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: It fails. Passing takes a constitutional majority: 51 of all 100 members, however many are there.

The end: it didn’t become law

Failed on the floor

It fell short of 51. That’s why leaders rarely bring up a bill without the votes to pass it, and so few bills fail on the floor.

Your bill so far (7 choices)

You have an idea: A rule: new school buses must have stop-arm cameras. A policy bill. It will face both funnel deadlines.
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?: Ask the Majority Leader to sponsor it. The Majority Leader agrees. Bills sponsored by a majority or minority leader are exempt from the funnel.
Which committee?: Ways and Means. The Speaker sends it to Education instead: a school rule goes to the committee for its subject. 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: Call the vote: 48 is a majority of the 95 here. It fails. Passing takes a constitutional majority: 51 of all 100 members, however many are there.