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IA GOP Lawmakers Say No to Committee for Medical Marijuana Study, 4:04

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The Iowa Supreme Court will hear an appeal of the judicial nomination law.   The lawsuit challenges a new state law that changed the way some judges are selected in Iowa.

A state court judge last month dismissed the lawsuit filed by a group of lawyers and Democratic lawmakers against Gov. Kim Reynolds, saying they didn't have legal standing to challenge the law.

The new law gave the governor an additional appointment to the 17-member state judicial nominating commission, meaning the governor will appoint the majority of members.

State regulators are one step closer to approving the final rules legalizing sports betting in Iowa. Sioux City’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will offer sports betting. 

Most of the rules are for casinos and companies that contract sports betting technology: things like how to apply for a license and expectations for keeping their systems secure. Sports gamblers will have to be over 21 years old and within Iowa’s borders, even if they’re betting on their phone.

Top Republican lawmakers at the Iowa Capitol have denied a request from Democrats to start a special committee to study the state’s medical-marijuana program.

Representative John Forbes, a Democrat from Urbandale, says it would help with crafting a proposal to expand the program.

“The thought was if we could have this interim committee meeting, bring public members in and voice their opinion and concerns, I think that strengthens our bill and allows other legislators the opportunity to be able to hear what their constituents are saying too.” 

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed a bipartisan bill this year that would’ve allowed for more potent medical marijuana products.

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