Chapter 7
The Governor and state agencies
The Legislature writes the laws; the Governor and the state agencies carry them out. Here’s what the Governor can and can’t do, and how the agencies work.
What the Governor does
Signs or vetoes bills
Every bill that passes both chambers goes to the Governor, who can sign it, veto it or, on spending bills, strike single items.
Proposes the budget
Each January, in the Condition of the State speech. Lawmakers start from it but write their own.
Runs the executive branch
Appoints the heads of most state agencies and hundreds of board and commission members, and directs them through executive orders.
Responds to disasters
Proclaims disaster emergencies, which unlock state help, and commands the Iowa National Guard when it isn’t in federal service.
Calls special sessions
Can bring the Legislature back between sessions, as on October 2, 2026, for a one-day session on economic development tax credits.
Grants clemency
Can pardon people, commute sentences and restore the voting rights of people with felony convictions after their sentence.1
What the Governor can’t do: write or change a law alone, spend money the Legislature hasn’t appropriated, or overrule a court. Those belong to the other two branches.
The other statewide officials
Iowans elect seven officials statewide, all for four-year terms in the years between presidential elections (2026, 2030). Each runs their own office, and they don’t have to be of the same party as the Governor.
See who holds each office and when it’s next on the ballot.
Signing and vetoing bills
- During session: 3 daysSundays don’t count. If the Governor does nothing, the bill becomes law without a signature.
- End of session: 30 daysFor bills received in the last three days of session or after it ends. Doing nothing is a veto (a pocket veto).
- Item vetoOn spending bills only, the Governor can strike single items and sign the rest.
- OverrideTwo-thirds of each chamber, 67 in the House and 34 in the Senate, can pass a bill over a veto.
These rules are in the Iowa Constitution.2 The Governor’s desk shows the bills waiting, each one’s deadline, and what was signed or vetoed; new laws lists when each takes effect.
Executive orders and proclamations
Executive orders
Directions to the executive branch: creating a task force, setting a hiring policy, or ordering every agency to review its rules, as a 2023 order did. An order can’t change a law or spend money the law doesn’t allow, and a later Governor can undo it. Read every order.
Disaster proclamations
After a flood, tornado or drought, the Governor can proclaim a disaster emergency for the counties hit. It lasts 30 days unless the Governor extends it, and the Legislature (or its council between sessions) can end it.3 It opens state aid to households and local governments and some emergency money. See the proclamations.
Other proclamations
Most proclamations simply mark a day or week, like a month of awareness for a cause. They don’t have the force of law.
Appointments and the Senate
The Governor appoints the directors of most state agencies and members of boards and commissions, from the Board of Regents to licensing boards. Many need Senate confirmation, which takes two-thirds of all senators, 34 of 50, so the minority party often has a say.4
Judges are different: the Governor picks from a short list sent by a nominating commission. The Courts chapter explains how.
State agencies
Agencies do the state’s daily work: the Department of Transportation plows highways and issues driver’s licenses, Health and Human Services runs Medicaid and child welfare, Revenue collects taxes, Natural Resources runs state parks and permits, and so on.
A 2023 law reorganized them, cutting the number of cabinet-level agencies reporting to the Governor from 37 to 16 by merging offices into larger departments.5 Some offices still answer to someone else: the Board of Regents runs the universities, and each elected official runs their own office.
Each agency’s money comes through the appropriations bills, and many also run on federal grants and fees. Agencies also ask lawmakers for bills; see agency proposals.
Administrative rules
Laws often leave the details to agencies, which write administrative rules that carry the force of law. They’re collected in the Iowa Administrative Code.
- An agency publishes a proposed rule in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin and must give the public at least 20 days to comment in writing. If 25 people ask, it has to hold a hearing.6
- The Administrative Rules Review Committee, five senators and five representatives, can object to a rule or delay it until the Legislature has a chance to act.7
- The Governor’s office reviews rules too, and the Legislature can undo a rule by passing a bill or a joint resolution.
Commenting on a proposed rule is one of the most direct ways to shape how a law works in practice.
Following an agency
Each agency page shows what the agency does, its budget over the years, what it asked lawmakers for, and the bills that would change the laws it runs. The state checkbook shows what each agency actually paid, and to whom.
Reaching the Governor or an agency
The Governor’s office takes messages through its website and phone line, and so does every agency. Say what you want done and give a bill number, rule or case number if you have one. For a problem with a state service, start with the agency itself; if that doesn’t work, your own legislators can often help. The open government chapter has more on who to contact for what.
On Iowa Funnel
- Governor’s desk · bills waiting, signed and vetoed
- Executive orders · every order, in full
- Proclamations · disaster declarations and others
- State agencies · what each one does, spends and asks for
- State checkbook · what agencies paid, and to whom
- New laws · signed bills and when they take effect
Check yourself
Pick an answer to see how you did. Nothing is saved.
1. During session, how long does the Governor have to act on a bill?
Three days, not counting Sundays
Right. During session it’s three days, Sundays excepted; if the Governor does nothing, the bill becomes law without a signature.
Thirty days, every time
Not quite. During session it’s three days, Sundays excepted; if the Governor does nothing, the bill becomes law without a signature.
Ten days
Not quite. During session it’s three days, Sundays excepted; if the Governor does nothing, the bill becomes law without a signature.
2. A bill reaches the Governor after the session ends, and the Governor does nothing for 30 days. What happens?
It’s vetoed (a pocket veto)
Right. For bills received in the last three days of session or after it, the Governor has 30 days, and doing nothing counts as a veto.
It goes back to the Legislature
Not quite. For bills received in the last three days of session or after it, the Governor has 30 days, and doing nothing counts as a veto.
It becomes law anyway
Not quite. For bills received in the last three days of session or after it, the Governor has 30 days, and doing nothing counts as a veto.
3. Which bills can the Governor item veto?
Spending (appropriations) bills
Right. On spending bills only, the Governor can strike single items and sign the rest.
Only constitutional amendments
Not quite. On spending bills only, the Governor can strike single items and sign the rest.
Any bill at all
Not quite. On spending bills only, the Governor can strike single items and sign the rest.
4. Can an executive order change a state law?
Yes, for one year
Not quite. Executive orders direct agencies; they can’t change a law or spend money the law doesn’t allow, and a later Governor can undo them.
No, it directs the executive branch
Right. Executive orders direct agencies; they can’t change a law or spend money the law doesn’t allow, and a later Governor can undo them.
Yes, as long as the Senate agrees to it
Not quite. Executive orders direct agencies; they can’t change a law or spend money the law doesn’t allow, and a later Governor can undo them.
5. How long does a disaster proclamation last unless it’s extended?
One week
Not quite. It lasts 30 days unless the Governor extends it, and the Legislature or its council can end it (Iowa Code §29C.6).
30 days
Right. It lasts 30 days unless the Governor extends it, and the Legislature or its council can end it (Iowa Code §29C.6).
Until the next election
Not quite. It lasts 30 days unless the Governor extends it, and the Legislature or its council can end it (Iowa Code §29C.6).
6. What does Senate confirmation of a Governor’s appointee take?
Two-thirds, 34 of 50 senators
Right. Confirmation takes two-thirds of all senators, 34 of 50, so the minority party often has a say (Iowa Code §2.32).
A simple majority, 26 votes
Not quite. Confirmation takes two-thirds of all senators, 34 of 50, so the minority party often has a say (Iowa Code §2.32).
No vote at all
Not quite. Confirmation takes two-thirds of all senators, 34 of 50, so the minority party often has a say (Iowa Code §2.32).
7. How does the Governor choose a judge?
By statewide election
Not quite. The Governor must pick from the nominees a judicial nominating commission sends.
From a nominating commission’s short list
Right. The Governor must pick from the nominees a judicial nominating commission sends.
From anyone who holds an Iowa law license
Not quite. The Governor must pick from the nominees a judicial nominating commission sends.
8. What did a 2023 law do to state agencies?
Moved them under the Legislature
Not quite. The 2023 realignment cut the cabinet-level agencies reporting to the Governor from 37 to 16.
Doubled them to 74
Not quite. The 2023 realignment cut the cabinet-level agencies reporting to the Governor from 37 to 16.
Merged them, from 37 cabinet-level agencies to 16
Right. The 2023 realignment cut the cabinet-level agencies reporting to the Governor from 37 to 16.
9. How long must an agency give the public to comment on a proposed rule?
No time at all
Not quite. An agency must allow at least 20 days of written comment, and hold a hearing if 25 people ask (Iowa Code §17A.4).
At least 20 days
Right. An agency must allow at least 20 days of written comment, and hold a hearing if 25 people ask (Iowa Code §17A.4).
Exactly one year
Not quite. An agency must allow at least 20 days of written comment, and hold a hearing if 25 people ask (Iowa Code §17A.4).
10. Which official runs Iowa’s elections and keeps business filings?
The Attorney General
Not quite. The Secretary of State is Iowa’s chief election official and keeps business filings. The Attorney General is the state’s lawyer.
The Treasurer of State
Not quite. The Secretary of State is Iowa’s chief election official and keeps business filings. The Attorney General is the state’s lawyer.
The Secretary of State
Right. The Secretary of State is Iowa’s chief election official and keeps business filings. The Attorney General is the state’s lawyer.
Next chapter
Courts and judges →How the courts are organized, how judges are chosen, and retention elections.