Iowa Lawmakers Reject Bill to Block Court Review of Laws

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Iowa state lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have amended the state constitution to prohibit the judicial branch from reviewing the constitutionality of laws passed by the legislature. The proposal was considered by state senators Ken Rozenboom, Matt Blake, and Jason Schultz, but ultimately did not gain enough support to move forward.

Why it matters

This decision preserves the system of checks and balances, where the courts can review the actions of the legislative branch to ensure they align with the state constitution. Blocking this judicial review could have allowed lawmakers to pass unconstitutional laws without recourse.

The details

The rejected bill would have amended the Iowa Constitution to prevent the judicial branch from determining the constitutionality of laws passed by the state legislature. This would have eliminated the ability of courts to review and potentially strike down laws that violate the state's constitution.

• The bill was considered by Iowa state senators on January 28, 2026.