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.
- The idea
- Committee
- The floor
- The Senate
- The Governor
What happened: Each speaks for two minutes. The subcommittee recommends passing it.
Decision 9
The full committee and the first funnel
The first funnel is a week away, though your bill is exempt from it. You count the committee’s votes and you’re one short.
- Accept a committee amendment to win a vote: cameras only on buses bought from 2028
- Hold out for the original and try again later
Learn more: The funnel
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: Write it yourself and file it. Not how it works: the Legislative Services Agency drafts every bill and amendment. Try again.
- 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.