Iowa lawmakers advanced two bills this week that would restrict local authority.

Why it matters: City, county leaders and advocates say state legislation restricting local authority can undermine their ability to respond to community needs.

• Meanwhile, state lawmakers say they're seeking uniformity to avoid confusion.

State of play: Over the years, a slew of state legislation has prohibited local policymaking, creating a chilling effect, according to some elected officials.

An Iowa House bill that advanced this week would bar cities and counties from enacting civil rights protections that go beyond the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

• Lawmakers last year removed gender identity from the act, taking away protections for transgender Iowans.
• 13 Iowa cities have policies in place that uphold gender identity protections, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Another House Republican bill would ban cities and counties from issuing community IDs, which non-citizens could use to verify their identities with banks, schools and local law enforcement. The government-issued IDs do not allow them to get a driver's license or vote.

• Johnson County issues community IDs. Polk County Supervisors considered them in 2022 but did not move forward. One of the reasons was fear of retribution by state lawmakers.

What they're saying: Des Moines City Councilmember Josh Mandelbaum says the Legislature is imposing a one-size-fits-all approach and elected officials are afraid to propose policies for fear of retaliation from state lawmakers.

• "Quite honestly, I don't want to talk about the specific pieces, because anything I mention, they could come after," Mandelbaum tells Axios.

Lucas Beenken of the Iowa State Association of Counties says local leaders are closest to residents and best know their needs.

• "If you've seen one county, you've seen one county," Beenken tells Axios.

The other side: Republican lawmakers and advocates for this year's bills have said continuity between municipal and state laws is important to avoid confusion.

• "With 99 different counties and over 900 different towns and communities, it does make sense that certain issues would have broad and consistent application across the state and not vary from one community to the next, or from one county to the next," said the Family Leader's Danny Carroll, regarding civil rights protections, per ICD.

The big picture: In 2017, the Legislature banned jurisdictions from setting a higher minimum wage.

• In 2021, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill allowing landlords to reject Section 8 housing. Until then, Des Moines, Iowa City and Marion required landlords to accept the vouchers.
• In 2025, state lawmakers banned local cities from prohibiting residents from setting off fireworks during certain holidays. Des Moines and much of the metro restricted personal fireworks use until then.

Some Des Moines restaurateurs are advising customers to call to make a reservation rather than book through an app.

Why it matters: Razor-thin profit margins and an ongoing local restaurant crisis make every dollar count, and reservation fees add up fast in a tough local market.

State of play: Apps like OpenTable charge restaurants up to $500 in monthly subscription fees plus $1 per seat that's booked.

Yes, but: Their services can drive more business by exposing restaurants to a growing number of users, according to BistroChat, an online publication covering restaurant industry trends.

The big picture: Competition among restaurant booking apps has heated up in recent months, with some partnering with credit card companies and offering restaurants cash incentives to use their services, the New York Times reports.

What they're saying: Customers often don't realize the costs of using the apps, which influences menu prices, Chris Diebel, managing partner of Bubba, tells Axios.

The intrigue: There are at least seven major platforms used by U.S. restaurants, and using a single app can overlook seat availability.

Case in point: Bubba, Court Avenue Brewing, Table 128 and Exile Brewing are among the local restaurants that use the booking service Tock, but are not listed on OpenTable.

The bottom line: Calling your favorite restaurant directly is often a better option, Diebel said.

🚨 Alison Hoeman, director of Des Moines Refugee Support, found the word "racist" spray-painted on her Norwalk home yesterday morning. Hoeman's organization helps support immigrant students in the metro. (KCCI)

🥩 Iowa farmers are concerned about the impact of a U.S. deal to import 80,000 metric tons of beef from Argentina. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🚗 Two Iowa bills targeting speeding drivers passed through Iowa House and Senate committees yesterday.

• HF 2023 lowers school zone limits from 25 miles per hour to 20 mph. SF 2030 allows police officers to immediately revoke the driver's license of someone who is speeding 100 mph or above. (Axios)

✈️ Around 250 Iowa National Guard soldiers are returning home today after supporting a mission combating ISIS. (Radio Iowa)

"We are committed to restoring good governance and transparency, and to do everything possible to be more effective, productive and responsive in our service to the public."

— Polk County administrator Frank Marasco, following a settlement with former HR director Jim Nahas.

Driving the news: Polk County Supervisors approved a $2.5 million settlement with former HR director Jim Nahas yesterday.

Catch up quick: Nahas was fired in 2021 after county officials said he mishandled a sexual harassment complaint made against Supervisor Matt McCoy by deputy administrator Sarah Boese — allegations McCoy denies.

• Nahas said the termination was political and filed a lawsuit against some of the supervisors for extortion and libel.
• A jury awarded him a $4.26 million verdict last year.

The latest: The settlement ends any potential appeal. Around $1 million of the settlement is covered by the county's insurance.

What we're watching: Ongoing lawsuits filed by deputy administrator Boese for harassment and retaliation after she wasn't promoted as top administrator last year.