Learn · A game

From idea to law

Steer a bill through the Iowa Legislature, one choice at a time. The rules are the real ones¹.

What happened: The deadline passes, but your bill is exempt. Two weeks later a member changes their mind and it clears committee.

Decision 7

Counting votes

Leaders put your bill on the day’s debate list. You count 48 yes votes. Five members are absent today, so 95 are in the chamber.

Your bill so far (6 choices)

You have an idea: A grant: state money to help districts buy cameras. A spending bill. Spending bills are exempt from the funnel, and the Governor can veto single items in them.
Getting it written: Ask the Legislative Services Agency to draft it. Nonpartisan staff at the Legislative Services Agency draft it and give it an LSB drafting number.
Who sponsors it?: Yours, with a few cosponsors. It’s introduced as a House File and sent to a committee.
Which committee?: Ways and Means. The Speaker sends it to Appropriations instead: spending bills go to Appropriations. Ways and Means is each chamber’s tax committee.
The subcommittee: Ask parents and a bus driver to come and speak, and others to send written comments. Each speaks for two minutes. The subcommittee recommends passing it.
The full committee and the first funnel: Hold out for the original and try again later. The deadline passes, but your bill is exempt. Two weeks later a member changes their mind and it clears committee.