This week in the Iowa Legislature
The fourth week of the 2025 Legislative Session began on a somber note as the Capitol mourned the unexpected passing of Representative Martin Graber. Both the Senate and House opened Monday with moments of silence and prayer in his honor. To allow lawmakers to pay their respects, all House activities were cancelled on Tuesday so members and staff could attend his funeral in Fort Madison.
By Wednesday, the statehouse returned to its usual fast pace, with a full week’s worth of work condensed into just two days tackling big issues including PBM reform, pesticide immunity, and the Governor’s school cell phone ban bill.
Remembering Representative Martin Graber
Representative Martin Graber passed away unexpectedly last Friday at age 72 from a heart attack. Serving his third term in the Iowa House representing District 100, he was a retired brigadier general after 32 years in the Iowa National Guard. A dedicated financial advisor, active church member and pillar of his community, he is remembered for his kindness and generosity. His absence will be deeply felt at the Capitol as the session continues.
Casino Moratorium Dead in the Senate – Cedar Rapids Casino Approved
The Casino Moratorium debate dominated the session until now. Proponents were optimistic about its chances – until this week. On Tuesday, Senate President Pro-Tempore and State Government Committee Chair Ken Rozenboom made a surprise announcement: he will not advance HF 144 to the full committee this session. This marked a major victory for Cedar Rapids Casino supporters. Then on Thursday the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted 4-1 to approve the gambling license for the proposed Cedar Rapids casino. However, there is a pending lawsuit over the Cedar Rapids referendum vote approving the casino in 2021 based on the ballot language which has yet to be ruled on in district court.
Looking Ahead
With the Casino moratorium in the rearview mirror, legislators are expected to start buckling down on their next major agenda item, to finalize K-12 education funding, while moving their priority bills through the subcommittee and full committee processes. The First Funnel deadline is just four weeks away, yet hundreds of bills still await introduction and committee approval before the March 7th cutoff. If you dare to keep up with the high volume of subcommittee and committee hearings, click here to view the daily hearing schedule and virtual access information.