to not pass their water/energy usage costs onto other customers. Eligible for debate on the House floor.

  • HF 2117: would provide funding to retrofit up to 100 existing private wells with groundwater monitoring equipment, more than doubling the approximately 60 wells currently monitoring our groundwater. Eligible for debate on the House floor.

  • HF 2709: would allow farmers the "right to repair." Read more on this from Iowa Farmers Union president Aaron Lehman here. Eligible for debate on the House floor.

  • SF 2269: funds the Iowa Water Quality Information System at $500,000 for fiscal year 2026-27. Assigned to Senate Appropriations committee, funnel proof, but no subcommittee scheduled.

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. Eligible for debate on the Senate floor, would need to be sent back to the House if approved.

  • HF 2296: would take local control away from municipalities by prohibiting them from issuing Community IDs to their residents. Eligible for debate on the House floor.

  • HF 2530: 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. Eligible for debate on the House floor.

  • HF 2711: would remove several affirmative action and equal opportunity measures currently required under Iowa state law. Eligible for debate on the House floor.

  • HF 2527: would limit the ability to sue Big Ag for greenhouse gas emissions. Passed the House, sent to Senate committee for consideration.

Take action

Tomorrow - March 3: Intentionally downsizing the farm

On March 3 at 7 pm in Grinnell, Seth Watkins will speak on Intentionally Downsizing the Farm: To Bring Diversity and Young People Back to the Land.

Seth will share his experience downsizing his family farm in Clarinda and what that shift meant for farm viability and quality of life in rural Iowa. In-person at Drake Community Library in Grinnell or join virtually. Register here.

Sponsored by Iowa Farmers Union, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa CCI, Jefferson Co Farmers and Neighbors, Food & Water Watch, and the Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture

Farm Bill markup begins this week

The US House Agriculture Committee is anticipated to debate and amend the House version of what’s left of the Farm Bill this week. Originally planned to have begun markup last week, the massive winter storm delayed action until this week.

As this Register editorial points out, there's much left to be desired, and enough to be concerned about, with the upcoming Farm Bill. Please email Representatives Nunn and Feenstra (who sit on the committee) 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!

March 31: Public School Strong strategy session

In the last 10 years, the Governor and state legislature have underfunded our schools by passing a paltry state supplemental aid rate (SSA) of just 2% on average, not enough to keep up with inflation. They are asking our schools to do more and more with less and less and we are at a breaking point.

Imagine if we had 100 districts pass our Public School Strong resolution to help set the stage for the November elections and 2027 legislative session? Join us over Zoom on Tues, March 31 to learn about the campaign and how to expand it by bringing it to your district.

Upcoming rallies and mobilizations

In response to the attack on Iran conducted without approval from Congress, folks across the country plan to rally today, March 2 in protest of endless wars centered on regime change. Today at 5:30pm outside the state capitol, more info here.

No Kings will hold another round of mobilizations on March 28 in response to the Trump administration's ongoing attacks on Americans, our democratic institutions, and more. Find the event closest to you here.

What We're Reading

These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!

Katie Bryan
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This week in Iowa organizing…