A bill for an act relating to the submission of proposed legislation by the governor and state departments and agencies. (Formerly SF 2037 .) Vetoed 6-2-26.

STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
June 2, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol Building
LOCAL
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I hereby transmit Senate File 2207, an Act relating to the submission of proposed legislation by
the governor and state departments and agencies.
While I appreciate the intent of establishing earlier deadlines in the legislative drafting process,
this legislation would significantly impair the ability of the Office of the Governor to fully develop
and finalize legislative priorities ahead of each session.
While the original intent of this bill was to move up the deadline for departments and agencies of
state government to submit proposed legislation and joint resolutions to the Legislative Services
Agency from 45 days before the convening of the General Assembly to 60 days before the start of
the session, the bill was amended to also move the Governor’s Office deadline for submitting
proposed legislation from the Friday before the convening of the General Assembly to 60 days
before the start of session.
The period immediately preceding the convening of the General Assembly is one of the most
important and intensive policy development periods of the year. During that time,
agencies finalize recommendations, fiscal analyses are completed, stakeholder feedback is
incorporated, and the Governor’s Office prepares both the Condition of the State Address and the
Governor’s budget proposal, each of which is delivered during the opening week of session. These
responsibilities necessarily inform and shape legislative proposals.
Advancing the submission deadline by an additional two months would substantially reduce the
time available for thoughtful policy development and coordination across state government. It
would hinder the executive branch’s ability to respond to emerging issues, refine proposals based
on updated information, and ensure legislation is aligned with the Governor’s budget and policy
priorities.
For the above reasons, I respectfully disapprove Senate File 2207 as specified above, in
accordance with Article III, Section 16, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
STATE CAPITOL DÈS MOINES, IOWA 50319 ‘ 515.281.5211 FAX 515.725.3527 WWW.GOVERNOR.1OWA.GOV
Singerely,
Governor
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
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Senate File 2207
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION BY THE
GOVERNOR AND STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 2.16, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
2. D e partm e nts The governor, except in the year of the
governor's initial inauguration, and the departments and
agencies of state government shall, at least forty-five sixty
days prior to the convening of each session of the general
assembly, submit copies to the legislative services agency of
proposed legislative bills and joint resolutions which that
the governor and such departments and agencies desire to be
considered by the general assembly. ¥ h e— proposed legislativ e
bills and joint r e solutions of th e gov e rnor mt t st be submitt e d
by th e Friday prior to th e conv e ning of th e se ssion of th e
g e n e ral assembly/ — e xc e pt in th e— year of th e governor's initial
inauguration . The legislative services agency shall review
such proposals and submit them in proper form to the presiding
officer in each house of the general assembly for referral
to the proper standing committee. Before submitting any
proposal prepared under this section to the presiding officers,
the legislative services agency shall return it for review
to, as appropriate, the relevant department or agency or
Senate File 2207, p. 2
the governor's office and such
governor's office shall review
department or agency or the
and return it within seven days
of such delivery.
AMY SINCLAIR
President of the Senate
PAT GRASSLEY / /
Speaker of tne House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2207, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretary the Senate
^-A ppE OVOd J^ 2026
KIM REYNOLDS
Governor