Iowa
Iowa is one of 11 states in CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. Our snapshot of Iowa includes information on the state’s three branches of government: key leaders in the executive branch, a partisan breakdown of the legislature, term limits, an overview of the judicial branch, and more.
Derek Cantù serves as CSG Midwest liaison for Iowa. Please contact Derek with any questions you have or research assistance you need.
Snapshot (as of January 2025)
Executive Branch
| Governor | Kim Reynolds |
| Lieutenant Governor | Chris Cournoyer |
| Secretary of State | Paul D. Pate |
| Attorney General | Brenna Bird |
| Treasurer | Roby Smith |
| Auditor | Rob Sand |
Legislative Branch
| Senate | House |
|---|---|
| Seats: 50 | Seats: 100 |
| Democrat: 15 | Democrat: 33 |
| Republican: 35 | Republican: 67 |
| Average Constituency Size: 63,848 | Average Constituency Size: 31,924 |
| Length of Term: Four years | Length of Term: Two years |
| Term Limit: No term limits | Term Limit: No term limit |
Judicial Branch
| Highest Court | Iowa Supreme Court |
| Chief Justice | Susan Christensen |
| Number of Justices | 7 |
| Method of Selection | Gubernatorial appointment through nominating committee |
| Method of Retention | Retention election |
Open to all, this webinar was designed for legislators, legislative staff, and other policy leaders. Participants learned about Extended Producer Responsibility laws and programs, including those in place in the Great Lakes region on both sides of the U.S-Canada border.
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A partnership of The Council of State Governments, the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference Health & Human Services Committee, and the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues, this webinar gave state legislators and other policymakers the opportunity to hear from leading experts on youth mental health and suicide prevention. This learning opportunity gave participants information on how to translate evidence-based research into tangible strategies.
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This webinar gave state leaders a clear understanding of the fundamentals of farm succession planning and practical ways to reduce barriers that hinder generational transfers—helping ensure long-term stability in local agricultural economies.
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This webinar helped state leaders understand how they can prepare for uncertainty and maintain crime-victim services even if federal funding, via the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), drops.
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Many new laws have been enacted in recent years to provide relief to property taxpayers, while some proposals seek to eliminate the property tax altogether. This webinar will explored various policy levers and practical approaches available to legislators while also providing an overview of systems in the Midwest.
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In this webinar, led by two interstate legislative groups of CSG's Midwestern Legislative Conference, participants explored a mix of school-based strategies and state policies to keep schools and students safe — a paramount concern for today's policy leaders.
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