DES Moines, Iowa — Legislation blocking a new casino from being built in Iowa is expected to be brought up early on during the 2025 legislative session.
The legislation is in direct response to Cedar Rapids hopes to build Cedar Crossing Casino.
GOP House Rep. Bobby Kaufmann said he’s expecting the bill to look very similar to the one passed out of the House last year which failed to make it out of the Senate.
It would have blocked new casinos from being built in the state until 2029.
Rep. Kaufmann said he’s expecting the bill to run through committee’s as early as the second week of session.
Similar to the 2022 casino moratorium law, it seems legislators on both sides of the aisle remain a mixed bag on whether they would support another moratorium.
“This is never a partisan issue,” House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said. “It really is local home politics and so, you know, the way I feel about the bill, I did not support the moratorium last time. That does not mean that’s a caucus position. People are all over the map on that but I, think there are arguments on both sides to be made and I think, I know our caucus won’t be in the same spot.”
Democrats made their remarks during the Iowa Capitol Press Association’s 2025 legislative forum.
Missing from the room were Republican leaders who declined to participate for the third year in a row.
Governor Kim Reynolds, House Speaker Pat Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver were all invited.
Along with House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst and Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner who did participate.