The Iowa Legislative session will resume tomorrow, after adjourning in mid-March due to COVID-19.

As lawmakers return to the state capitol, there will be some changes to how discussions and debates will be handled. District 47 Representative Phil Thompson says most of the sub-committee and committee discussions and decisions will be made on the House floor and live streamed on the legislative website as a way to be transparent but limit the amount of people entering the building for social distancing purposes.

When lawmakers return, Thompson notes there will be an abbreviated funnel week for policy bills, with the majority of the time spent on setting up the state’s budget. He describes how the interim period has been for him to do legislative work.

“It’s been challenging for sure. You can only have one conversation at a time. You know who you’re friends are, you know who’s standing with you on any given issue. Just being reasonable about what kind of policy we can get across the finish line on a short timeline and what maybe is too controversial to take up. But we’ve still got a job to do.” 

Thompson welcomes all concerns, questions or comments to be made via email at phil.thompson@legis.iowa.gov or calling 515-329-0266.