For the second straight year, many of the biggest topics being discussed at the State Legislature are proposed amendments to Iowa’s constitution.

The bills range from divisive issues – such as abortion restriction, felon voting rights, and right to bear arms – to those lesser known – such as expanding victim rights and clarifying that only citizens can vote in Iowa. State Senator Jake Chapman, (R) District 10, says each of the amendments are at various stages of the legislative process, with the anti-abortion bill being farthest along, having passed through the Senate and out of a House committee. However, he points out that this session is just one step in a long process to amend the constitution.

Amendments must pass through two general assemblies, or two-year legislative cycles broken up by an election, and are then put to a statewide vote to be ratified. Of the current bills, Chapman feels some are likely to make it to the next assembly, while others face an uphill battle. “There is an urgency given the fact that this is the second year of the general assembly. If you don’t pass it this year, you’ve basically delayed the possibility of a constitutional amendment being added for three years down the road. So there is some pressure to really identify what constitutional amendments we want the people of Iowa to be voting on, but ultimately the people get to decide whether these are good amendments or not. But I do think there’s a great chance for most of these to actually get to the ballot for Iowans to vote on.”

To learn more about this and other legislative topics, click the link below to listen to the recent Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Chapman.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2020/02/24/lets-talk-dallas-county-2-24-2020-jake-chapman/