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: Debate is deferred. By the next day you have the votes: it needs 51 in the House.

Decision 9

An amendment from the floor

During debate, a member offers an amendment that would also change when the school year starts.

Your bill so far (8 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: Write it yourself and file it. Not how it works: the Legislative Services Agency drafts every bill and amendment. Try again.
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.
Counting votes: Ask leaders to defer it while you find three more. Debate is deferred. By the next day you have the votes: it needs 51 in the House.