Iowa Code § 2.61: Requests for research.

Requests for research on governmental matters may be made to the legislative services agency by either house of the general assembly, committees of either house of the general assembly, special interim committees of the general assembly, the legislative council, or upon petition by twenty or more members of the general assembly. Any legislative committee may request the legislative services agency to do research on any matter under consideration by such committee. For each such request the legislative council may, if deemed advisable, authorize a special interim study committee to conduct the research study or may request a standing committee to conduct such study. Members on a study committee shall be appointed by the council and shall consist of at least one member of the council and such other members of the majority and minority parties of the senate and the house of representatives as the council may designate. As far as practicable, a study committee shall include members of standing committees concerned with the subject matter of the study. No legislator shall serve on more than two study committees. Nonlegislative members having special knowledge of the subject under study may be appointed by the council to a study committee but such members shall be nonvoting members of such committee. The legislative services agency shall assist study committees on research studies when authorized by the legislative council.