As the 2nd session of the 91st general assembly kicks off, house republicans will continue to remain focused on the issues Iowans care about the most. From meaningful property tax relief to public safety as well as honoring our veterans, here’s what is happening at the Capitol.

• Property Tax Relief: A Priority this Session

Iowans have been loud and clear about the need for property tax reform. So, this session, we’ve made this topic a top priority.

Across the state, seniors are being priced out of their homes, young people are struggling to purchase their first houses, and families are seeing their property tax bills rise year after year with little predictability and no clear understanding of how their tax dollars are being used.

This week, property tax proposals were released by the Governor’s Office and the Iowa Senate Republican caucus. Meanwhile, our House Republican caucus has been hard at work developing our own proposal, which we expect to release as early as next week.

The fact that the Governor, Senate Republicans and House Republicans are all leading with property tax plans shows just how committed we are to delivering significant relief for Iowans this session.

Our caucus is focused on a proposal that puts taxpayers first. For too long, the system has prioritized the “certainty” of government budgets over the “certainty” of family budgets. House Republicans are flipping the script.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as these conversations continue, and we release our proposal.

• Keeping Iowans Safe

A core part of Iowa’s identity is that we are a safe place to work, live, and raise a family. Here, we expect to trust our neighbors, leave our cars unlocked and let our kids play in the park without fear.

We’ve all seen what happens when cities like Chicago and Minneapolis go soft on crime, and we will not allow those failed policies to cross our borders.

Everyday, headlines remind us of horrific crimes taking place across the country. Too often, these crimes are committed by repeat offenders with long histories of violent behavior; career criminals who are released back onto the streets and put our families at risk.

Some say this isn’t a serious issue in Iowa, but even one victim is too many. These incidents are happening here, and we refuse to wait until tragedies pile up before taking action.

That’s why House Republicans are pursuing a tough-on-crime agenda this session. We will be proposing a three-strike policy to ensure dangerous criminals who repeatedly break the law are kept off the streets.

This session, career criminals will get a clear message: they are not welcome in Iowa.

• Public Safety Update: Kratom Legislation

The House Public Safety Committee recently held a subcommittee meeting on House Study Bill 508, which would list kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance. The bill advanced with the support of all three subcommittee members, including myself.

Kratom is derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree and is often marketed as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety, or opioid withdrawal. However, because it is sold as a supplement, it remains largely unregulated. This lack of oversight means potency and purity can vary widely between products.

At lower doses, kratom can act as a stimulant, while higher doses produce opioid-like effects, including sedation and euphoria. One of the most serious concerns raised is kratom’s potential for dependence and addiction.

Our subcommittee heard testimony from the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Office of Drug Control Policy, the Iowa Medical Society, and others, all of whom supported the bill. Advocates highlighted the risks including liver toxicity, seizures, overdoses, and addiction . Moving kratom to a Schedule I substance would ban its sale and possession in Iowa.

Opponents of the bill argued that kratom itself is safe and that the focus should instead be on banning synthetic additives. Many kratom products sold in gas stations and grocery stores have been altered with high concentrations of a compound called 7-OH. While 7-OH occurs naturally in kratom, elevated levels can increase the risk of overdose and dependency. Opponents requested an amendment to regulate and label kratom products rather than remove them from the market entirely.

Our subcommittee ultimately advanced the bill in its current form and it will be considered by the full committee in the coming weeks.

• Iowa Veterans Day on the Hill

Iowa Veterans Day on the Hill will take place on Jan. 21 at the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a formal program scheduled from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Following the program, the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs, veterans service organizations and individual veterans will meet with legislators.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live from the Rotunda on the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Facebook page.

If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me at joshua.meggers@legis.iowa.gov or visit my Facebook page at Joshua Meggers for Iowa House. Feel free to come visit me within the Capitol at any time!