Advocacy
make your voice heard in the Iowa legislature
the legislative process
Get to know the basics of how a bill becomes a law in the Iowa Legislature (this link is super helpful!):
Research the Iowa Legislature and specific Bills:
Make public comment
Speak during Senate Subcommittee Hearings over Zoom or attend House Subcommittee Hearings at the Capitol in Des Moines.
^ Click on "Senate-Subcommittee-Daily, find the bill you are looking for and click "agenda" to find the Subcommittee Zoom link
Find all legislators' emails here:
Send Emails
Directly contact legislators to inform them of your position on a bill. You can email any legislator at any time about any legislation.
Legislative Process
Familiarize yourself with the legislative process and understand where your voice can be heard by legislators
terms and Definitions
| Legislative Session: | Time when legislators pass legislation at the capitol. | |
| Chambers of the Legislature: | The House and Senate are bodies of elected legislators called chambers. Both chambers can propose bills and have subcommittee hearings. | Find your Legislators |
| Bill/ Legislation: | A law proposed by a legislator on the path to becoming a part of Iowa Code. | Bill Book |
| Standing Committee: | Group of legislators that handle bills relating to certain topics ie. education committee. | Find Committee Members |
| Subcommittee: | Three legislators from a given standing committee are assigned one bill to vote on or amend at a subcommittee hearing. | |
| Subcommittee Hearing: | Meeting of a subcommittee that is open to the public. Senate Subcommittees are held over Zoom. | Subcommittee Schedule |
How a bill becomes law
*note that a bill may be stalled or stopped at any point in this process
| Step | Name | How to participate |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bill is proposed by House or Senate | You can email legislators before or during the legislative session to suggest they propose a certain bill. Find Legislator Emails and Learn more about emailing Legislators |
| 2. | Bill is assigned to a standing committee | If you have input about the bill, email the legislators on the committee. Find committee member emails. |
| 3. | Bill is assigned a subcommittee | You can contact the three legislators in the subcommittee if you have input on the bill. |
| 4. | Subcommittee hearing is scheduled | You can attend Senate Subcommittee Hearings via Zoom and deliver a public comment. View the subcommittee schedule to see if the bill has been scheduled. If it has been, click on "agenda" to find the Zoom link. Learn more about public comment |
| 5. | Standing committee vote is scheduled | Contact the members of the standing committee the bill was assigned to give your input on the bill. Find committee member emails. |
| 6. | Full chamber debate | Email your legislators to suggest they support/oppose the bill. Find Legislator Emails |
| 7. | Message to other chamber | If a bill makes it through one chamber (Senate or House) it goes through the whole process again in the other chamber. |
| 8. | Signed by the Governor | If the bill makes it through both chambers, it is sent to the Governor to be signed into law. Contact the Governor & Email Legislators |
Emailing Legislators
If you have a question for a legislator, a position regarding legislation you want them to hear, or if you want to set up a meeting with them sending them an email is a great first step.
Find your legislators' email addressesSee which Legislators are on certain standing committees in the LegislatureEmail Tips:
- Address the legislator formally and state your name and who you represent (ie. Students in Iowa)
- State your position on the legislation you are emailing about
- Describe how the bill personally impacts you or people you know, OR use data and other evidence to prove your point
- Avoid accusations and name-calling
- Protect yourself- do not reveal personal information that you are uncomfortable sharing. You are not obligated to share any personal information.
- Do not expect a response immediately- keep sending emails until they notice
Public Comment
Public comment during subcommittee hearings is a great way to get your position heard by legislators. These hearings are open to the public and determine the fate of a bill.
How to Give Public Comment
Where:
Public comment can be given at Senate Subcommittee Hearings over Zoom, or during House Subcommittee Hearings in-person at the Capitol.
Learn about the Legislative ProcessWhen:
Subcommittees hearings take place during the legislative session and are scheduled only 12-24 hours in advance.
View the Subcommittee Schedules (click on "Senate-Subcommittee-Daily, find the bill you are looking for and click "agenda" to find the Subcommittee Zoom link)What to say:
If you have a position to deliver, write down a script in advance. The script could include:
- How the Bill impacts you personally or others like you
- Statistics or research about the impact of the bill
- Whether or not you support the bill and why
- Who you represent (ex. Youth of Iowa)Protect Yourself:
- You are not obligated to provide personal or identification information to legislators beyond your name.
- If you feel unsafe, leave the Zoom.
- Anything you say in a subcommittee can be recorded and published by news outlets without your permission.
- Attend your first Subcommittee just to observe before speaking at one
- Go with a friend or talk to someone about the experience afterwards