House panel advances bills to make gold and silver legal tender, lower utility costs Cami Koons Iowa Capital Dispatch Feb 23, 2026 Feb 23, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The House Commerce Committee advanced six bills Wednesday, several of which lawmakers said were aimed at reducing the cost of utilities for Iowans. kAmkDA2?m~E96C 3:==D 25G2?465 :? E96 4@>>:EE66 H@F=5 >2<6 8@=5 2?5 D:=G6C 2 =682= E6?56C :? x@H2 2?5 H@F=5 6IA2?5 =2?5 52>286 4=2:>D C6=2E65 E@ A:A6=:?6 4@?DECF4E:@?] k^DA2?mk^Amk9amkDA2?m$>2== D@=2C 7:6=5Dk^DA2?mk^9amkAmkDA2?m%96 4@>>:EE66 25G2?465 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68:D]:@H2]8@G^=68:D=2E:@?^q:==q@@<n82lh`U2>Aj32lw$qeahQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmw@FD6 $EF5J q:== eahk^2m[ H9:49 H@F=5 2==@H D>2== D@=2C 7:6=5D[ 3F:=E @? E@A @7 H2C69@FD6D @C :? F?56CFE:=:K65 4C@A @C A2DEFC6=2?5[ E@ 4@??64E E@ E96 8C:5 D@ E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 4@>>F?:EJ 42? AFC492D6 :ED 86?6C2E65 6=64EC:4:EJ] k^DA2?mk^Am People are also reading… Returning Shenandoah golf trio seeks repeat trip to state tourney Clarinda's Lily Weinreich, Winter Sports Female Athlete of the Year Game-winning touchdown highlights McManis' 4-sport career Plenty of success, great memories for Clarinda's Cole Clarinda graduate ends college wrestling career as three-time All-American Clarinda, Essex cheerleaders perform at IBCA All-Star Game Shenandoah bowling celebrates season that included 6 program records Playing defense in football, a special teams touchdown, headline Sump's 4-sport career Bird, Hash lead Clarinda tennis into higher expectations Clarinda's Bird opens outdoor season with four event wins Plenty of experience leads to high expectations for Mustang Golf Southwest Iowa Herald Winter Sports All-Area Team Clarinda's Roop seeks one more big jump to finish 4-sport career “I’d follow him anywhere”: How Ben McCollum landed at Iowa, built Hawkeyes’ Elite 8 roster Army reveals reason for Iowa ammunition plant shutdown kAmkDA2?m&?56C E96 3:==[ FE:=:EJ 4FDE@>6CD 4@F=5 :?G6DE :? E96D6 4@>>F?:EJ D@=2C AC@;64ED 2?5 C646:G6 4C65:ED @? E96:C FE:=:EJ 3:==D :? AC@A@CE:@? E@ E96 6?6C8J 86?6C2E65 3J E96 D@=2C AC@;64ED 2?5 E96 D:K6 @7 E96:C :?G6DE>6?E] k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m#6A] $92??@? {F?58C6?[ #\!6@DE2[ D2:5 H9:=6 E96D6 AC@;64ED =:<6=J H@F=5?’E 4C@A FA :? 6G6CJ 2C62 @7 E96 DE2E6[ 4@>>F?:E:6D D9@F=5 92G6 E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ] k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m“x?7=2E:@? 92D 366? G6CJ 9:89[ A6@A=6 2C6 A2J:?8 >@C6 7@C 6G6CJE9:?8[” {F?58C6? D2:5] “%@ ?@E 8:G6 E96> E9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ[ x E9:?<[ H@F=5 36 2 C62= 8C2G6 5:DD6CG:46 E@ E96 A6@A=6 H6 C6AC6D6?E]” k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m%96 4@>>:EE66 G@E65 :? 72G@C @7 2? 2>6?5>6?E E92E {F?58C6? D2:5 H@F=5 6IA=2:? 9@H C2E6D H@F=5 36 D6E 7@==@H:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> 2 “G2=F6 @7 D@=2C” 6G2=F2E:@? @FE=:?65 :? E96 3:==] k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m$96 D2:5 E96 2>6?5>6?E 2=D@ DA64:7:6D E92E ?@?A2CE:4:A2E:?8 4FDE@>6CD H:== “?@E 362C 2?J @7 E96 4@DE” 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 3F:=5@FE @7 4@>>F?:EJ D@=2C AC@;64ED 2?5 E92E 2?J F?FD65 4FDE@>6C 4C65:ED H:== 6IA:C6 2E E96 6?5 @7 2 J62C] k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m%96D6 H6C6 >2?J @7 E96 4@?46C?D E92E :?G6DE@C\@H?65 FE:=:E:6D 3C@F89E E@ =2H>2<6CD :? k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:@H242A:E2=5:DA2E49]4@>^a_ae^_a^_d^>@C6\D>2==\D42=6\D@=2C\AC@;64ED\4@F=5\DAC@FE\F?56C\DE2E69@FD6\AC@A@D2=^QmkDA2?mDF34@>>:EE66 >66E:?8D @? E96 3:==k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?m 2?5 :ED 4@>A2?:@?[ k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68:D]:@H2]8@G^=68:D=2E:@?^q:==q@@<n32l$$qTa_b_haU2>Aj82lh`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2?m$6?2E6 $EF5J q:== b_hak^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?m H9:49 92D ?@E 366? 962C5 3J E96 $6?2E6 r@>>6C46 r@>>:EE66] k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m#6A] v2CJ |@9C[ #\q6EE6?5@C7[ @AA@D65 E96 3:== 2?5 D2:5 6G6? H:E9 E96 2>6?5>6?E[ 96 5:5?’E 766= E96 3:== H2D “C625J 7@C AC:>6 E:>6]” k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m%96 3:== 25G2?465 H:E9 2 G@E6 @7 `h\c] k^DA2?mk^Amk9amkDA2?m#2E6A2J6C A2CE:4:A2E:@?k^DA2?mk^9amkAmkDA2?mp?@E96C 3:== 2:>65 2E C2E6A2J6C A2CE:4:A2E:@? :? =@H6C:?8 FE:=:EJ 4@DED[ k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68:D]:@H2]8@G^=68:D=2E:@?^q:==q@@<n82lh`U2>Aj32lwuabedQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2?mw@FD6 u:=6 abed k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?mH@F=5 C64@8?:K6 4FDE@>6C\@H?65 6?6C8J 86?6C2E:@? 2?5 DE@C286[ :?4=F5:?8 E649?@=@8J =:<6 G:CEF2= A@H6C A=2?ED[ 2?5 AC@G:56 8C62E6C AF3=:4 EC2?DA2C6?4J @? FE:=:EJ C6D@FC46 A=2??:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m#6A] yF55 {2H=6C[ #\%:77:?[ D2:5 E96 3:== 2==@HD “E96 A6@A=6 H9@ A2J E96 3:==D” E@ 36 A2CE @7 E96 5:D4FDD:@?D @? 9@H x@H2 H:== >66E :ED 56>2?5 7@C “>2?J E6C2H2EED @7 ?6H 6?6C8J” @G6C E96 ?6IE a_ J62CD] k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m{2H=6C :?EC@5F465 2? 2>6?5>6?E[ H9:49 E96 4@>>:EE66 25@AE65[ E@ DEC:<6 E96 E@A D64E:@? @7 E96 3:== E92E H@F=5 DE:AF=2E6 492?86D E@ FE:=:EJ’D 86?6C2= C2E6 42D6 7:=:?8D DF3>:EE65 E@ E96 x@H2 &E:=:E:6D r@>>:DD:@?] %96 2>6?5>6?E 2=D@ 6IE6?5D E96 :?E68C2E65 C6D@FC46 A=2? D4965F=6 7@C FE:=:E:6D 7C@> E9C66 J62CD E@ 7:G6 J62CD :? E96 3:==]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?mp? :?E68C2E65 C6D@FC46 A=2? :D 2 FE:=:EJ’D A=2? 7@C >66E:?8 6?6C8J 56>2?5 @G6C 2 7FEFC6 E:>6 A6C:@5 2?5 32=2?4:?8 4FDE@>6C 4@DE] k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m#6A] z6?2? yF586[ s\(2F<66[ DA@<6 :? 72G@C @7 E96 3:==[ H9:49 96 D2:5 C62496D 2 3:A2CE:D2? 8@2= @7 “=@H6C:?8 4@DED” 2?5 96 D2:5 :E H:== “AFE 2 =:EE=6 =:89E” @? E96 :?E68C2E65 C6D@FC46 A=2??:?8 AC@46DD 7@C C2E6A2J6CD] k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?mwu abed 25G2?465 H:E9 2 F?2?:>@FD G@E6] k^DA2?mk^Amk9amkDA2?ms2E2 46?E6CDk^DA2?mk^9am kAmkDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68:D]:@H2]8@G^=68:D=2E:@?^q:==q@@<n82lh`U2>Aj32lwuaccfQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmw@FD6 u:=6 accfk^2m][ H9:49 25G2?465 H:E9 7F== DFAA@CE 7C@> E96 4@>>:EE66[ H@F=5 C6BF:C6 52E2 46?E6CD :? x@H2 E@ DF3>:E A6C:@5:4 C6A@CED E@ DE2E6 286?4:6D @? :ED H2E6C 2?5 6?6C8J FD286] %96 3:== 2=D@ 4C62E6D 2 D6A2C2E6 4=2DD:7:42E:@? 7@C 52E2 46?E6CD H:E9:? E96 x@H2 &E:=:E:6D r@>>:DD:@? E@ 6?DFC6 E96 4@DE @7 D6CG:4:?8 52E2 46?E6CD H:E9 6=64EC:4:EJ :D ?@E A2DD65 2=@?8 E@ x@H2?D] k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m%96 3:== H2D 2>6?565 :? E96 4@>>:EE66 E@ DEC:<6 2 C6BF:C6>6?E E92E 46CE2:? E2C:77D 36 6?24E65 AC:@C E@ 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96 52E2 46?E6C 2?5 E@ C6>@G6 2 C6BF:C6>6?E E@ AF3=:D9 2 52E2 46?E6CD’ 6=64EC:4 D6CG:46 28C66>6?E] k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?mp 7:?2= 3:== C6=2E65 E@ FE:=:EJ 4@DE[ k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68:D]:@H2]8@G^=68:D=2E:@?^q:==q@@<n82lh`U2>Aj32lwuaagbQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2?mw@FD6 u:=6 aagbk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?m[ H@F=5 C6BF:C6 FE:=:E:6D E@ A6C:@5:42==J DF3>:E 762D:3:=:EJ DEF5:6D @? 8C:5 6?92?4:?8 E649?@=@8:6D] k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m#6A] r92C=6J %9@>D@?[ #\r92C=6D r:EJ[ D2:5 :? A=2:? =2?8F286 E96 E649?@=@8J H@F=5 “86E >@C6 ;F:46 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E96 H:C6D]” k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m%96 3:== 25G2?465 F?2?:>@FD=J]k^DA2?mk^Am k9a 4=2DDlQ65:E@C:2=$F3965Qm$:=G6C 2?5 8@=5 k^9amkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68:D]:@H2]8@G^=68:D=2E:@?^q:==q@@<n82lh`U2>Aj32lwuab``Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2?mw@FD6 u:=6 ab``k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?m H@F=5 >2<6 F?:7@C> 3F==:@?D @7 D:=G6C 2?5 8@=5[ 42==65 “DA64:6” 3J E96 3:==[ =682= 2?5 E2I\7C66 E6?56C :? x@H2] k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m%96 3:== C6BF:C6D E96 DE2E6 EC62DFC6C E@ 6DE23=:D9 2 “3F==:@? 56A@D:E@CJ” E@ DE@C6 3F==:@? H9:49 :E 567:?6D 2D C67:?65 A:646D D:=G6C @C 8@=5 E92E 2C6 >@C6 E92? hhT AFC6] &?56C E96 3:==[ E96 EC62DFC6C H@F=5 2=D@ 6DE23=:D9 6=64EC@?:4 A2J>6?E DJDE6>D E@ FE:=:K6 E96 DE@C65 3F==:@?D 2?5 DF3>:E 2? 2??F2= C6A@CE E@ =2H>2<6CD @? E96 “64@?@>:4 :>A24E @7 C64@8?:K:?8 DA64:6 2D =682= E6?56C]”k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m#6A] s2G:5 q=@>[ #\|2CD92==E@H?[ D2:5 E96 6I492?86 @7 DA64:6 H@F=5 ?@E C6A=246 E96 4FCC6?E >@?6E2CJ DJDE6>[ 3FE 4C62E6 2 DFAA=6>6?E2CJ DJDE6> E@ 2==@H “2?@E96C >6E9@5 7@C AC6D6CG:?8 2?5 6I492?8:?8 H62=E9]” k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m#6A] p52> +23?6C[ s\x@H2 r:EJ[ DA@<6 282:?DE E96 3:== 2?5 D2:5 :E “D@F?5D =:<6 D@4:2=:D>” 7@C E96 DE2E6 E@ 6DE23=:D9 2 D:=G6C 2?5 8@=5 32?< E92E H@F=5 “4@>A6E6” H:E9 6I:DE:?8 32?<D 2?5 4C65:E F?:@?D]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2?m+23?6C[ H9@ D2E @? E96 DF34@>>:EE66 7@C E96 3:==[ D2:5 E96 AC:>2CJ 2C8F>6?E :? 72G@C @7 E96 ?6H E6?56C H2D E92E AC64:@FD >6E2=D 5@?’E :?7=2E6]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m“(96? x’> @FE :? >J 4@>>F?:EJ E2=<:?8 E@ G@E6CD[ E96:C 4@?46C? :D E92E E96:C A2J4964< 6G6CJ >@?E9 :D 3FJ:?8 E96> =6DD[ 2?5 E92E’D H9J E96J’C6 D@ FAD6E 23@FE 277@C523:=:EJ[” +23?6C D2:5] “$@ x 5@?’E E9:?< E92E E9:D :D 2 D@=FE:@?[ 3642FD6 :7 E96:C A2J4964< :D 3FJ:?8 E96> =6DD[ :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 3FJ E96> =6DD 8@=5]”k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m%96 3:== 25G2?465 7C@> E96 4@>>:EE66 H:E9 2 G@E6 @7 `d\g]k^DA2?mk^Amk9a 4=2DDlQ65:E@C:2=$F3965Qm!:A6=:?6 =2?5 C6DE@C2E:@?k^9am kAmkDA2?m%96 w@FD6 r@>>6C46 r@>>:EE66 2=D@ 25G2?465[ H:E9 F?2?:>@FD 2AAC@G2=[ k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=68:D]:@H2]8@G^=68:D=2E:@?^q:==q@@<n82lh`U2>Aj32lw$qeh`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2?mw@FD6 $EF5J q:== eh`k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?m E@k^DA2?mkDA2?m 2==@H =2?5@H?6CD E@ k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:@H242A:E2=5:DA2E49]4@>^a_ae^_a^`a^9@FD6\AC@A@D2=\H@F=5\6IA2?5\=2?5@H?6C\52>286\4=2:>D\7C@>\A:A6=:?6\4@?DECF4E:@?^QmkDA2?mC6?68@E:2E6k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?m 52>286 4=2:>D 2?5 7:=6 4@>A=2:?ED 7@C 52>286D 2?5 J:6=5 =@DD6D 5F6 E@ A:A6=:?6 4@?DECF4E:@?] k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2?m%96 3:== H@F=5 2AA=J E@ =2?5 C6DE@C2E:@? 7C@> 2== EJA6D @7 A:A6=:?6 AC@;64ED :? x@H2] %9@>D@? D2:5 E96C6 H2D 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ 7@C 2? 2>6?5>6?E E@ E96 3:== @? E96 w@FD6 7=@@C E@ 255C6DD D@>6 :DDF6D H:E9 =2?8F286 E92E H2D 3C@F89E FA 3J 2 FE:=:EJ 4@>A2?J] k^DA2?mk^Am 0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Joe Mitchell makes National Republican Congressional Committee's ‘MAGA Majority’ list The National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday announced that Joe Mitchell has been selected as one of nine candidates in its init… Zach Lahn vows to fight agriculture input consolidation, brain drain if elected governor Republican Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn shared his campaign policy platform during a Westside Conservative Club meeting in Urbandale… VoteVets announces $825,000 ad buy for Josh Turek in U.S. Senate race The progressive veteran's organization announced Tuesday that it is launching a fully integrated paid media campaign, set to begin this week. Governor candidate Randy Feenstra announces support from a coalition of Iowa farmers Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra announced support from a coalition of Iowa farmers who are backing his run for Iowa governor. Gov. Kim Reynolds signs temporary tax hike to address Iowa Medicaid shortfall Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs temporary insurer tax hike to address Medicaid budget shortfall, a move critics say will raise health care costs … Watch Now: Related Video Nitrate pollution, agriculture’s persistent problem, expected to worsen with warming winters Trump faces ‘profound problems’ as approval rating hits new low Trump faces ‘profound problems’ as approval rating hits new low Trump heads to Supreme Court, making him the first sitting president to attend top court's arguments AP Trump heads to Supreme Court, making him the first sitting president to attend top court's arguments Trump plans to attend Supreme Court hearing on his bid to limit birthright citizenship AP Trump plans to attend Supreme Court hearing on his bid to limit birthright citizenship
Joe Mitchell makes National Republican Congressional Committee's ‘MAGA Majority’ list The National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday announced that Joe Mitchell has been selected as one of nine candidates in its init…
Zach Lahn vows to fight agriculture input consolidation, brain drain if elected governor Republican Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn shared his campaign policy platform during a Westside Conservative Club meeting in Urbandale…
VoteVets announces $825,000 ad buy for Josh Turek in U.S. Senate race The progressive veteran's organization announced Tuesday that it is launching a fully integrated paid media campaign, set to begin this week.
Governor candidate Randy Feenstra announces support from a coalition of Iowa farmers Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra announced support from a coalition of Iowa farmers who are backing his run for Iowa governor.
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs temporary tax hike to address Iowa Medicaid shortfall Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs temporary insurer tax hike to address Medicaid budget shortfall, a move critics say will raise health care costs …
AP Trump heads to Supreme Court, making him the first sitting president to attend top court's arguments
