89th General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

SF 2238: Requiring primary elections for the nomination of candidates for city, school district, and merged area elections, and including applicability provisions

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on May 24, 2022. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

This bill relates to nominations of candidates for elections to city, school district, and merged area offices. The bill requires candidates for such elections to be nominated by primary elections held pursuant to Code chapter (partisan nominations —— primary election). Currently such elections are nonpartisan except for special charter cities under Code chapter 420. The bill repeals other methods for the nomination of candidates, including nominations by petition and runoff elections. The bill requires political parties in school districts to hold conventions for the nomination of members to the school district central committee for the purpose of holding primary elections in school districts and merged areas. The bill applies to elections held on or after January 1, 2025.

Cost

No fiscal note

Senate subcommittee · named February 9, 2022

Sen. Jason Schultz (R) · jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Chris Cournoyer (R)
Sen. Pam Jochum (D)

Lobbying · 0 for, 4 against

Against: Iowa Association of School Boards; Please Pass the Love; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; Urban Education Network of Iowa

In plain words

February 9, 2022Filed in the Senate and sent to the State Government committee
February 9, 2022Senate subcommittee named: Schultz, Cournoyer and Jochum