State Senator Tony Bisignano

State Senator Tony Bisignano Iowa State Senator from Des Moines Tony was taught at an early age that family comes first. Alfonso, Tony’s father, immigrated to America from Italy in 1929.

About Tony

Des Moines Roots

Tony is a lifelong resident of Des Moines, raised in the South Side neighborhood traditionally known as Little Italy. He learned the importance of respect for your neighborhood, your family, your elders, and your church. He worked at John Deere for 32 years, and was a proud member of UAW 450. Alfonso fought in World War II in Europe, and was later a commander at the B

ellizzi MacRae American Legion. Rose, Tony’s mother, has been an active member of the community for decades. She served as a past president of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, where she led a campaign to help veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. She spent many years volunteering at St. Anthony’s church, Bellizzi MacRae, and on many other neighborhood projects. Lifetime of Public Service

Tony’s interest in public service first came from his father, a man who had a deep understanding of how important and real the American dream is. Alfonso and his family fled the fascist government in Italy led by Benito Mussolini. He knew what American freedom was really about, was proud to fight for it overseas, and was proud to support the government programs that helped make it a reality for many working families. That sense of service led Tony to working for Polk County at the age of 21. He worked as an environmental sanitarian, inspecting restaurants, sewage disposal, and water supplies. He would later become the president of his local AFSCME union. He first ran for office at the age of 24, and later got elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1986. There he served three terms before being elected to the State Senate. He served in the Senate for four years, where he soon attained the rank of President Pro Temp. Tony built a reputation of fighting for working families, equality, small businesses, and economic fairness. Tony’s Family

Tony and Kim, his wife of 39 years, raised three children in Des Moines: Emily, Allison, and Nick. Tony kept very active in the South Side with his children’s athletics activities. He coached Little League for a number of years and was a booster of Lincoln High School sports. Tony is also active with the Southside Cares organization

Tragedy struck the Bisignano family when their teenage son, Nick, died in a drunken driving accident. Afterward, Tony started the Nick Bisignano Foundation to promote responsible choices among young people. The foundation funded public service announcements to be responsible and make good choices, and awarded scholarship programs to students at Lincoln High School for good citizenship. Tony also took his message back to the Statehouse. Then-Governor Tom Vilsack proposed Nick’s Law, many of which’s proposals have passed the Legislature and become law in recent years. Looking Forward

Tony’s entire life has been focused on public service in the name of standing up for working people, children, the elderly, and immigrants. Tony admits he has made his share of mistakes, and his family has seen more than one’s fair share of tragedy. Through it all, Tony has been committed to making life better for children, seniors, and working families. Tony’s mission is to represent you and your family like the friends and neighbors you are. He asks for your vote in the June 3rd Primary for the Democratic nomination for Senate District 17. Issues

Working Families

Tony has built a strong reputation of fighting for issues and legislation affecting working class people. He has lived in Des Moines all his life, and will represent the voters of Senate District 17 like the friends and neighbors they are. Tony will never sell out to corporate interests. Unlike other candidates in this race, Tony will never lobby or advocate for the very organizations and corporations that have caused economic pain and hardship for the working people of Des Moines. Many labor organizations that represent working people, including the Des Moines police and firefighters unions, have endorsed Tony as their choice to fight for issues affecting working families. The same people that we trust to protect our safety have Tony’s back in this campaign because Tony has always had the back of working men and women. Caring for Our Seniors

Senior care is an important and personal issue to the voters of Senate District 17. Tony stops by his 90-year-old mother’s house every day to check in on her. Tony and his wife have helped his mother afford to stay in the same house that she was born in. But rising property taxes have forced tough choices on many seniors and their families. Tony proposes we look into freezing property taxes for seniors living on a fixed income. The state recently approved property tax breaks for large corporations – certainly we can find money to help keep seniors living in their homes. For those seniors who do move into a nursing home, Tony believes the state must do more to ensure they are being treated well and with respect at these facilities. Governor Branstad recently let go 10 senior home inspectors. Not only do we need to hire those people back, we should probably hire 10 more. Raising the Minimum Wage

Nothing else would do more to immediately help working families struggling at the bottom of the economic ladder than raising the minimum wage. Tony has seen the people of his district work harder for less money every year. We need to reward work with a real paycheck, one that can help families raise their children and plan for the future. Small Business

Small, family-run businesses are the heart of the South Side that Tony grew up in. The restaurants run by his cousins Babe, Chuck, and Linda are well-known throughout Des Moines. Tony wants the Legislature to focus on policies that help small businesses instead of more handouts to big corporations that are doing perfectly fine on their own. Education

Tony knows that education, from preschool through college, is the great equalizer for children in Iowa. That is why he will strongly support expanding access to universal preschool, helping students who face the added burden of living in poverty keep up with the rest of their classmates. Tony will also push to make school lunch 100% included in the price of public education. Recently a student in Norwalk had her lunch thrown away after she got to the register and her card was out of money. Tony thinks that is ridiculous. 60% is already covered, and there’s no reason we can’t find funds to eliminate the need for a lunch card altogether. No child should have to worry about whether or not they can eat lunch when they go to school. Student loan debt is another major issue facing young people and our economy. Recent college graduates are loaded down with large student loan debt. They can’t start their lives and can’t contribute as easily to the local economy if they have no money to spend. Tony believes Iowa needs to look into ways to ease the burden of student loans through lower interest rates or helpful tax credits.

03/19/2025

Yesterday the Senate debated and passed SR6, a resolution that confirms the rules and operations of the Senate. I proposed an amendment that would force the majority leader to bring any bill up for debate if 26 members of the Senate signed a petition requesting it. This amendment would have brought the discussion on property rights forward, a long overdue conversation here on the Senate floor. Unfortunately my amendment did not pass, with only 4 republicans joining the democrats.

Today was Oakridge Neighborhood's Day on the Hill! Oakridge Neighborhood is a nonprofit housing and human services agenc...
03/18/2025

Today was Oakridge Neighborhood's Day on the Hill! Oakridge Neighborhood is a nonprofit housing and human services agency here in Des Moines that have helped over 20,000 families and 75,000 individuals since opening in 1969. Of the nearly 800 residents, over 50% are children under 18 and 99% are low-income. Oakridge Neighborhood provides solutions to challenges Iowans face everyday, from early childhood education to adult and family workforce programs.

https://oakridgeneighborhood.org/

03/11/2025

Today was LGBTQ+ Day on the Hill. I was honored to be invited by One Iowa and speak in support of LGBTQ+ Iowans. You can listen to my full remarks below.

Tuesday was Iowa State University's Day on the Hill! I spent time speaking with students and faculty to learn more about...
03/06/2025

Tuesday was Iowa State University's Day on the Hill! I spent time speaking with students and faculty to learn more about the innovative research they are working on to help Iowans across the state. My favorite part of ISU Day was meeting Tilly, a rescue turtle living in Spock's Sanctuary.

03/06/2025

On Tuesday, I attended the Des Moines School Board meeting to share my support for the students in the agriscience program, better known as FFA. The Des Moines FFA chapter is one of a kind- with an on-site barn, 3 greenhouses, a hydroponic system, and an orchard. By putting this program on pause for even 1 year, these students will miss out on so many opportunities that could impact their future. I have never been more proud of these students, standing up for themselves and the community they have built through this program.

03/05/2025

SJR 6 - the proposal to eliminate the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, will NOT be brought up by the State Government Committee. Thank you to everyone who shared their immense opposition with me and my colleagues on either side of the aisle, your voices have been heard!

Last week I had an interview with The Advocate about SF 418. You can click the link below to read more. https://www.advo...
03/03/2025

Last week I had an interview with The Advocate about SF 418. You can click the link below to read more.

https://www.advocate.com/politics/tony-bisignano-iowa-transgender-rights-speech

Iowa senator condemns GOP in fiery speech over trans civil rights repeal: ‘Shame on all of you Christians’ (exclusive)

State Sen. Tony Bisignano doubled down on calling out Republican lawmakers for stripping away civil rights protections for transgender people in an interview with The Advocate.

03/03/2025

Trump's new HHS Director and Iowa Dems share a common enemy. Does this change Republicans' vote?

Please join Megan for Iowa, State Representative Brian Meyer and I tomorrow for the South Side forum!📍 Saturday, March 1...
02/28/2025

Please join Megan for Iowa, State Representative Brian Meyer and I tomorrow for the South Side forum!

📍 Saturday, March 1st
📍 10:00 - 11:00am
📍 South Side Library - 1111 Porter Ave

02/28/2025
02/20/2025

Does SSB1051 shield pesticide companies from lawsuits? How does it really work?

02/20/2025

I'm passing on the point of personal privilege I made this past Monday regarding the chaos erupting in Washington, D.C.

Today I met with Jason, a constituent of mine who represents the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers. Jason brought some conc...
02/17/2025

Today I met with Jason, a constituent of mine who represents the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers. Jason brought some concerns around upcoming legislation to my attention and we discussed the effects it will have across the state.

02/06/2025

Meet Elaina, a constituent of mine who has dyslexia and came to the capitol to advocate for SF 72 - a bill that reimburses educators who obtain an advanced dyslexia endorsement. This endorsement is important because it gives educators the tools necessary to teach kids with dyslexia.

Elaina did an amazing job speaking up in subcommittee, advocating for not only herself, but all Iowans with dyslexia.

Today was Decoding Dyslexia's Day on the Hill! I met with Carrie Johnsen, who was advocating on behalf of her children f...
02/06/2025

Today was Decoding Dyslexia's Day on the Hill!

I met with Carrie Johnsen, who was advocating on behalf of her children for legislation that would enhance educators' understanding of teaching students with dyslexia.

My constituents, Shelley and her granddaughter Elaina, discussed with me how dyslexia has impacted their lives. Elaina currently lacks access to a dyslexia professional at her school, and seeks legislation that would improve educators' comprehension of teaching children with dyslexia.

Yesterday I met pharmacy students from Drake University's Pharmacy School! These students were at the capitol advocating...
02/06/2025

Yesterday I met pharmacy students from Drake University's Pharmacy School! These students were at the capitol advocating for the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers. They sat in on two subcommittee meetings, SSB 1074 and HSB 99. These similar bills would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reimburse pharmacies for the average acquisition cost of the drug, and restrict PBMs ability to set limits on who can fill a person's prescription.

A look inside:
From the pharmacy students perspective, the passing of these bills is extremely important for Iowans. Patients should not have to choose between affording their medication or putting food on the table. They shared the story of a 9 year old boy who could not get a necessary medication, and is now forced to undergo a shoulder replacement. Stories like this are becoming all too common in Iowa, and I look forward to passing this legislation and bringing change to all Iowans.

Pictured from left to right,
Drake Pharmacy Students Hannah, Katie, Sen. Bisignano, and Shelby.

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Videos

Yesterday the Senate debated and passed SR6, a resolution that confirms the rules and operations of the Senate. I proposed an amendment that would force the majority leader to bring any bill up for debate if 26 members of the Senate signed a petition requesting it. This amendment would have brought the discussion on property rights forward, a long overdue conversation here on the Senate floor. Unfortunately my amendment did not pass, with only 4 republicans joining the democrats.

Today was LGBTQ+ Day on the Hill. I was honored to be invited by One Iowa and speak in support of LGBTQ+ Iowans. You can listen to my full remarks below.

On Tuesday, I attended the Des Moines School Board meeting to share my support for the students in the agriscience program, better known as FFA. The Des Moines FFA chapter is one of a kind- with an on-site barn, 3 greenhouses, a hydroponic system, and an orchard. By putting this program on pause for even 1 year, these students will miss out on so many opportunities that could impact their future. I have never been more proud of these students, standing up for themselves and the community they have built through this program.

I'm passing on the point of personal privilege I made this past Monday regarding the chaos erupting in Washington, D.C.

Decoding Dyslexia Day on the Hill
Decoding Dyslexia Day on the Hill

Meet Elaina, a constituent of mine who has dyslexia and came to the capitol to advocate for SF 72 - a bill that reimburses educators who obtain an advanced dyslexia endorsement. This endorsement is important because it gives educators the tools necessary to teach kids with dyslexia. Elaina did an amazing job speaking up in subcommittee, advocating for not only herself, but all Iowans with dyslexia.

Below is the follow-up video to my previous post on HF2319 - an act prohibiting guaranteed income programs. This legislation should not have been a topic of discussion in our chamber. If the republicans are going to take away a little extra money from those who need it, I will call them out on the extra money they are given for their farms through subsidies.

Today the legislature passed HF2426, a bill that makes hotel inspections necessary only upon receiving a complaint. After doing inspections for 10 years, I know firsthand how important and necessary hotel inspections are. Iowans and those traveling to our State deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the room they are paying for has been inspected within the last year.

Today was a win for me as a bill I have been working on for the past 6 years has passed the Senate. SF 295 is a bill that assists in creating, administrating, and the termination of adult and minor guardianships and conservatorships. I would not have been able to pass this bill without bi-partisanship from Senator Dawson, and a new friend, Josephine Gittler, a Law Professor at The University of Iowa.

Today I aggressively fought for our friends, family, children, brothers, and sisters across the State for better allocation of funds from the opioid settlement. Iowans deserve access to quality treatment centers. Iowa children deserve access to quality treatment centers. Iowans deserve access to any help they need to assist in their addiction recovery. Iowans deserve to know why 25% of the funds will be allocated to the Attorney General who will not treat a person or give them a bed. Iowans deserve better than the bill the Senate passed today.

With the recent death of Alexei Navalny, it is even more critical that the United States supports Ukraine. We need bipartisanship in Washington to support Ukraine and end this war before it progresses further. Last Thursday I made a point to the Senate Chamber, speaking of our support for Ukraine. Those of us who remember the Cold War know that Vladimir Putin will stop at nothing to reunite the Soviet Union and dominate the world.

Late last night Republican politicians passed an extreme law banning abortion in Iowa. Here are my comments on the Senate floor standing up for the reproductive freedom of all Iowans.

As a former food safety inspector, I fought hard to defeat this bill
As a former food safety inspector, I fought hard to defeat this bill

Today I stood up against a dangerous bill to allow the sale of hot foods from homes and apartments here in Iowa. Allowing people to prepare meals for sale in their home kitchens and sell them out their front door raises serious food safety concerns and could be a nuisance to neighbors. As a former food safety inspector, I fought hard to defeat this bill and protect public health and safety.

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