(Radio Iowa) – The 2024 Iowa legislative session ended overnight. The Senate adjourned just before 3:30 a.m. today (Saturday). And the House wrapped up the year at 4:23 a.m. (Saturday).

The final day of decisions and votes stretched over 20 hours. Lawmakers approved a billion dollar cut in the state income tax that will take effect next year. A nearly nine BILLION dollar state spending plan was finalized. The final bill sent to the governor calls for redeploying a dozen Division of Criminal Investigation agents who work at the state casinos to a task force tht will work on illegal immigration cases.

The governor recently signed a bill into law that authorizes law enforcement to arrest undocumented immigrants — and gives Iowa judges authority to issue deportation orders. It’s similar to a Texas law that hasn’t taken effect due to a legal challenge. Early this (Saturday) morning the House voted overwhelmingly to extend a moratorium on new casinos in Iowa, but the bill didn’t come up for a vote in the Senate.