IA Governor Newsroom

Governor Reynolds Condemns Iowa City Shooting, Offers State Resources

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement on April 19, 2026, following an overnight shooting in Iowa City. The Governor expressed condolences to victims and families, stating that the Department of Public Safety has contacted Iowa City Police to offer investigative support. The Governor also spoke with University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson and Board of Regents Chair Robert Cramer to assure them of available state resources.

Governor Reynolds Signs 20 Bills Into Law Covering Rulemaking, Trade, Controlled Substances, and Various Regulatory Matters

Governor Kim Reynolds signed 20 bills into law on April 16, 2026. Key legislation includes SF 2463 concerning executive branch rulemaking and regulatory readoption of rules, SF 2411 establishing an Iowa-Ireland trade commission, and HF 2202 modifying controlled substances schedules and precursor substance reporting requirements with applicable penalties. The batch also includes bills on local ID restrictions, fraudulent credentials, health insurance referrals, emergency planning for electric transmission lines, and certified medication aides.

Lt. Governor Cournoyer Announces $500 NLGA STEM Scholarship Funding for Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta

Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer announced that Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta school received $500 from the 2026 NLGA Lt. Governors STEM Scholarship Program. The school will use the funding for a hands-on engineering and coding project involving robotics kits and microcontrollers for approximately 80 students to design and construct a miniature golf course. NLGA awarded 12 schools in 12 states and territories with amounts ranging from $500 to $1,000 out of 135 applications received from schools in 27 states and territories.

Disaster Proclamation for Buchanan, Clay, Henry, Palo Alto, and Plymouth Counties

Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Buchanan, Clay, Henry, Palo Alto, and Plymouth Counties effective April 15, 2026, in response to severe weather occurring April 13, 2026 and continuing. The proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program (up to $7,000 for households at or below 200% federal poverty level) and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for affected residents. The proclamation remains in effect for 30 days unless terminated or extended.

Wapello County Disaster Proclamation Issued April 6

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Wapello County effective April 6, 2026, in response to severe weather occurring April 2, 2026. The proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program (up to $7,000 for households at or below 200% federal poverty level) and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program. State resources are authorized for response and recovery operations. The proclamation remains in effect for 30 days unless terminated or extended.

Governor Reynolds Signs Child Care Assistance Bill HF 2514 Into Law

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 2514 into law on April 9, 2026, making children of child care workers eligible for the state Child Care Assistance Program. The legislation aims to help child care centers recruit and retain early childhood educators by providing affordable child care options for their staff with young children. The Governor signed the bill at Stepping Stones Child Development Center in Slater, Iowa. Additional bills signed include measures on natural resources, life insurance, human remains disposition, public defender representation models, peer-to-peer car sharing, insurance fraud investigations, and criminal procedure.

Gov. Reynolds Signs Senate File 2096 Foster Care Training Reform

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2096, reforming foster care training from an hours-based to a competency-based model. The law reduces barriers for qualified caregivers such as teachers and nurses, recognizes prior professional experience, and allows training customization. Iowa also joined ACF's 'A Home for Every Child' initiative as the 9th state, aligning with President Trump's Executive Order 'Fostering the Future'.

Public Schedule Week of April 13 Through April 19, 2026

The Office of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds released the public schedule for the week of April 13 through April 19, 2026. The schedule includes three public events: a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Crawford County YMCA on Monday, a proclamation signing for Iowa Religious Freedom Day at the State Capitol on Tuesday, and attendance at the 2026 Global Insurance Symposium at the Iowa Events Center on Wednesday. This is an informational release of the Governor's public schedule and does not create any regulatory obligations.