Iowa Senate approves House File 2694 after debate over continuing-appropriations language criticized as a 'power grab'

The Iowa Senate on April 29, 2026 passed House File 2694 after adopting two amendments that rework emergency-powers and public-health language and add a continuing-appropriations mechanism to keep prior-year appropriations in place if the General Assembly passes and presents a budget that is not subsequently enacted.

Senator Rosenboom (Senator from Marion) opened debate on Senate amendment 51-23, explaining it would “continue appropriations from the immediately preceding fiscal year into a fiscal year for which a budget bill is not enacted,” and noted an amendment to that amendment had been filed. Senator Evans (Senator from Cherokee) described amendment 52-34 as a narrowing change that would make the continuing appropriations apply only if the legislature has passed and presented a budget to the governor but the budget has not been enacted, saying the change "protects taxpayers" while preserving the General Assembly’s obligation to pass a budget.

Critics said the provision does more than safeguard operations. Senator Blake (Senator from Polk) called the continuing-appropriations language "a blatant power grab" designed to insulate the legislative majority from negotiation with the governor and urged colleagues to reject the change as subverting the democratic process. Senator Donahue (Senator from Lehi) likewise said the amendment "ties the hands of a potential new governor" and described it as a preemptive obstruction. Senator Weiner (Senator from Johnson) argued the change would encourage the majority to refuse to negotiate in divided government, a departure from long-standing practice.

Senator Rosenboom framed the measure in broader terms, saying the bill addresses emergency powers and pandemic-era concerns and arguing the amendment would prevent disruptions like federal shutdowns by keeping essential spending in place. Rosenboom described the bill’s public-health correction (Senate amendment 52-30) as a drafting fix aligning Iowa Code section 135.144 so the Department of Health and Human Services "may recommend, but not order, vaccination in a public health disaster" and so isolation or quarantine authority applies to infected persons rather than to those merely unwilling to be vaccinated.

On the amendment to the amendment, the Senate adopted amendment 52-34 by voice vote after debate. Following further debate and a roll-call request, the Senate recorded a roll-call vote on adoption of Senate amendment 51-23: 27 ayes, 18 nays; the amendment was declared adopted. Later, the Senate adopted Senate amendment 52-30 (the drafting correction) by voice vote.

On final passage of House File 2694 as amended, the secretary recorded a roll-call vote: 30 ayes, 15 nays. Named votes recorded in the transcript included Senator Webster (aye), Senator Costello (aye), Senator Knox (nay), Senator Bennett (nay), Senator Dawson (aye) and Senator Whitver (aye). After passage, the Senate granted unanimous consent to immediately message House File 2694 to the House.

The bill’s supporters said the continuing-appropriations mechanism protects taxpayers and the continuity of essential government services if negotiation between branches fails to produce an enacted budget by the constitutional deadline. Opponents said the change would shift bargaining leverage to the legislative majority and constrain the executive branch, especially if the next governor is of a different political party.

The Senate adjourned and reconvened the next day as scheduled; the bill was messaged to the House for any further action there.