This week in Iowa organizing…
Our thoughts and hearts go out to the folks in Iowa City and those impacted by the sad events of the weekend.
And we hope those of you along the paths of storms last week stayed safe and did not experience much, if any, damage. "In like a lion, out like a lamb" seems to have stuck around for another month.
Once again, there's a lot coming up over the next couple weeks, read on for more,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
Adjournment soon? Not likely
There is little chance the legislature will adjourn this week. Although given what they've accomplished (aka harmed, dismantled, attacked...) so far this year, we would likely be better off if they just passed the budget and got out of town.
There's still little evidence Republican leaders will allow anything meaningful to be done to clean up Iowa's waterways or hold polluters accountable. And whatever they rush through on property tax reform will be half-baked at best. You can read more on that in an email from Common Good Iowa here.
On a possible positive note, an amendment was filed to House File 2104 by 11 Senate Republicans. This amendment would revert the bill back to much of the original language of the bill as passed by the House. Thanks to all of you who emailed your Senators on this issue - your voices are making an impact.
Now back to the bad news. HF 2754/SF 2501 is getting closer to the Governor's desk. This bill (they're attached together) further privatizes public education by diverting more public money away from community schools and giving it to for-profit charter schools. It also deregulates homeschooling and burdens public schools with an unfunded mandate by forcing them to allow private school students access to any extra curricular activity. The bill is on the Senate debate calendar.
A reminder that you can find your legislators and their contact information here.
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. Could be included in an appropriations bill.
HF 2711: would remove several affirmative action and equal opportunity measures currently required under Iowa state law. Placed on unfinished business calendar.
Take action
April 22: Iowa Water 101 on 🌎Earth Day
Our Iowa Water 101 is a great for anyone wanting to learn about the water crisis facing Iowa and how we got here.
We'll be joined by not one, but two Iowa experts:
Dr. Alyssa Mianecki, a researcher with the University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC), and
Dr. Elliot Anderson, a research scientist affiliated with IIHR - Hydroscience & Engineering, the Iowa Geological Survey, and the groundbreaking Central Iowa Water Quality report that came out last year.
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.
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, 1st Congressional District candidate Travis Terrell, and state Secretary of Agriculture candidate Chris Jones! 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!
May 1: May Day Strong rallies
On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping.
Learn more and find the event nearest you here.
CCI Action Sustainer Drive ends Friday!
A huge, sincere thank you to the 43 of you who have started, switched or increased your Sustaining membership so far this month. Your small, budget-friendly monthly pledges add up to tremendous, large impact all year long!
Sustainers are so important that 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.
Sign up as a sustainer today - by Friday, April 24! It’s easier on your budget, makes CCI Action stronger, and we’ll send you our People over Profits socks.
Water Talk
"Rock creek running straight into DMWW today. Literally off the chart." <—That's what a CCI Water Tester shared on Facebook last week.
So far in April, CCI water testers have recorded 105 data points. 56 of them are reading over 10 ppm, 23 over 20 ppm. These readings are largely at streams and rivers coming off fields. Nitrate numbers like these tax our public drinking utilities and puts our health at risk.
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 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 Convention Saturday, 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!
Stop asking about agriculture and cancer, and don't eat your spinach [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Privatized Medicaid in Iowa delivers on none of its promises [Des Moines Register]
KitKat, Gatorade, or granola bars? What's banned under new SNAP rules is mixed [Washington Post]
'More than just their work': a farmworker advocate on those who feed us [Civil Eats]
The tattered waste of Senator Joni Ernst's time in the US Senate [Barry Piatt on Politics: - Behind the Curtains]