Legislative session underway as members sworn in, governor lists priorities

Press Staff Report

The 2019 legislative session opened Monday at the state Capitol with the swearing in of the members.

Rep. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, said the session can be a success if lawmakers work together and keep focused on Iowa families.

Prichard, who was sworn in to his fourth term, urged his fellow House members to stay focused on “good jobs, great public schools and access to health care.”

He said some of the issues they will be working on this year include investing in K-12 schools, expanding mental health services, fixing Medicaid privatization, protecting Iowans with pre-existing conditions, making college education affordable, expanding job training opportunities and improving water quality.

There are 22 new members in the Iowa House of Representatives this year and, for the first time in Iowa history, women make up a majority of one of the four caucuses in the Legislature — House Democrats.

On Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds gave the annual Condition of the State address, and said she would work to support constitutional amendments guaranteeing people convicted of felonies would have their voting rights restored once they had met the conditions of their sentences, and ensuring that crime victims would be told of major status change involving prisoners who had done the crimes against them.