The 2017 session of the Iowa Legislature adjourned this past Saturday morning with a last-ditch effort to expand access to medical cannabis oil. The Editorial Board would like to reflect on this past year’s session and highlight what lawmakers will need to address next year.

The GOP had majorities in both the House and the Senate and controlled the governorship. This is a first for Iowa since 1998. The Legislature’s list of accomplishments includes several bills focused on Iowa workers. Earlier in the session, lawmakers limited collective bargaining for public employees and banned individual counties from implementing a higher minimum wage.

Republicans also limited abortions in Iowa after 20 weeks while cutting public funding to clinics like Planned Parenthood and others that offer abortion services. It is important to note that public funds were not allowed to be used to perform abortions even prior to this bill.

Public schools in Iowa had quite the fight to secure state funding this past session. K-12 schools received an increase of 1.1 percent, while the state’s three universities saw millions in funding reductions. Because of the lack of funding from the state, it is expected that tuition will increase next year for Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa.  

With the governor’s expected signature, Iowans will also have a new “stand your ground” law and will be able to purchase and use fireworks in the state.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate received the needed support to implement a new voter ID law that requires one of five acceptable types of identification before casting a ballot. The bill also restricts several forms of early voting.

All of these new laws and several more not included above were wrapped up in the drama of a large budget shortfall due to reduced state revenue. Democrats have tied this shortfall to the Republicans, pointing to massive tax cuts in previous sessions.

This legislative session didn’t, however, help fund a long-term strategy to improve Iowa’s water and agricultural lands. Instead, Republicans in the House and Senate cut funding for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State.

It was clear that this was a Republican-dominated session. Liberal Iowans took a hit this session and will have to wait until 2018 to offer new candidates and attempt to win a majority in either the House or Senate. On top of that, Democrats will have to present a strong challenger to Kim Reynolds, who will take over the responsibilities of the governor’s office once Gov. Terry Branstad is approved by the U.S. Senate as ambassador to China.

Our advice to the people of Iowa is communicate. Stay informed about the coming changes and talk about your thoughts and opinions with friends and neighbors. Then, talk with your state senators and representatives, reminding them that they work for you.