T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY From left, State Center Mayor Craig Pfantz talks with District 51 State Rep. Brett Barker (R-Nevada) and District 26 State Sen. Kara Warme (R-Ames) at a “Coffee and Conversation” event held Saturday morning at the Holy Grounds Coffee Shop in State Center.

STATE CENTER — As the 2026 Iowa legislative session is scheduled to end soon and the June 2 primary is approaching, incumbents and candidates of both parties can be seen at public events to promote their accomplishments and refine their messages.

Such was the case Saturday morning in State Center, when House District 51 Representative Brett Barker (R-Nevada) and Senate District 26 Senator Kara Warme (R-Ames) hosted a “Coffee and Conversation” event, fittingly, at the Holy Grounds Coffee Shop.

Dozens packed the small business on East Main Street to ask questions of the two competing for space with the shop’s regular Saturday morning coffee groups. It was a first-come first-serve format for questioners at the event which was scheduled 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The T-R asked Warme to speak on the top accomplishments of the session so far.

“In health care – we had a huge reform to get rid of administrative burdens for providers so we can have more access to health care for people,” she said. “We have come a long way on property taxes. The senate passed a bill this week … that shows the dialogue is continuing with the House and the governor’s office … we know that is important.”

She also addressed the status of the controversial eminent domain issue.

“Regarding eminent domain – there are continued conversations across the House and Senate … Sen. Klimesh had a proposal right at the beginning of the session to allow us to open up the notification corridor so they could re-route and not need to use eminent domain …so that is an approach I would like to see still move,” she said.

The use of eminent domain to purchase farmland and other property needed for a carbon-capturing pipeline is being proposed by pipeline companies. The House and Senate passed a bill last year that would have placed restrictions on the use of eminent domain for such projects. However, Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed the bill.

The Iowa House passed a bill in January 2026 to ban the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines. However, the Senate has faced pressure to pass a similar bill, with some members focusing on alternative solutions such as route changes. Warme also said she thinks the session is not far from finishing.

“I don’t know the exact date – but I don’t think we are too far from finishing … budget targets are close between the House, Senate and governor’s office … we are going to try to get done on time and get out on the campaign trail,” she said.

Warme is serving her first term, having been elected in November of 2024 and assuming office at the beginning of 2025.

Her district includes all of Marshall County and parts of Story County outside of the city of Ames.

Warme is a native of San Diego, Calif. and a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering. Later, she earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration University of Iowa’s Tippie Business School. Warme and her husband farm in the Ames area, and they have two children.

Barker is also in his first term having been elected in November 2024 and assumed office Jan. 2, 2025.

In a telephone interview with the Times-Republican following the event Barker spoke about the event.

“It was great to have a strong turnout this morning and a lot of folks stopping by to say hi,” he said. “I like the events where you can talk directly to constituents unfiltered over a cup of coffee … we talked about a number of issues … everything from property tax to foster care reform and everything in between,” he said.

Barker said he and Warme scheduled the event in Marshall County because they had previously hosted events in Story County.

“We have done two public forums in Story County,” he said. “So, we thought it was important to get over to Marshall County.”

Barker said the tentative date for the legislature to adjourn is April 21.

That is the date the per diem (payment) for legislators expires per the Iowa Code.

“We typically go past that (per diem) date,” he said. “There are a couple of big issues we need to get to a consensus on … property tax being one. The Senate sent us a bill. I expect the House will respond with a bill early next week to keep the conversation going … that is a big part of it. Obviously, the budget is being worked on … so finalizing those details is a big part of it … and eminent domain reform is out there as well. Hopefully, we can get something to ‘land the plane on’ for the governor to sign.”

Republican Shane Heintz of Nevada has filed nomination papers to run against Barker in the June 2 primary along with Democrat Teresa Perin of Rhodes.

Barker received his PharmD degree from the University of Iowa School of Pharmacy. He is vice president of operations at NuCara Management Group, which was recently acquired by OneroRx. He previously served as mayor of Nevada and resides there with his wife and family.