From the Desk of Senator Bennett

Greetings Friends and Neighbors!

It’s been a whirlwind of a week. The first week of legislative session is often like those first days of school: catching up with friends, talking about what we did over the summer, and sharing the things we’re excited about for the upcoming year.

As many of you know, over the past year, I’ve undertaken a deep dive into cybersecurity, privacy, and AI (machine learning) regulation. To some, these may seem like obscure topics, yet they already impact all of us whether we know it or not. I’m returning to session continuing in my role as Ranking Member of the Senate Technology committee, and I’m dedicated to using my influence to ensure that technology serves regular Iowans. Luckily, this committee is often able to produce bipartisan legislation. Stay tuned!

There’s a lot to be concerned about right now, particularly with last week’s shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, and the Trump administration’s escalation towards fascism shown by the threat to invoke the Insurrection Act. Many people are rightly scared right now. I encourage you to control what you can control by building community; get to know your neighbors, say “yes,” to invitations, and attend community meetings like Indivisible and the League of Women Voters forums. Join a book club or a gaming group. Go dance or go to a concert! If you’re like me, it can be easy to remain frozen and stay in, but everything I’ve read about resisting fascism emphasizes the importance of building community relationships.

Speaking of League of Women Voters: The First Linn County League of Women Voters legislative forum will be held this Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Hiawatha Public Library from 10-11:30am. Even if you’ve never come before, I encourage you to join. It’s a friendly environment and it’s a way to make sure you’re informed about issues in the State Capitol, and to share your feedback with legislators.

Staying in Touch During Session

We’re back! The 2026 legislative session kicked off this week in Des Moines with all sorts of pomp and circumstance, speeches and interviews, meetings and events, and even the start of committee work. Over the next few months, I’ll be working hard to ensure our district is well represented at the Capitol.

Every week during session, I’ll use this newsletter to talk about what’s happening in the Legislature, the issues and legislation moving through the Senate, Senate Democrats’ priorities, and more. You’ll see me talk often about affordability and lowering costs for working families because I believe the Legislature’s priorities are in dire need of a reset, away from the special interests and exceedingly wealthy and back toward the everyday Iowans who make our state run.

I’m so proud to represent our shared community, and I want you to know that you can always reach out to me with any questions, comments, concerns, or just to say, “Hey!” So, in addition to staying in touch through this weekly newsletter, you can reach me at [email protected] or on social media at the links below.

There will also be plenty of information available through our website, so be sure to check that out when you can!

Thank you for your continued support!

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The Condition of the State

On Tuesday night, Gov. Kim Reynolds gave her annual Condition of the State address to a joint session of the Iowa Legislature. As you know, the governor has decided not to run for re-election, so this was the second-to-last time she will brief the Legislature on the condition of the state.

The governor used her speech to highlight some of her “accomplishments,” introduce some final legislative proposals, and to memorialize some Iowans who are no longer with us. If you are so inclined, you can read the full text of the governor’s speech on her website. I’ll just leave you with a few quick thoughts.

As has been the case for each previous iteration of this speech, the governor has presented an awfully generous, rose-tinted version of her tenure in office.

She spoke about needing a government that will live within its means but neglected to mention the $1.26 billion budget deficit Republican lawmakers passed with her approval in 2025 – or that she plans to run another this year.
She proudly announced federal funding that will be directed to cancer prevention but failed to mention that it was a drop in the bucket compared to what the federal government had been providing to Iowa but cut under President Donald Trump.
She talked about nutrition, healthcare, and new requirements for Iowa doctors, but didn’t introduce anything that would help improve Iowa’s patient-to-physician ratio which currently ranks 44^th in the country and is a full 30% below the national average.
She referenced Summer EBT as a way to provide a nutrition first focus and a “new era of accountability and health,” but conveniently left out the fact that Iowa will only be back in the Summer EBT program next summer after she withdrew us from the program the previous two years.
She talked about education, referencing carefully selected statistics to demonstrate growth, but left out how far our per pupil funding has fallen under her watch, how much money is being diverted to unaccountable private schools, or how, for the better part of a decade, her administration has asked public schools to do more with less – despite educating over 90% of Iowa’s students.

The reality is that single-party control has led Iowa down the wrong path. Iowans aren’t better off than they were a decade ago. A recent report ranks Iowa dead last in economic growth. We rank 48^th in the country for personal income growth. Moody’s has said that Iowa is in or near a recession. We are the seventh most outbound state in the country – meaning folks are leaving the state for better opportunities elsewhere. The status quo isn’t working for working Iowans.

The condition of our state is deteriorating and it’s time for a change.

Quick Updates

Hunting, fishing licenses on sale: Iowans now can buy 2026 resident hunting, fishing, and other licenses. Licenses purchased for 2025 expired on Jan. 10. License options include the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $62; and the Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101. Licenses are available at 650 locations across the state, and online at www.iowadnr.gov/GoOutdoorsIowa.

Enjoy Winter Getaway in a State Park: Winter can be an excellent time to view wildlife, especially in a cabin at one of Iowa’s great state parks! Get 20% off your stay with promo code Cabin2026 when you book now for the months of January or February 2026. Enjoy the pristine beauty and outdoor fun of winter in an Iowa state park!

Recreation Mini-Grants Available: The Iowa Foundation for Parks & Recreation is accepting applications for mini grants, which provide funding to support leisure facilities, activities, events, and programs that enhance recreational opportunities and amenities for citizens in small Iowa communities (those less than 10,000 in population). Applications are due January 31, 2026.

Anxiety disorders affect approximately one in four adolescents and one in twelve children, making them among the most prevalent mental health conditions in children. The University of Iowa’s Scanlan Center for School Mental Health will host a webinar for anyone seeking to learn more about anxiety disorders, common symptoms in youth, and evidence-based strategies for supporting students in both school and home settings. The session will also introduce Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). This online event is free and open to the public. It will be held on Monday, February 9, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. Register for the “Supporting Anxious Students” webinar.

Student Member for State Education Board: Applications are being accepted for the 2025-26 student member of the Iowa State Board of Education. The term of the student member starts May 1, 2025, and ends April 30, 2026. The State Board meets 12 times during that term, with most meetings taking place in the Grimes State Office Building in Des Moines. The deadline for submitting an application is Feb. 28, 2025 and can be found at Membership on the State Board of Education.

Entrepreneurial Investment Award (EIA) grants awarded to new startup initiatives:

The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, Inc. (NewBoCo) in Cedar Rapids delivers entrepreneurial education, assistance and programming to help Iowans start and grow companies. The organization plans to lead the development of the Iowa Aviation Technology Center, aligning with a statewide effort to strengthen Iowa’s aviation sector. Through a two-phase approach of program and stakeholder coordination and the launch of training and startup programming, NewBoCo will work to establish Iowa as a competitive hub for aviation technology and talent. The project was awarded a $200,000 grant for two years to support program staff, events and administration.

Contact Senator Liz Bennett at [email protected] or follow her on social media.
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