DES MOINES, Iowa - State lawmakers are back in session Wednesday, after abruptly halting their work in mid-March over the COVID-19 pandemic.
They'll be focused on passing a state budget and crafting measures to help Iowa deal with the pandemic. There's also some interest in addressing racial justice issues as nationwide protests continue over the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis Police.
Governor Kim Reynolds says the estimated $365 million shortfall caused mostly by the pandemic is manageable because the state has large cash reserves.
The legislature in under the gun to pass a budget because it must be implemented by July 1st.
Lawmakers still hope to keep in tack a $100 million boost in K-12 education that Governor Reynolds has already signed into law.
Anti-virus precautions are still in place at the Capitol. Lawmakers are hoping to wrap up their business by mid-June.