Close Up: Freshman lawmakers look back at 2023 legislative session

As Iowa lawmakers head back home with the 2023 legislative session behind them, Republicans are celebrating major policy wins. Several major bills that have stalled in the past including private school scholarships, medical malpractice and regulating books made it across the finish line this year. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) tells KCCI that's largely due to redistricting and fresh perspectives from new members. KCCI Chief Political Reporter Amanda Rooker sits down with Republican and first-year Rep. Bill Gustoff (R-Des Moines) to talk about how those major bills made it to the governor's desk. While voicing strong opposition to several of those plans, Democrats were unable to stop the legislation from passing. KCCI Chief Political Reporter Amanda Rooker talks with Democratic House Rep. Sami Scheetz (D-Cedar Rapids) about his first year as a lawmaker. Scheetz discusses his policy plans for next year and reflects on some of the major bills passed this session along with Democrats' strategy to remove some pieces of bills they found the most harmful.