As I close out my first legislative session in the Iowa House, I’ve had the chance to reflect on what this year has meant. Although this was my first year at the Capitol, I didn’t come in completely green. I brought with me four years of experience on city council and a year serving on my local school board. That experience gave me a strong foundation in public service—but the statehouse is a different world.
Things move quickly under the dome. You’re reading dozens of bills, hearing from all sides, and making decisions that affect people’s lives across our great state. One of the first surprises was the role of lobbyists. I’ll be honest—before taking office, I was skeptical. I had heard all the warnings. But what I found is that most are just doing their jobs and can be a great source of information. They’re paid to advocate for their clients, sure, but they also understand when you vote your own way—and most of them respect that.
I also learned early that not all politics plays out on the House floor. A lot of the real conversations happen behind the scenes, in private meetings and quiet discussions. That might sound concerning, but it’s how relationships are built and how real progress gets made. And despite what you see on the news, when the cameras aren’t rolling, Republicans and Democrats get along better than most people realize. We have honest conversations, share a few laughs, and agree on the vast majority of issues. I’d say 85 to 90 percent of our votes are bipartisan, and if you take the time to look it up, you will see that our votes reflect that.
One thing I’m especially grateful for this year is the relationships I’ve built. Whether with fellow legislators, staff, or stakeholders, those connections made a huge difference in navigating the fast pace of the session. I also appreciated the freshman training sessions that were provided. They were helpful in catching us up to speed quickly, so we could hit the ground running.
That said, I didn’t come here to follow the crowd. On the very first vote of the session, I said I planned to vote no—and a member of leadership told me that if I was pointed to and glared at, I’d need to change my vote. That person didn’t know me. I don’t work for lobbyists, special interests, or even leadership. I work for the people who sent me here—my constituents. I cast my no vote that day, and I’ve voted my conscience on every bill since. That’s the promise I made, and it’s one I intend to keep. To hold myself accountable, I kept a journal this session, documenting the good, the not so good, as well as unique and interesting things that happened this session.
One of the highlights of my first year was House File 901, a bill I authored to help military veterans and federal law enforcement officers transition into local law enforcement roles here in Iowa. It’s a pro-law enforcement, pro-veteran, pro-common-sense bill—and I’m proud to say it passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Reynolds. That’s what good policymaking looks like—clear, practical, and bipartisan.
Not every bill ends that way. I also introduced a bill that, while well-intentioned, wasn’t quite ready. Once it got to subcommittee, I realized there were too many unanswered questions and unintended consequences. Rather than push forward with a flawed idea (which happens more often than not), I did the responsible thing and pulled the bill myself. It wasn’t easy, but good legislators know when to lead and when to regroup.
Another eye-opener for me was experiencing the large, in-your-face protests that sometimes happened in the Capitol. I respect everyone’s right to make their voices heard, but it was a new experience for me. As someone who had served at the local level, I had never been up close to that level of activism before. It was intense—but also a reminder of how passionate people are about the issues most important to them.
It was also eye-opening to see how different the two chambers of the Legislature operate when it comes to public access. The House was consistently open—welcoming guests, families, and school groups inside for pictures and conversation. Meanwhile, the Senate chamber doors largely stayed shut to the public. I’m not sure the reason for the “secret club” persona, but folks visiting the Capitol notice it. It’s time for both chambers of the people’s house to be open, transparent, and inviting. The public deserves nothing less.
This first year has been humbling, eye-opening, and incredibly rewarding. I’ve stayed true to my principles, stood firm in my votes, and worked hard to represent the values of my district. I believe in smaller government, local control, personal responsibility, and doing what’s right—even when it’s not easy.
All in all, it was an amazing experience—one that I’m proud to be a part of. Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. I’m proud to serve, and I look forward to continuing to fight for common-sense solutions that move Iowa forward.
