How Legislators Voted on Mesabi Metallics Subsidies
On October 2, 2026, Iowa's legislature modified the Major Economic Growth Attraction Program (MEGA) which clears the way for Iowa Economic Development Authority to provide $1.5 billion in incentives and subsidies to Mesabi Metallics to build an steel plant in Lee County. The Sierra Club opposed the changes to the MEGA incentive package that can be awarded to Mesabi.
Senate vote
The Senate voted 28 in favor of the legislation, 19 opposed to the legislation, and 2 members were absent.
Thank you to the Senators who voted opposed to the legislation - Senators Bennett, Bisignano, Blake, Campbell, Dawson, Donahue, Dotzler, Drey, Hardman, McClintock, Petersen, Quirmbach, Schultz, Sires, Staed, Taylor, Trone Garriott, Weiner, and Winckler.
Those who were absent are Senators Knox and Wahls.
House vote
The House voted 75 in favor of the legislation, 17 against the legislation, and 8 members were absent.
Thank you to the Representatives who voted opposed to the legislation - Representative Bagniewski, Cisneros, Gaines, Jeneary, Rob Johnson, Konfrst, Kressig, Levin, Matson, McBurney, Ramirez, Scholten, Srinivas, Wessel-Kroeschell, Wichtendahl, Wilburn, and Zabner.
Those who were absent are Representatives Croken, Dieken, Golding, Hayes, Lohse, Madison, Sieck, and Wheeler.