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With the 2026 Iowa Legislature set to convene Jan. 12 in Des Moines, state agencies have begun pre-filing bills they say are needed to close legal gaps, clarify authority or respond to emerging public safety, election integrity and consumer protection concerns — and reopen a high-profile dispute over the future of Iowa’s state historical archives in Iowa City.

Alongside proposals to regulate kratom, tighten prison security and limit utility shutoffs during extreme weather, the Department of Administrative Services has submitted legislation that would remove from state law a requirement that Iowa maintain a historical research center in Iowa City — a change sought as the state defends its dec

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