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Legislature Bills Calendar Legislators Committees This session New laws Revenue and spending State budget Tax credits Economic development Federal money Executive orders What bills cost Lobbying Districts & maps

Local Find your county, city or school Property & sales taxes Tax calculator City levy limits Local debt New audits Schools statewide State money to local governments State aid by county Federal money by county How local government works Property tax and local money

Elections Results Your next ballot Sample ballot Turnout Local ballot measures Offices Campaign money Constitutional amendments

Learn Start here Take the tour Speak up Local governments Local money The Legislature Elections Glossary Bill-to-law game Quiz State agencies

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Start here Local governments Property tax & local money The Legislature Bills & amendments On the floor The funnel The budget Elections Money & lobbying Taking part Code & costs Glossary How Iowa Funnel works Bill-to-law game Quiz State agencies

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Ten questions from Bills & amendments. Each answer says why. Your answers stay in your browser.

Mixed Your local governments Property tax and local money The Legislature Bills & amendments On the floor The funnel The budget Elections Money & lobbying Taking part Code & costs

1. On Iowa Funnel, what does “Carried over” mean?Still alive after the first session; it can move again next yearPassed and became lawMoved to another committee

A bill still alive after the first session of a General Assembly carries over to the second.

2. What is a strike-everything amendment?One that kills the billOne that replaces the whole bill after the enacting clauseOne that fixes typos

It replaces the whole bill. It often carries a deal worked out behind the scenes, and it’s the change to watch.

3. A bill’s explanation, at the end of its text, describes…The bill as introducedThe bill with every later amendmentWhat the Governor thinks of it

The explanation is a plain summary by nonpartisan staff. It describes the bill as introduced, not later amendments.

4. How often are voters asked whether to call a constitutional convention?Every ten yearsEvery electionNever

Every ten years voters are asked whether to call a constitutional convention. The next time is 2030.

5. Does a joint resolution (HJR or SJR) go to the Governor?Yes, like any billNo

Joint resolutions are mostly used to propose amendments to the Iowa Constitution, and they don’t go to the Governor.

6. What are companion bills?The same bill filed in both chambersBills by the same sponsorA bill and its fiscal note

The same bill is often filed in both chambers at once. When one passes, the other chamber can substitute it for its own.

7. Which chamber filed amendment H-8001?The HouseThe SenateA conference committee

Amendments are numbered by chamber: H-8001 is a House amendment, S-5212 a Senate one.

8. How is Iowa’s Constitution amended?The Governor signs a joint resolutionTwo General Assemblies in a row pass it, then voters approve itA two-thirds vote of one Assembly

A joint resolution has to pass two consecutive General Assemblies and then win a statewide vote. The Governor isn’t involved.

9. What does HF stand for?House File: a bill that started in the HouseHearing FileHouse Finance committee

HF and SF are House Files and Senate Files, bills named for the chamber they started in. They need both chambers and the Governor.

10. What is an SSB?A bill that already passed the SenateA Senate Study Bill: a committee’s draft before it gets a bill numberA special session bill

Study bills are drafts a committee is considering. If the committee approves one, it becomes a numbered Senate File.

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