The legislative process in Iowa begins with the drafting of bills, primarily handled by the Legislative Services Agency. Once introduced in either the House or Senate, bills are referred to relevant committees for review, amendment, and voting. Subcommittees within these committees may focus on specific aspects of the bill. If the bill passes committee review, it moves to the floor for debate and voting by the full House or Senate. In cases where the House and Senate versions of a bill differ, a conference committee is formed to resolve these differences and create a final version. The governor then has the authority to sign the bill into law or veto it, with the legislature having the option to override the veto. Once signed, the law's effective date is determined, marking its implementation.

What is the funnel process?

The funnel process in the Iowa legislative system is designed to manage the flow of bills through the legislature, ensuring that only those with sufficient support and relevance progress. This process occurs during specific weeks in the legislative session, typically around the 8th and 12th weeks, known as funnel weeks. During these weeks, bills must meet certain criteria to advance. By the end of the first funnel week, bills must have passed out of their committee of origin in either the House or Senate to remain eligible for consideration. By the end of the second funnel week, bills must have passed out of a committee in the opposite chamber to continue moving forward. Exceptions to these deadlines include bills related to appropriations, taxes, and other financial matters, as well as bills sponsored by legislative leaders. The funnel process helps streamline the legislative workload, focusing attention on bills with the most support and likelihood of passage, thereby ensuring efficient use of time and resources.