Senate opens session; journal approved, House transmits list of bills and governor's nominee introduced

The state Senate convened in Des Moines on March 20, 2025. The presiding officer called the body to order and, after a prayer offered for the day, the Senate approved the journal as printed.

The secretary reported a message from the House that, on March 20, 2025, it had passed a package of bills. The reading included, as stated into the record, House File 385 on discharge and involuntary committed persons from facilities or hospitals; House File 470 addressing alcohol and beverage provisions; House File 509 concerning applied behavior analysis services in an autism support program; House File 578 related to probation credits and workforce credits; House File 572 establishing offenses for smuggling of persons; House File 649 related to human trafficking and associated penalties; and other bills described by the secretary. Several bill titles and phrases in the reading were difficult to parse from the record; those passages are reported here verbatim as read by the secretary.

The body also heard the introduction of a gubernatorial nominee. Major General Stephen Osborne was presented to continue as the Adjutant General of the State of Iowa; the record notes he was seated in the South Gallery and that he would be available downstairs for 30 minutes after the reading to meet with senators.

Senator Jerome Garrett introduced the day’s prayer sequence and identified Almarti Abdallah of Masjid Anur as the guest who offered the invocation for the session. Abdallah’s prayer included a request that lawmakers be protected "from arrogance and corruption" and a plea to "defend the oppressed, protect the vulnerable, and create laws that bring fairness and peace." Senator Trone Garriott later formally introduced Abdallah to the chamber, noting Abdallah’s role as vice president for family and workforce programs for Oak Ridge Neighborhood and acknowledging that it is the season of Ramadan.

Routine floor business continued: the presiding officer asked whether any senators sought to be excused (none were recorded in the transcript), and an announcement was made that Democrats would caucus in Room 24. The chair then recognized Senator Whitver of Polk, who began remarks at the close of the recorded transcript.

Major General Osborne’s nomination and the package of House-passed bills were recorded for the Senate’s consideration; the transcript does not show any Senate debate, votes on the listed bills, or floor action on the nomination within the provided segment.