Governors Kim Reynolds' Legacy 1

governor kim reynolds

Read about Governor Kim Reynold's legacy as the 43rd governor of Iowa, and Iowa's first female governor.

 

Governor's legacy
YearSuccesses and Achievements
2017
Succeeded Terry Branstad as Governor of Iowa in May 2017.
2018
  • She was elected in November 2018 to her first full term in office and re-elected in November 2022 to a second term.
  • Governor Reynolds established the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-based Learning on Jan. 29, 2018.
  • Governor Reynolds created the Children’s Mental Health Board on April 23, 2018.
2019
  • Governor Reynolds established the Flood Recovery Advisory Board on April 15, 2019.
  • Governor Reynolds supported the biofuels industry by requiring new contracts for state vehicles with diesel engines to have written support from the manufacturer to use B20 biodiesel or more on Dec. 3, 2019.
2020
  • Governor Reynolds established the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board on June 18, 2020.
  • Governor Reynolds restored the voting rights of thousands of Iowans who have completed felony sentences on August 5, 2020.
2021
Governor Reynolds launched the Child Care Task Force on March 10, 2021.
2022 
2023Governor Reynolds ordered a comprehensive evaluation of existing administrative rules to determine their necessity and effectiveness on January 10, 2023.
2024Governor Reynolds rescinded 62 executive orders dating back to 1964 that were outdated or no longer necessary, and ordered one executive order be amended on June 6, 2024.
2025

 - Governor Reynolds created requirements to condemn antisemitism in state universities and all schools on June 30, 2025.
 

 - Governor Reynolds ordered the Governor's STEM Advisory Council to ensure every Iowa student has access to cutting-edge educational opportunities on August 16, 2025.
  

 - Governor Reynolds ordered all state government departments to verify employment eligibility prior to hiring state employees, and to verify immigration status or U.S. citizenship before granting state-issued occupational and professional licenses on October 8, 2025.
  

 - Governor Reynolds launched the Governor's Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday on November 6, 2025.

2026