Senator Weiner, the senator from Johnson and floor leader for Senate Democrats during opening-day remarks, urged bipartisan cooperation and outlined a set of priorities focused on workers, families and public services.

Weiner said his 2024 conversations across Iowa highlighted concerns about pay, affordable housing and childcare. He called for making childcare more affordable and recognizing childcare workers as professionals to ease the workforce shortage. He pressed for revisiting changes to Iowa’s unemployment system made in 2022 to provide a stronger safety net and streamline job transitions.

On education he emphasized funding for public schools and the role of Area Education Agencies (AEAs), saying restricting their funding had harmed smaller and rural districts. He called for transparency and accountability when public funds flow to nonpublic schools. Weiner also raised housing affordability and criticized out‑of‑state private equity firms for reducing available affordable housing stock.

Weiner urged a transparent system to distribute opioid settlement funds and raised public-health concerns, urging action on the state’s cancer rate. He said, “By making childcare more accessible and affordable, we can allow parents to enter the workforce with 1 less worry,” and described the need for “a safety net that will give [workers] sufficient time to find a new job and get back on their feet.”

Ending: Weiner framed these priorities as service to constituents and urged the Senate to work for opportunity for all Iowans.