The following is a legislative update from Republican State Senator Doug Campbell of Mason City, representing portions of Worth, Mitchell, Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties in Iowa Senate District 30:
May 2nd was the official last scheduled day of the legislative session, but we’re not quite done yet. The Senate will be back soon for more debate. We still have a number of bills waiting for floor action—including one of the most important issues of the session: eminent domain reform.
I want to personally thank the many Iowans who’ve reached out to share your stories and concerns. I hear you—and I’m honored to be one of twelve Iowa GOP senators who signed a pledge to force a vote on eminent domain before we approve any final budget.
The twelve of us are standing up for your property rights:
Sen. Mike Pike, Sen. Mark Lofgren, Sen. Dennis Guth, Sen. Lynn Evans, Sen. Rocky De Witt, Sen. Kevin Alons, Sen. Dave Sires, Sen. Cherielynn Westrich, Sen. Jeff Taylor, Sen. Sandy Salmon, Sen. Dave Rowley, and me, Sen. Doug Campbell.
Helping Students with Seizures
House File 835 passed the Senate this week to support students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. It requires every school to have at least one staff member trained to administer seizure rescue medication when needed.
This bill is a practical, compassionate step forward that will give families peace of mind and help schools keep kids safe during emergencies.
Creating a Business Court for Iowa
We also passed Senate File 639, establishing a business court to handle complex commercial cases. As more businesses move to Iowa from high-tax, over-regulated states, we want to make sure they find not just opportunity here—but stability and fairness.
This court will encourage investment, support economic growth, and ensure Iowa remains a top destination for business development.
Long-Overdue PBM Reform
Senate File 383 passed this week with strong support, marking a big step toward transparency and fairness in pharmacy benefit management (PBM).
This bill:
Prohibits PBMs from restricting which pharmacies patients can use
Ends mandatory mail-order-only pharmacy use
Requires 100% of drug rebates to go toward reducing insurance premiums
Creates a clearer reimbursement system for rural and independent pharmacies
Establishes a better appeals process for pharmacists
These changes matter, especially in small towns where the local pharmacy is often a lifeline. SF 383 brings Iowa in line with dozens of other states that are protecting patients and communities from unfair PBM practices.
A Responsible Budget Deal
This week, we also announced a budget agreement with Governor Reynolds totaling $9.417 billion—a 5.25% increase from last year.
The budget includes:
$240 million increase in education funding
Funding for Medicaid needs
Support for law enforcement, corrections, and state institutions
It’s a strong, sustainable plan that continues our commitment to conservative budgeting. Republicans delivered historic tax relief—including the 3.8% flat tax—and we’re sticking to our principle that one-time funds mean one-time spending.
We’re making strategic investments while keeping our promises to taxpayers—and that’s exactly how Iowa stays on track for long-term success.
What’s Next
The Senate returns next week. I’ll keep pushing to bring the eminent domain bill to the floor and fight for the landowner protections you deserve. We’ve made good progress this session, but there’s still more to do—and I’m not leaving until it’s done.
Thanks again for the honor of representing you. I’ll keep you updated as we finish strong.
