Des Moines — The Iowa State Constitution is now housed in a new display case designed to better preserve the 168-year-old document.
The U.S. Constitution is on permanent display in the office of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, who unveiled the new lawsuit at a press conference at the Iowa State Capitol on Thursday.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the previous display case was manufactured in the 1980s. The new display case was manufactured by an Iowa company and uses UV-resistant acrylic panels, desiccant tanks, and thermometers and hygrometers to ensure safe temperature conditions are maintained inside the case.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, the new phone case was made by Notch & Nail in Johnston, the acrylic material was provided by Midland Plastics in Des Moines, and the production was supported by the Iowa History Museum.
Pete, along with Valerie Van Cutten, head of the Iowa State Historical Society, opened the new exhibit.
“We are very proud to present this historic document to the people of Iowa in our office,” Pete said in a statement. “When Iowans can see their state’s original constitution in person, it creates a strong connection between Iowans and the document that establishes their fundamental rights and freedoms. It can transform an abstract historical concept into profound meaning.”
The new display case also includes drawers that can be used to store other historical documents as needed.
At a press conference Thursday, Pete showed off one of the boxes that contained a land record book documenting the transfer of Iowa land to President Abraham Lincoln.
Although Thursday’s event took place in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda, the Iowa Constitution will once again be permanently displayed in the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, which is also located on the first floor of the Iowa State Capitol. The public can view the Constitution during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Iowa senators unanimously passed a bill Thursday that would tax nicotine e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.
Senate Bill 1137 proposes a $1.15 tax on each e-cigarette cartridge and a 6.8-cent tax on each nicotine pouch. The tax on e-cigarettes, including liquids, would be 15% of the retail price, while the tax on e-cigarette liquids sold separately from cartridges would be 35%.
The increased tax revenue will be used to fund cancer research. According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation and is the only state experiencing an increase in cancer cases.
Iowa currently taxes tobacco products at 50% of the wholesale price. The tax is $1.36 per pack of 20 cigarettes and $1.70 per pack of 25 cigarettes.
The bill was introduced by Republican Senator Mike Klemish of Spearville, a former smoker himself. He expressed concern that e-cigarettes could become a first step toward smoking regular cigarettes for elementary and middle school students.
“I used to smoke. Honestly, I still smoke occasionally. I don’t use e-cigarettes; I smoke regular cigarettes,” Klemesh said. “It’s easier for high school students to start using e-cigarettes.”
Representatives of several tobacco companies, including Philip Morris International and Reynolds USA, opposed the bill, arguing that nicotine e-cigarettes are a less harmful alternative to tobacco products.
Mike Triplett, a spokesman for the Iowa-based organization that advocates for the cessation of smoking and tobacco products, said smoking causes cancer, while nicotine e-cigarettes do not.
“We believe it is unreasonable to equate devices that are less harmful than smoking with deadly cigarettes,” Triplett said.
Teres Hammes, of Clean Air for All, said nicotine e-cigarettes still contain toxic chemicals that can lead to diseases like popcorn lung, and noted that e-cigarette use among teens in Iowa is higher than the national average.
Harms said, “E-cigarettes can cause exposure to toxic substances; they contain chemicals like formaldehyde. People often confuse e-cigarettes with regular cigarettes because we currently don’t have laws regulating the use of e-cigarettes, as they’re relatively new. They can be used in public places.”
Democratic Sen. Claire Celsey of West Des Moines, who also smoked, said she was disappointed with tobacco companies’ lobbying against the bill.
“Cancer-causing pills are dangerous; they can addict young people before they even realize the real harm these hidden drugs can cause. I think we should tax them heavily,” Searcy said.
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Post time: Jan-05-2026
