Take part
Speak up
How to comment on a bill at the Legislature or speak at a local meeting, and a place to draft what you’ll say. What you type here stays on your device.
SSB 3199
- Relating to state and local government and finances, including by making, modifying, limiting, or reducing appropriations, distributions, or transfers, authorizing expenditure of unappropriated moneys in special funds, making corrections, and providing for properly related matters including the national electrical code, local civil rights laws, political party state central committees, noxious weeds, nonresident deer hunting licenses, proprietary treatment systems, poultry associations, tax credits, alternative nicotine and vapor products, public assistance programs, judicial branch and county attorney salaries, civil litigation abuse, human trafficking, federal grants and loans notifications, quarterly payments to area education agencies, civic proficiency in higher education, charter schools under the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, school district incentives, extracurricular interscholastic eligibility, and levy increases, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions
- No subcommittee meeting is scheduled for this bill right now. Follow it to hear the moment one is posted; it’s often only a day or two ahead.
At the Legislature
- Find the bill’s subcommittee meeting on the calendar or the bill’s page. It’s often posted only a day or two ahead, so follow the bill.
- Decide your ask: support it, oppose it, or change one specific thing.
- Write it below. Lead with your name, your town and why it matters to you.
- Can’t be there? Paste it into the Legislature’s comment form, linked on each meeting. More on subcommittees.
- Going in person or on Zoom? Sign in, say you’d like to speak, and keep to about two minutes.
- Send the same note to your own legislators, even if they’re not on the subcommittee.
At a local meeting
- Find the meeting on your city, county or school district’s page. My government lists yours.
- Read the agenda: public comment is often near the start, and an item on the agenda is where your comment counts most. Sign-up rules vary: check the agenda.
- Most boards ask for your name and town, and give about three minutes.
- Can’t go? Email the members before the meeting, naming the agenda item.
- For a public hearing (a budget, rezoning or bond), you can also send written comments for the record.
Draft what you’ll say
Fill in what you like; the drafts update as you type. Nothing here is saved or sent anywhere: copy it when you’re done.