The 2023 Legislative Session is quickly coming to a close.

Iowa House Representative for District 12 Ray Sorensen says that the session was scheduled to last 110 days, putting the end of session at the end of April. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that sometimes the end of session does go past that though, but that doesn’t mean that legislators get extra pay for going past the end date.

“You know, can everybody agree, the majority of people agree on what the budget is, what some of these tax policies that are going to start rolling out (are). If we can’t get on the same page within that 110 days, then obviously session goes into overtime, but that doesn’t mean we get paid overtime. So every day we go long, that ‘s on us.”

Sorensen mentions that at this time, he doesn’t foresee anything that would cause the session to go long. He adds that many of those in the chambers are looking forward to finishing the session, and going back to their regular routine.

“We’re part time legislators, so most of us, if they’re not retired, have full time jobs to get back to. Of course, there’s a lot of farmers that serve up there as well. But I look to get back into the mural painting business.”

Sorensen is the artist behind the Freedom Rocks, and does some touch-ups each year, along with looking for new places to do paintings. To date Sorensen has painted a Freedom Rock for all 99 counties in Iowa, along with a few for some different states.