With the 89th Iowa General Assembly officially wrapped up, one lawmaker says technology played an important role during the legislative session.

State Senator for District 10 Jake Chapman says using technology to help communicate with other lawmakers during the session has never been previously used as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I think everyone has been very pleased with how we have conducted this legislative session and I think we have actually brought a whole new level of transparency, frankly, to the legislative session. People that couldn’t have come down for subcommittee hearings in the past now were able to do it remotely through Zoom. I think we actually had a much wider and more diverse participation in the committee process.”

Chapman tells Raccoon Valley Radio coming into the session lawmakers knew the session would need to run differently due to the pandemic, but Chapman says it didn’t change how lawmakers conducted business. 

“It didn’t change the priorities and it didn’t change our approach to being big and bold when it comes to the policy changes we needed this legislative session.”

Chapman was pleased with those positive aspects that came about due to the COVID-19 pandemic.