Since the beginning of the 89th Iowa General Assembly, different COVID-19 precautions have been agreed upon by Iowa lawmakers in the House and Senate.

District 24 Senator Jesse Green tells Raccoon Valley Radio all communication with his office staff has been mostly via text or phone calls, as their clerks are located in a separate room from him. He points out there is no mask mandate in the Senate, however some senators do wear a mask when in the senate chamber, including all of the Democrats and about one-quarter of Republicans. Green shares whether or not he wears a mask while in the Capitol building.

“I do not. I don’t feel personally convicted with that. There’s so much room to be alone and be by yourself that I just don’t feel the need to do so. But when I go out in public, and go out to eat, and stuff I always have a mask with me and abide by the rules.”

Green explains how they conduct subcommittee meetings to further prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We hold our subcommittee meetings through Zoom. So it’s just you and another senator sitting side-by-side, and all of the lobbyist and the public can Zoom in.”

Green adds that because the House has more people in its chamber, the majority of lawmakers wear a mask and it is harder to practice social distancing.