This week in Iowa organizing…
News out of Hungary yesterday was a win for civic participation and the practice of democracy. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of healthy democracies and require the involvement of everyday people speaking up and taking action.
On Saturday, nearly 200 folks gathered in Des Moines to come together and discuss what we can and need to do to ensure the promise of democracy here at home. Many things will be needed, not the least of which will be massive turnout from folks to the polls to make our voices heard.
Let's stay engaged and stay involved. Read on for more,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
A session of misplaced priorities?
Lawmakers continue to debate budget bills and inch closer to some form of property tax reform as we approach their target date of April 21 for adjournment.
It appears that another legislative will come and go without meaningful action on a whole slew of issues that everyday Iowans actually care about and are impacted by on a daily basis. Noticeably absent from the legislature's work is absolutely anything meaningful on Iowa's water quality. And yet again, in the absence of action from our elected leaders in the statehouse, local governments continue to pick up the slack just to fund a program that monitors our water.
And we still have no action to address eminent domain abuse by private companies like Bruce Rastetter's Summit pipeline project. The House took action early in the year with House File 2104, and the Senate proceeded to drag their feet ever since. HF 2104 is on the unfinished business calendar - if you haven't contacted your Senator on this yet, you can do so here. Other bills of note:
Sent to the Governor:
HF 2296: takes local control away from municipalities by prohibiting them from issuing Community IDs to residents.
Still funnel proof:
HF 2709: would allow farmers the "right to repair." Passed House committee, eligible for House floor debate.
HF 2687: 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.
HF 2711: would remove several affirmative action and equal opportunity measures currently required under Iowa state law.
Take action
April 15: Iowa Utilities Commission meeting
Join us for the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 15th at 8:30 am in Des Moines.
The IUC has been seeking input on their next steps for Summit's proposed CO2 pipeline, with Summit requesting to consolidate and fast track the process. Join us at this meeting to make public comment and urge them to put people and planet first by:
Not consolidating Summit's plans
Not fast-tracking the process, and
Don't amend Summit's conditions in the Phase 1 permit
We know that every community impacted by this project deserves to have their voices heard. Join us to tell the IUC to listen to Iowans over a private corporation. RSVP here!
April 22: Iowa Water 101 on 🌎Earth Day
Join us on Earth Day for an Iowa Water 101 to discuss the water crisis facing Iowa and how we got here. We'll learn where our water is clean and why, where it's impaired or vulnerable and why, and the number of interconnected factors at play.
We'll be joined by guest water quality expert Dr. Alyssa Mianecki, a researcher with the University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC).
Join us Earth Day, April 22 from 5-6pm:
On Zoom - The meeting will be hosted on Zoom so you can tune in from anywhere.
Des Moines area - We invite you to watch it in community here on the big screen at the CCI headquarters.
This webinar is for anyone concerned about water quality and quantity in Iowa. RSVP here to reserve your spot!
April 25: People's Candidate Forum in Davenport
At CCI Action, we believe candidates need to hear from everyday people about the problems we face and how to solve them.
That’s why we are excited to announce that we will be holding a People’s Candidate Forum in Davenport featuring US Senate candidate Zach Wahls and 1st Congressional District candidate Travis Terrell! Register here to join us!
As the 2026 elections approach, it's our job lift up the experiences of everyday Iowans and push for the solutions we deserve. This forum is an opportunity to make your voice heard.
April 27: Public School Strong orientation
13 school boards have passed our resolution calling on the legislature to fully fund public schools at 5% and phase out 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 April 27 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!
April is CCI Action's Sustainer Drive!
This year, our goal is to increase our sustainers from 21% to 25% of our membership. 2026 is big year. We have incredible momentum on our campaigns for public schools and for protecting our water and health. We want to make these top election issues up and down the ballot and build long-lasting people power in the process.
Your small, budget-friendly monthly pledges add up to tremendous, large impact all year long! Sign up as a sustainer today! It’s easier on your budget, makes CCI Action stronger, and we’ll send you our People over Profits socks.
Water Talk
Nitrate numbers are running high in Iowa’s rivers and streams. You can see the data on the Iowa Water Quality Information System page. The funding for this statewide sensor network is still up for debate in the Iowa legislature. It’s critical that we have eyes on our waterways.
That’s why Citizen Science is so important. Join CCI’s water monitoring program! For more information or to order a free test kit, you can visit CCI’s Nitrate Watch Water Testing page. The spring rain is here so the time to get baseline tests is now!
The water testing crew meets on the last Thursday of the month to share information and discuss what we are seeing. Our next Zoom is April 30 at 5pm. Click here to register.
Important resource links:
www.cleanwaterhub.com/nitratewatch - log your data and connect it to CCI
Make a Plan worksheet – handy resource to make a monitoring plan
Save the Dates
CCI Action Summer ConventionSaturday, July 25, 10am - 4pm
Grandview College, Des Moines
Join us for our annual gathering where we come together from across the state and across issue campaigns to refresh, learn, plan, and recommit to the work ahead.
Details and registration coming soon!
Plant Sale Fundraiser
May 8 & 9, Des Moines: As always, this member-led fundraiser is held the Friday & Saturday of Mother's Day Weekend. Organic veggie starts from several local growers, mostly heirloom varieties. Also, herbs, prairie plants, Iowa wildflowers, and other hearty yard perennial plant divisions.
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Data centers offer Iowa no future worth having [Des Moines Register]
Trump's wreckage of Social Security and Medicare [The American Prospect]
How a $75 billion windfall from Congress has insulated ICE [NPR]
Local election officials fear retribution ahead of fall midterms [Politico]
The conciliator - why did Gretchen Whitmer go soft on Trump? [The Atlantic]