Iowa Senate opens with moment of silence; senators press for water action, child-welfare review and cancer prevention

The Iowa Senate opened its floor session with a moment of silence for Iowa Lakes Community College students involved in a recent bus crash and a prayer offered by Pastor James D. Moseley Jr. of New Life in Christ Church in Sioux City.

Sen. Stayed (Lynn) urged immediate action on water quality, saying the science and strategies exist and describing a legislative approach this session of advancing a series of smaller, targeted bills rather than one large comprehensive measure. "What I found is this, solutions exist. The science is there," Stayed said, arguing that incremental bills can move the state toward cleaner, safer water.

Sen. Peterson (Polk) used her floor time to press for minimum-wage legislation ahead of funnel week and to criticize recent pay increases for agency leaders under the governor’s administration. Peterson urged colleagues to "put more money in the hands" of low-paid workers and listed several department salary figures as contrast. She also warned the state faces a budget shortfall, saying it is "a budget deficit of more than $1,200,000,000." Peterson tied those fiscal concerns to her push for wage increases as a way to circulate money in the economy.

On child welfare, Peterson cited a Des Moines Register article and said there have been "more than a 100 cases of founded and confirmed abuse in Iowa's foster and adoptive systems since 2020," and described cases in which adoptions from the state system later involved exploitation. She called for stronger oversight and asked the Senate to consider investigations into the foster and adoption systems.

Sen. Weiner (Johnson) called attention to rising cancer rates in Iowa and highlighted community fundraising as part of the response, noting University of Iowa students raised "$1,695,270.32" during a recent Dance Marathon for the Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Earlier in the session, Sen. Dickey (Jefferson) announced "Iowa Motor Truck Day" at the Capitol, encouraged members to visit a breakfast and a driving simulator, and said Iowa Motor Truck will donate $500 to a senator and representative's chosen charity based on simulator scores.

Sen. Zimmer recounted attending oral arguments at the Iowa Supreme Court and urged that the legislative branch consider judicial funding so "access to due process must be accessible to all Iowans," stressing the importance of judicial resources when courts consider legislative intent.

The Senate concluded with a motion to adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the ayes prevailed; the presiding officer announced the chamber would reconvene Monday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m.

The floor remarks were largely calls for oversight, legislative attention, or committee referrals; no bills were taken up for final action during this brief session.