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Lobbyists, city staff summarize major 2025 Iowa laws and issues affecting Iowa City
Summary
Deputy City Manager Chris O’Brien and lobbyist Doug Scribe briefed councilors on bills passed in the 2025 Iowa legislative session that could affect city operations, including a DEI ban, civil service changes, cancer-presumption expansions for first responders, retainage rules, and proposed property-tax and TIF reforms.
Deputy City Manager Chris O’Brien and lobbyist Doug Scribe of Carney & Appleby summarized highlights of the 2025 Iowa legislative session at the July 8 meeting, telling the City Council which measures city staff are tracking and identifying areas where the city will need to change local code.
Scribe described the session as active and noted a number of changes that affect local governments. He said a law banning DEI programs became statute and that enforcement rests with the Iowa attorney general’s office; the city is awaiting AG guidance. He also described a broad civil-service bill that increased minimum…
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