Sen. Julian Garrett

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Iowa National Guard members killed in action during a December 2025 attack in Syria. It recognizes their military service, posthumous promotions, and sacrifices, while also acknowledging three wounded Iowa Guard soldiers from the same incident. The resolution directs that a copy be sent to the families of the two fallen soldiers as a formal tribute. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy or legal effect but serves to memorialize their service.

Maddy summarySF 407 changes Iowa's district judicial nominating commission structure. It increases the number of eligible electors appointed by the governor from five to six per commission and removes judges from serving as commission members or chairpersons. Instead, commission members will now elect their own chairperson from among themselves, ending the practice where the most senior judge automatically served as chair. This affects all 14 district judicial nominating commissions responsible for screening judicial applicants and providing the governor with two nominees for district court vacancies. The bill modifies the composition and leadership selection process without changing the commissions' core function.