The Iowa Legislature dealt with everything from gun laws to fantasy sports during the 2015 legislative session. As in years past, there were winners and there were losers.  

WINNERS

Road builders: Legislators passed an increase in the gas tax for the first time since 1989. The 10 cent-a-gallon increase represents a projected $215 million in increased annual revenue. The tax went into effect March 1. 

Internet users: Gov. Branstad’s “Connect Every Acre” initiative aimed to expand high-speed Internet access. Lawmakers agreed to legislation to grant property tax breaks as a business incentive for network expansions, but dropped the governor’s proposal to fund a $5 million grant pool for providers.

School bullies: For the third consecutive year, legislators were unable to come to an agreement on a package of programs designed to address bullying in Iowa schools.

Texters: Drivers in Iowa still cannot be pulled over if an officer observes them texting and driving, but not breaking any other traffic laws. Safety advocates and law enforcement had hoped legislators would make texting and driving a primary offense.

Mental health patients: The governor has not said if he will sign the legislation, but the House and Senate agreed to have the Clarinda facility turned over to a private management firm in December, while the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute would be restored as a state-run institution.

State Fair/Tourism: In a compromise, the House and Senate set a school start date of Aug. 23. Gov. Branstad wanted a return to a traditional Sept. 1 starting date, but agreed to sign the legislation. Iowa’s tourism industry lobbied for a later start for classes, saying beginning classes in mid-August costs businesses millions of dollars annually.

LOSERS

Schools: Perhaps the most contentious item on the legislative agenda this year, Democrats and Republicans eventually agreed to a 1.25 percent across-the-board increase in aid for fiscal 2016. The budget deal also included $55.7 million in one-time surplus funds for Iowa’s 338 public schools districts. Freezing tuition at regent universities for the third consecutive year is in jeopardy after the Board of Regents’ funding requests were not met.

Minimum wage earners: The Senate passed a bill raising Iowa’s minimum wage by $1 to $8.75, but the Republicans in the House said they wanted to create better paying jobs instead. Approximately 181,000 Iowans would have been given a raise.

Speeders: Because of safety concerns, the Senate shot down a bill that would have raised the speed limit on Iowa’s rural highways from 70 mph to 75 mph.

Fireworks enthusiasts: A bill designed to make fireworks legal in Iowa blew up in legislators’ faces. Proponents pushed for legalizing the sale of retail consumer fireworks such as firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles, but opponents argued that fireworks would cause more fires and injuries, along with being a nuisance to communities.

Gun owners: A bill including provisions allowing Iowans to legally acquire gun suppressors, allowing children under the age of 14 to use handguns under adult supervision and creating a statewide database of permit holders for law enforcement didn’t make the cut.

Pain sufferers: The Senate approved a bill allowing Iowans with severe health problems to obtain medical marijuana, but the legislation died in the Republican held House. The bill would have allowed up to four producers to grow marijuana in Iowa with oversight from state officials.

Teachers: The bill addressed contract arbitration for public school teachers and other school personnel. For now, an arbitrator must choose one of the party’s final proposals. The legislation would have allowed an arbitrator to choose a different number in the middle. Arbitrators would also have been allowed to take into consideration private-sector employees’ salaries and benefits when making a decision.