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Iowa City council rejects draft 2026 legislative priorities, asks staff to redraft
Summary
Councilors proposed removing kratom, adding explicit protections for gender identity and immigration-related advocacy, and asking the city not be penalized for growth in property‑tax proposals; the council voted to defeat the draft and requested a rewritten version for Jan. 6, 2026.
On Dec. 9 the Iowa City Council declined to adopt its draft 2026 state legislative priorities and instructed staff to prepare a new version that reflects council direction on civil‑rights and tax concerns.
Kirk (city staff) reviewed the draft priorities and described how the document guides discussions with the city's state delegation and coalition partners. Councilors proposed several substantive edits during deliberations: removing a kratom item, adding language to restore or protect civil‑rights categories including gender identity, explicitly advocating against policies that penalize cities for successful growth in property‑tax changes, and identifying immigration‑related protections or opposition to state measures perceived to erode rights.
City Attorney recommended the council vote to defeat the current draft and return with a revised, consolidated version, rather than attempting substantial wordsmithing at the meeting. "I would suggest the council just defeat this tonight, and then we come back with a brand new," the attorney said. Council followed that advice and the motion to adopt the presented draft failed on roll call.
Councilors asked staff to return a revised priorities document at the Jan. 6 organizational meeting that reflects the items discussed, including strengthened civil‑rights language, reconsideration of kratom as a priority, and a possible addition about state funding to backfill federal cuts for supportive housing programs. Kirk confirmed staff will prepare a redrafted resolution and bring it back for council consideration in early January.
The action leaves the city without a formally adopted priorities slate for the legislature starting in January, but staff said they will continue outreach to the delegation and other partners as issues arise during session and will present an amended priorities list at the next meeting.
