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4 days ago
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Pride Month event organizers see increased engagement amidst anti-LGBTQ+ activity
Organizers are preparing to celebrate Pride Month in Des Moines through Capital City Pride's Pridefest. (Photo by Tom Foley/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Pride Month event organizers in Iowa are seeing an increase in participation amidst national and state activity targeting the queer community. 'People in the community that are passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and are passionate about the LGBTQ+ community are showing up because they know this is an important time,' said Wes Mullins, executive director of Capital City Pride. Every June, celebrations of Pride Month focus on self-affirmation, dignity, equality, increased visibility and connections within Iowa's LGBTQ+ community, and Capital City Pride's Pridefest is the largest LGBTQ+ annual gathering in Iowa. The focus is on the so-called 'Five Pillars of Pride,' which are education, family, health and wellness, community and celebration. Each year, Pridefest hosts the Pride Stride 5k — an event that in previous years never had more than 500 participants. This year, there are more than 750. Additionally, all of the available vendor spaces at Pridefest have been booked for the first time in the event's history. 'One of the hardest things in the LGBTQ+ community is combatting a sense of isolation and loneliness,' Mullins said. 'With the political attacks on the LGBTQ+ community that have been happening, it's even more important to make sure people are able to connect.' Earlier this year, Iowa became the first state to remove civil rights protections from a protected class by removing 'gender identity' as a protected characteristic under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit and public accommodations. After the law goes into effect on July 1, transgender Iowans will no longer have those protections under the state's Civil Rights Act. Mullins calls the revisions to the Iowa Civil Rights Act an 'embarrassment.' PHC Iowa, a healthcare provider, has already closed all gender-affirming care clinics to avoid losing federal funding. A 2024 study found that state-level, anti-transgender laws can cause up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary youth. 'I think people have whiplash in Iowa City, seeing the things happening at the state or federal level and they say, 'that's not my community, that's not what's happening here,' but the reality is that is happening to a lot of other folks,' said Andy Owens, executive director of Iowa City Pride. House File 856, a bill signed into Iowa law on May 27, prohibits public entities from engaging in certain activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The new law also prohibits any state organization from attempting to promote a policy or activity that references unconscious or implicit bias, cultural appropriation, transgender ideology, group marginalization, anti-racism and many other related concepts. Owens says the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion on a state and federal level has had an impact on many young people in need of support. 'When offices that are dedicated to support and advocacy disappear, then resources become more scarce,' he said. 'That hurts.' Another bill, House File 51, targeted drag shows, defined as shows in which a performer 'exhibits a gender identity that is different than the performer's gender assigned at birth.' Initially, the bill provided that anyone who brought a minor to one of the performances could be charged with a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The bill was later revised to include an 'obscene performance' definition and to make it a misdemeanor offense to take a minor aged 13 or younger to one of the performances. Owens says in its original form the bill was 'not an easy pill to swallow' and sparked fears that the organization would not be allowed to have outdoor drag performers during the festival. However, due to revisions in the bill's final language, Iowa City Pride will proceed as planned. Iowa City Pride is one of the oldest Pride organizations in the country, founded just a year after the Stonewall riots in 1969. Owens said this is a 'challenging' time for Iowans on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, especially trans individuals. However, he added, these times also provide 'an opportunity for us to recalibrate' and maximize support. He said Pride organizations are 'working even harder' to stage more events, support the community and work with other Pride organizations and advocacy groups throughout the state. Mullins said Capital City Pride has also tried to partner with other organizations, such as lobbyists and legislative organizations — at least to the extent they can, given CCP's status as a non-profit organization. As part of its work, CCP is connecting isolated individuals to mental health services and community organizations 'in the midst of these attacks.' Owens said he feels anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and protest have been 'drowned out by the voices of people who are supportive.' He says this year's Pride festival is 'shaping up to be the biggest one' Iowa City has ever had. Additionally, ICP has started an unofficial partnership with Coralville to expand their Pride organization and expand their community's work beyond Iowa City. When asked how the community can support their work, both Mullins and Owens said the same thing: show up and donate. As nonprofit organizations, much of CCP's and ICP's revenue consists of donations — but both organizations stress the importance of being present for Pride events. Mullins also suggests that people check in on friends and family who are members of the community to ensure everyone feels connected. The Capital City Pridefest has events all month. The festival this weekend provides a family and youth zone for children, a teen zone, a pet pageant for 'four-legged friends,' and a 'Pride Ride' bike ride for members of the Iowa cycling community. The Iowa City Pride festival will take place on June 21 from noon to 10 p.m.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs 25 bills, including fireworks and school funding measures
Gov. Kim Reynolds, shown here delivering the Condition of the State message on Jan. 14, 2025, signed bills including school funding, fireworks rules and lawsuit protections in First Amendment cases. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Gov. Kim Reynolds signed 25 bills into law Monday, including measures related to fireworks, school funding and First Amendment rights. The slate of bills signed is the first action on legislation Reynolds has taken since the 2025 legislative session adjourned Thursday. However, these are not the first bills she has signed this year — the governor has already signed into law several measures, including high-profile laws like the ban on using cellphones while driving outside of handsfree or voice-activated modes, and the removal of gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. There are still many other measures awaiting Reynolds' signature that passed this session. The governor has until June 14 — 30 days from the end of session — to sign bills passed this year into law. Measures she does not sign during this period are considered a 'pocket veto' and do not become law. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Here are some of the bills Reynolds signed Monday: Iowa lawmakers sent Reynolds Senate File 167, the State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate for the 2025-2026 school year, in April. The legislation came to the governor much later than in many previous years — the Legislature has a self-imposed deadline to pass the SSA rate for the upcoming school year within 30 days of the governor's budget being released in January, though there is no penalty for failing to meet this target. This year, House and Senate Republicans reached an agreement setting the SSA rate for the upcoming school year at 2%, an increase of $157 per K-12 student for the per-pupil funding mechanism for Iowa schools. The bill also included some funding components for Iowa schools that Republicans said will help address inequities with rural school district funding, including a $5 bump to the State Cost Per Pupil (SCPP) and a 5% increase to the rate of funding per pupil to the transportation equity fund. Democrats said the 2% rate will not provide enough funding for schools, saying that 159 Iowa school districts will be on the budget guarantee for the upcoming school year — a process that increases local property taxes when school districts' funding needs are not met by state aid. The governor also signed House File 472 into law, a measure targeting 'strategic lawsuits against public participation,' also known as SLAPP lawsuits. SLAPP cases are civil lawsuits filed by businesses, individuals or organizations against news organizations and activists that are typically a means to try to silence these entities from publishing stories or making public statements about a specific topic. The lawsuits are not filed necessarily with the intention to win in court, but as a means to draw down time and money from the people being sued to prevent them from continuing to report or talk about a subject. The law is a way to provide protections for defendants in these cases by giving courts the ability to grant expedited relief in cases involving First Amendment rights, like the freedoms of speech and press. This is a bill that has come up in multiple previous legislative sessions, but did not receive Senate approval until this year. Discussions in Iowa started on SLAPP lawsuits after a 2018 case in which a Carroll police officer sued the Carroll Times Herald when the newspaper reported he had sexual relationships with teenagers — information the officer confirmed was true. The judge had dismissed the lawsuit, but the Carroll Times Herald accrued more than $100,000 in legal fees, nearly putting the paper out of business. Senate File 303 prevents Iowa cities and counties from prohibiting or limiting the use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31. Iowans must still follow state laws regulating the use of fireworks, like a ban on fireworks sales to minors or the use of 'display' fireworks without local permission, during these three days. However, other further restrictions could not be set by local jurisdictions. Several cities in Iowa, like Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City, have more restrictions or total bans on the use of fireworks that would no longer be enforceable on these three days. Local rules could still be enforced during other periods when fireworks are permitted for legal use by the state — from June 1 through July 8 and Dec. 10 through Jan. 3 of each year. During floor debate on the bill, Republican lawmakers supporting the measure said this change was necessary to allow Iowans to fully participate in the the country's 250th anniversary, referring to President Donald Trump's idea to begin celebrations at the Iowa State Fair for the 'Great American State Fair' from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa Senate approves Gov. Kim Reynolds' appointees despite objections over LGBTQ stances
The Iowa Senate has confirmed several more of Gov. Kim Reynolds' appointees to state boards and commissions, including her picks to serve on the regulatory panel for controversial carbon capture pipelines and two picks for state civil and human rights panels. The Senate also approved an appointee to the Board of Regents governing of Iowa's public universities as well as the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy. Confirming the governor's appointees to state boards and commissions requires approval from two-thirds of the 50-member Senate, which is controlled by Republicans. Iowa Senate Republicans confirmed two of the governor's appointees to state civil and human rights panels May 9 who were both opposed by One Iowa, the state's leading LGBTQ advocacy group. In a 34-16 vote on party lines, the Senate confirmed Cheryl Elsloo to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission that enforces the state's antidiscrimination law and Whitney Smith McIntosh to the Human Rights Board, which serves underrepresented groups across the state. One Iowa Executive Director Max Mowitz issued a statement in April sounding the alarm about the appointments and said "there should be some baseline requirements for the Human Rights Board and Civil Rights Commission, and those include supporting civil rights for everyone." Elsloo has been a lobbyist with Protect My Innocence, which bills itself as a nonprofit group that defends the innocence of Iowa minors. One Iowa called it an anti-LGBTQ hate group. She has lobbied in favor of earlier versions of legislation to remove gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, criminalize bringing minors to drag shows and amend the Iowa Constitution to end same-sex marriage. The latter two measures have never advanced in any form in the Legislature, but Reynolds in February did sign a bill ending transgender Iowans' civil rights protections into law. The new law takes effect July 1. One Iowa said Smith McIntosh has a "history of making hurtful, inflammatory statements against LGBTQ Iowans." The Des Moines Register reported in July 2022 that some community members objected to some of Smith McIntosh's social media activity as anti-LGBTQ. She is a Southeast Polk school board member. She liked an image on Facebook from June 2022 that shows fire raining down on a city with the text "Fireworks in honor of Pride Month." The image appears to depict the Biblical story of God destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. In a comment on the post, Smith McIntosh wrote that any kind of pride is a sin that will invite the wrath of God. "Sexually confused people need help, respect and support to turn to God," she wrote under the post. She also commented on a March 2022 post about Lia Thomas, the University of Pennsylvania swimmer and a transgender woman whose success at the college national championships fueled debate over whether transgender female athletes participating in women's sports have an unfair advantage. "I say we refer to him by his biological name," Smith McIntosh wrote, misgendering Thomas. "Look, we understand that we aren't necessarily going to agree politically with everyone the governor appoints, that's a given," Mowitz said. "But this is more than just a political disagreement. This is about someone who can't even do the bare minimum to respect others. That is not someone who should be on the Human Rights Board." Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, was the only Senate Democrat to speak on any of the governor's appointments May 9. "I was originally planning on supporting Ms. Smith McIntosh," Celsi said. "Since then, I have heard some very disconcerting commentary of things that she has spoken about that are completely against, I believe, humanity, if you want to go there, and just very, very unflattering, so I cannot support this nomination." Smith McIntosh said in a statement that "people can say what they want, they can think what they want," but she was ultimately confirmed to the Human Rights Board. "I will be on this board for the next three years and I plan on doing everything I can to make sure that the human rights of all humans are honored and respected," Smith McIntosh said. "But first we need to define what a right is." Former Republican state Rep. Joshua Byrnes will serve a second term on the three-member Iowa Utilities Commission, which has come under fire from some Republican lawmakers for approving eminent domain use for a planned carbon capture pipeline. The Senate confirmed Byrnes May 13 for another term serving on the commission, 45-1, with Sen. Doug Campbell, R-Mason City, casting the sole vote against his appointment. Despite heated debates and divisions among Senate Republicans over the passage of a bill limiting eminent domain use for carbon pipelines, only one lawmaker rose to speak about his appointment. Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, said Byrnes had an "interesting ride" when the Senate confirmed his appointment to the panel four years ago. "Working with him at the UIC in this position, he is doing great work for the Iowa Utilities Commission for the state of Iowa as a board member of the Iowa Utilities Commission," Klimesh said. "He's very dedicated, he digs in, he's not afraid to tackle and solve complex issues." Several House and Senate Republican lawmakers have heavily criticized the commission's 2024 unanimous decision to grant Summit Carbon Solutions' permit to build a carbon capture pipeline across Iowa using eminent domain. Byrnes voted to approve the Summit pipeline's permits, but was also one of two board members who filed a dissent to a section of the pipeline he thought imposed a burden. "The North-South lateral runs approximately 123 miles through seven counties and impacts 118 eminent domain parcels — all of which are necessary to serve only one ethanol facility," Byrnes wrote. He was first appointed to the commission Nov. 30, 2020. Byrnes served in the Iowa House for six years starting in 2011. He attended Luther College and obtained a master's degree from Winona State University. The Senate also confirmed Christine Hensley, a Republican from Des Moines, to fill the empty seat left by former board President Mike Richards, who resigned in January 2024. Her term will expire April 30, 2027. Lawmakers confirmed Hensley May 9 on party lines, 34-16. She was previously a Des Moines City Council member and is president of the Iowa Student Loan Corp. Hensley was not one of the appointees that One Iowa shared concerns about. She attended Drake University and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Grand View University. The Iowa Senate took a bipartisan 43-3 vote to confirm Victoria Sharp, the deputy chief of staff of the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, for her first three-year term on the state Board of Medicine. Sharp has practiced medicine for over 20 years and received her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson and a Master of Business Administration at the UI Tippie College of Business. Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, spoke in support of Sharp's confirmation, but criticized systemic problems with the Board of Medicine and the direction of health care policy in Iowa under Reynolds. "As many of you in the chamber have heard me say over and over, I am not pleased with how the Board of Medicine has been handling cases," Petersen said May 13. She pointed to the case of Sherri Moler, of Eldridge, who in 2023 sued Lynn Lindaman for sexually assaulting her 47 years earlier. Lindaman is a former athletic trainer who, after his conviction, became an orthopedic surgeon in Polk County. Petersen said Moler "went to the board and was ignored." "Her case, when they said that they had done an investigation on a doctor, she had never even been contacted by the investigators regarding her case," Petersen said. Sens. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville; Mark Lofgren, R-Muscatine; and Campbell voted against Sharp's confirmation. David Weetman, director of the University of Iowa Health Care's acute care, will join the Board of Pharmacy after unanimous confirmation by 46 members of the Senate. He will serve a three-year term on the Board of Pharmacy, which is made up of five pharmacists, two members of the public and one certified pharmacy technician. Weetman completed his residency and obtained a Master of Science from Johns Hopkins University and received a pharmacy degree from the UI College of Pharmacy. Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin. Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@ Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Senate confirms appointees to Iowa utilities, civil rights panels
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15-05-2025
- Business
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What passed, what failed and what Gov. Kim Reynolds already signed from the 2025 session
The golden dome of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Republicans' supermajorities in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature allowed them to push several high-profile bills to the governor throughout the legislative session – but many of the thousands of bills discussed this session failed to advance. Lawmakers adjourned for the 2025 legislative session early Thursday after a night of debate and closed-door caucus meetings and nearly two weeks after the session was scheduled to end. Republicans were able to reach agreements Wednesday to pass several of the policy bills that had failed to advance earlier in the session, including Gov. Kim Reynolds' bills providing paid parental leave for state employees and reducing the state's unemployment insurance taxes on employers. Earlier in the year, the Republican-controlled chambers moved quickly to pass measures like the bill removing gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Other measures passed through with less coordination – legislation on eminent domain use in carbon sequestration pipelines only made it to a vote following a concerted effort by a group of 12 GOP senators who said they would not support any budget bills until the bill was brought to the floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX However, many of the bills discussed throughout the session failed to make it to the governor's desk. Among the legislation that failed are several of the priorities put forward by Reynolds in January, as well as legislation on a top issue highlighted by Republican legislative leaders: property taxes. Though many measures failed this session, they can be revived in the 2026 legislative session, the second part of the 91st General Assembly. Additionally, not all of the bills passed are guaranteed to become law – they're contingent on Reynolds' signature. Iowa Legislature adjourns 2025 session with many GOP priorities checked off The governor has 30 days from the end of session, June 14, to sign bills passed from the 2025 session into law. Here's a breakdown on high-profile bills passed and signed into law from this session – and the legislation that did not move forward: Gender identity protections: Reynolds signed Senate File 418 into law in February, removing gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The bill, the first measure signed from this session, removes protections against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and education for transgender individuals on the basis of their gender identity. It also removes Iowans' ability to change their sex as designated on their birth certificate after receiving gender-affirming medical treatment, and modifies definitions of 'sex' and 'gender' in Iowa law, and changes language in the law banning material related to gender identity for K-6 students to refer to 'gender theory.' Hands-free cellphones: Senate File 22, signed into law in April, bans the handheld use of cellphones and other electronic devices while driving when not in voice-activated or handsfree modes. The measure has been supported by law enforcement officials and families of people involved in car accidents that said the state's current distracted driving laws do not allow for effective enforcement. Warnings will begin for violations of the law July 1, with penalties beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Nursing home oversight: House File 309 changed a 2024 law that allows nursing homes to provide additional context and evidence before the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing makes a decision to issue a citation when reviewing claims of substandard care and placing residents in immediate jeopardy of serious injury or death. Democrats brought forward multiple amendments to add other proposals they said would improve nursing home oversight in the state that were not granted subcommittee hearings that were not added to the bill. Open beverage containers: House File 181, signed into law in March, extends Iowa's ban on open containers of alcoholic beverages in the passenger compartments of vehicles to drinks containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Workforce training contract requirements: Senate File 603 makes changes to the state Registered Apprenticeship Act, barring state agencies and local governments from mandating requirements related to apprenticeship training for contractors outside of legal requirements. Local entities would also not be allowed implement other 'restrictions, qualifications, or requirements' on contractors, subcontractors, developers and apprentices. Accreditation retaliation: House File 295 would bar national accrediting agencies from taking negative actions against state universities for complying with, or refusing to disobey, state law. If authorized by the attorney general, universities with cause would have the option to file a civil suit against the accreditor. It was signed by Reynolds May 6. Cellphones in school: Reynolds signed House File 782 into law in April, a bill requiring public K-12 school districts set a policy on cell phones that, at minimum, bans their use during instructional periods beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The measure contains exemptions, including for students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan that involves accommodations using a cellphone or other device. Parents can also ask school districts to allow their child keep access to their phone during class periods if they establish a 'legitimate' reason related to the student's mental or physical health. Career education: Career planning is required for fifth- and sixth-grade curriculum alongside expanded career education in seventh and eighth grades under House File 316. The Iowa Department of Education is also required to develop a list of industry recognized credentials and create a seal for schools to put on student transcripts and other documents if they have earned a professional credential while in the K-12 school system. Charter school boards: House File 785 would require all members of a charter school board to be U.S. residents, and that only one member of the board can live outside Iowa. Concussion diagnoses: House File 471 would expand the definition of 'licensed health care provider' who can direct a student to be removed from extracurriculars because they show signs of brain damage or concussions. The definition is expanded to include people with a doctorate in psychology who have specialty training in neuropsychology or concussion management. Court-ordered college payments: Senate File 513 will bar courts from ordering parties involved in the dissolution of a marriage to pay a postsecondary education subsidy for dependents. Reynolds signed the legislation May 6. National Guard financial aid: House Files 117 and 118, both signed by the governor in early May, expand National Guard scholarship programs, with HF 117 establishing a new program for non-traditional degree seekers and HF 118 making changes to the National Guard Service Scholarship program. Threat assessment teams: Senate File 583 authorizes K-12 school districts, private schools and charter schools to create threat assessment teams consisting of school officials, law enforcement, mental health and social services workers. These teams, tasked with preventing school shootings and other violence, are allowed to share 'reasonably necessary' information about students when their behavior could pose a safety risk to other students or school staff. Tuition freeze: House File 440 would require state universities to study impacts of keeping tuition for students at what they paid their first undergraduate year. Universities would also need to establish at least one three-year degree program and institute work plus programs, where students can work part time and have their tuition paid for by a qualified employer. Reynolds signed the legislation May 6. Year-round academic calendar: House File 392 would allows school districts to apply to implement year-round school calendars for ninth through 12th grade. Firearm age limits: House File 924 lowers the age limit for carrying a firearm from age 21 to 18, a measure lawmakers said was needed in response to court rulings that found state age limits for people over 18 were unconstitutional. Drones: Senate File 491 further restricts remote-piloted aircrafts from flying over farmsteads in Iowa. The bill would prohibit drones, without landowner permission, to fly within 400 feet of farm animals, farm equipment or structures. Reynolds approved the bill May 6. Natural disaster assistance: Senate File 619 retroactively appropriates $13.6 million from the Iowa Economic Emergency Fund for fiscal year 2025, backfilling the response efforts following severe flooding and tornados in the summer of 2024. A majority of the funding, $11.6 million, goes to the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program and $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund, in addition to extending tax exclusions for developers building new houses in disaster-impacted areas. Other components of the bill include allowing the Iowa Department of Management access to 10% of the state's Economic Emergency Fund when the governor issues a disaster proclamation and the creation of a new loan program for 'ongoing risk mitigation' projects. Roofs on docks: House File 710, signed into law May 6, allows hard dock roofs over boat slips and hoists on Iowa lakes. The law fixes an issue impacting dock owners in Carter Lake which has shores in both Iowa and Nebraska. Grain indemnity: Senate File 608 was approved by the Legislature, as a compromise between the bills proposed in each chamber. The final version of the bill, which was sent to the governor, will increase the grain indemnity fund maximum to $16 million, and minimum to $8 million, to cover farmers' losses when their buyers go broke. It would also allow farmers with deferred-pricing contracts to partake in the fund's protections. Absence exception for religious instruction: House File 870 allows students who are absent from school while attending religious instruction to be exempt from some state attendance laws. Bullying definition: House File 865 would change the definition of bullying and harassment in Iowa Code to 'repeated and targeted' acts and conduct that create a hostile school environment for a student. This is a shift from current language that defines bullying as acts and conduct based on 'any actual or perceived trait or characteristic,' with 17 characteristics, including age, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability listed as potential traits a student could face bullying over. While Republicans said schools were not enforcing anti-bullying laws if the student was not facing harassment because of one of the listed categories, Democrats said the change could mean some instances of bullying go unaddressed because they are not 'repeated and targeted' acts. Child abuse investigations: Though House File 389 – a bill that proposed giving the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services the authority to investigate alleged child abuse cases at schools – did not pass as a standalone measure, the language from this proposal made it to the governor through the standings appropriations bill. The language also allows Iowa HHS to work with the state Board of Educational Examiners when school employees were involved in these cases. Fetal development instruction: Senate File 175 is a measure requiring human growth and development classes for Iowa students in grades 5-12 include fetal development videos and graphics depicting 'the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, starting at fertilization.' It is similar to bills discussed in previous sessions that directly reference the 'Meet Baby Olivia' video produced by an anti-abortion organization, though this year's bill does not include a specific reference to it. But this year's measure does include one new provision – the House added a ban on materials to meet this requirement coming from entities that perform or 'promote' abortions, or that contract, affiliate, or make referrals to organizations that perform or promote abortions. Math education: House File 784 is Reynolds' proposal to improve math education following recent scoring that the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results that found mathematics scores decreased for Iowa fourth and eighth graders. The measure creates personalized mathematics plans and other intervention strategies to assist K-6 students deemed 'persistently at risk' for mathematics proficiency, as determined through a mathematics screener from the Iowa Department of Education. Nonpublic school athletics: School districts would be directed to allow students living in the district but attending a nonpublic school to participate in athletics offered by the public school district that were not offered by the private school for the past two years under House File 189. School performance profiles: House File 393 would change how school performance grades are calculated for school districts, by stating the schools will not have their grade impacted by students who of school multiple times past the first instance. U.S. citizenship test: Iowa high schoolers would be required to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test to graduate beginning in the 2026-2027 school year under Senate File 369. The measure requires students earn at least 60% to pass, with those who fail allowed to retake the test as many times as necessary to earn a passing grade. Vaccine exemptions: House File 299 would require all K-12 schools, child care centers, community colleges, public universities and private universities using the tuition grant program to include information on vaccine requirement exemptions in communications with students and families about vaccines. Child care providers and K-12 schools are also required to publish information about exemptions on their website and in student registration documents under the bill. College reporting requirements: House File 890 would change where community colleges provide program-level data to from the state community colleges bureau to the Iowa Department of Education through its annual report. The Iowa Department of Administrative Services and Department of Education would also be required to develop an annual compensation schedule and determine benefits for all employees of the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Iowa School for the Deaf. DEI in state entities: House File 856 would bar state entities, including community colleges, from spending any funds on opening or keeping diversity, equity and inclusion offices or officials. The Iowa Senate voted to remove private universities from the bill through amendment May 9, to which the House concurred and sent the bill to the governor's desk May 13. Medical residency requirements: House File 516 would require the University of Iowa doctor of medicine and dental programs to enroll classes made up of at least 80% resident students, or those who meet other qualifications. Pregnant student accommodations: Senate File 288, passed unanimously out of both chambers, would require public universities to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant students and new mothers. These accommodations include allowing leaves of absence and providing more time to make up assignments and tests. School of intellectual freedom: House File 437 would have the University of Iowa establish a center for intellectual freedom, which would focus on 'the historical ideas, traditions and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society,' according to bill language, and promote free speech, civil discourse, civic education and intellectual diversity. Cancer coverage for firefighters, EMS: House File 969 expands disability and death benefits for firefighters, emergency medical services responders and law enforcement officers to cover all types of cancer. It also changes contribution rates for several of the retirement and disability systems for public safety and government employees in order to finance this change. Health care training, access: Another proposal from the governor, House File 972, proposes changes to Iowa's health care system and training options. The proposal directed Iowa HHS to draw down more than $150 million in federal funds to create 115 new medical residency slots at state teaching hospitals, as well as consolidating and providing $10 million more in funding to the state's student loan repayment programs. It also proposed creating a 'hub-and-spoke' funding model for rural health care systems based on the state's Centers of Excellence Program and would have increased Medicaid rates for health care providers serving mothers and infants. Medicaid work requirements: Senate File 615, setting work requirements for Iowa's expanded Medicaid program, passed both chambers. The measure requires people receiving health coverage through the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, or IHAWP, to work at least 80 hours each month to retain health care coverage. The provision was for IHAWP recipients between ages 19 to 64 with some exceptions, like for people with serious illnesses or injuries and those with children under age 6. It also includes language that would end IHAWP in the future, contingent on federal approval, if the federal government allows Iowa to implement work requirements and then later revokes approval. Outside of the legislative directive, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has moved to set work requirements for IHAWP through a federal waiver. The HHS proposal would set higher requirements, at 100 hours of work per month, to stay eligible with similar exemptions. Personal needs allowance: Language in the Health and Human Services budget raises Medicaid beneficiaries' monthly personal needs allowance – money that can be used by residents at care facilities for items like cell phone service, clothing, snacks or cable TV – from $50 to $65 each month. The policy measure was added to House File 1049 after a separate bill, Senate File 476, failed to advance, but at a lower increase to $55 per month. Pharmacy benefit managers: Senate File 383 sets regulations on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the businesses negotiating prescription drug prices between drug manufacturers, health insurance companies and pharmacies in an effort to provide help to rural and independent pharmacies. The bill limits PBMs' ability to engage in certain business practices that restrict people's ability to fill drugs at the pharmacy of their choosing, or that provide financial incentives or penalties to encourage the use of mail-order or specific pharmacies. It also requires PBMs reimburse pharmacies for drug costs at the national or Iowa average acquisition cost, and sets a dispensing fee of $10.68 from PBMs to pharmacists for each prescription filled at rural and small pharmacies. Pharmacists and supporters said the measure will stop the trend of closures of pharmacies in rural Iowa communities, but opponents and some business group advocates said the bill will lead to higher drug and health insurance costs for Iowans. Unemployment insurance taxes: Senate File 607 lowers the taxable wage base used in calculating unemployment insurance taxes from 66.7% to 33.4%, money collected from businesses and employers put toward the state's Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. The bill, a priority of Reynolds, also makes changes to the state's unemployment tax tables. Anti-SLAPP lawsuits: After several years of attempting to pass a bill providing protections against 'strategic lawsuits against public participation,' or SLAPP lawsuits, the Legislature sent Reynolds House File 472. The measure allows expedited relief in court for actions related to First Amendment rights, like the freedom of speech and press, in SLAPP cases that are filed against news organizations and activists in an attempt to stop these entities from speaking publicly about certain issues by engaging them in long, expensive lawsuits. The bill was amended by the Senate to state anti-SLAPP protections could not be applied retroactively Exposing minors to obscene materials: House File 306 would raise criminal penalties for the knowing dissemination or exhibition of obscene materials to a minor, with harsher penalties in place for repeat offenses. The first offense of the crime would be charged as a misdemeanor, the second offense as an aggravated misdemeanor and third or subsequent offenses would be changed as a Class D felony with mandatory minimum jail time. Minors who are charged with this crime for disseminating or showing obscene material to another minor would face a serious misdemeanor charge, but would not be subject to the heightened charges for additional offenses. Minors testifying in court: Both chambers have approved Senate Joint Resolution 9, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird's proposed constitutional amendment to allow minors and some adults with disabilities to testify remotely against their alleged abusers using a closed-circuit television system. The constitutional amendment was brought forward to address an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that found this practice was unconstitutional. This is not a measure that needs the governor's approval – it must pass in a second General Assembly, then go before voters on a general election ballot before it can be added to the state constitution. Open records, meetings: House File 706 proposes raising penalties for violations of Iowa's open meeting laws and would require newly elected and appointed public officials to receive training on open meetings and records laws. The measure was amended by the Senate to block two types of records – security camera footage at the Iowa Capitol and information from state employee identification card access systems – from public access, listing them as confidential records. Police review boards: Cities that have a civil service commission could not adopt or establish a citizens' boards that review the conduct of law enforcement officers under Senate File 311. The measure also makes changes to the makeup of city civil service commissions, as well as how legal disputes proceed when employees dispute a commission's decisions or actions. Service animals: House File 615 would remove current requirements in state law that law enforcement officials say make it more difficult to charge people for misrepresenting an animal as a service animal. It would remove current provisions stating a person must be first given a warning and can only be charged for misrepresentation of an animal as a service animal or service animal in training if they knowingly falsify the animal's status. Eminent domain: Following a dramatic debate around eminent domain, carbon sequestration pipelines and the potential holes in the bill, House File 639 advanced from the Senate Monday. Despite numerous attempted amendments, including one that would have replaced the bill with language from House File 943, to outlaw eminent domain on CO2 pipelines, none of the amendments were adopted. HF 639 would adjust the definition of a common carrier, expand who is able to intervene in Iowa Utilities Commission proceedings, restrict the IUC's ability to sanction intervenors, require IUC presence at all hearings, limit the permits for CO2 pipelines to one 25-year term and hold the pipeline operators responsible for insurance increases landowners face. Here's what Iowa lawmakers did on marathon final day of session Anaerobic digesters: House File 989, which would task DNR with creating regulations for anaerobic digestors, or oxygen deprived systems to break down waste and convert it into biogas. The bill separates permits for anaerobic digestion systems from animal feeding operations. It did not advance in the Senate. Bee tax exemption: House File 1001 would remove the sales tax on honey bees, to bring the insects in line with other livestock tax structures. The bill advanced with unanimous approval from committee, but did not see floor debate. Reducing nitrogen fertilizer: House File 942 would have created a pilot program to reduce the statewide average use of commercial nitrogen fertilizers by 15% with the creation of a pilot program in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The bill did not advance from a House Appropriations committee. Baseball: House File 153 would have directed Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to reinstate men's baseball teams. The bill did not survive the first funnel. Bible studies in public schools: House File 845 and Senate File 510 were proposals directing the state Board of Education to establish course standards for elective social studies classes on 'Hebrew Scriptures or the Old or New Testament of the Bible.' School districts that chose to offer these elective courses for 9th through 12th grade students would still have been required to comply with state and federal religious neutrality requirements under the bill. Civil government course: House File 402, which failed to make it through the second funnel, would have required college students to take a course on American history and civil government in order to earn their baccalaureate degree. DEI courses in public universities: House File 269 would have barred state universities from requiring students to take a course related to diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race theory to satisfy general education requirements or earn any level of certification or degree, with certain exceptions. Employees of the institutions would have also been prohibited from requiring or incentivizing faculty to participate in DEI or critical race theory-related practices or having those topics in content. The bill died after Senate subcommittee passage. DEI in community colleges: House File 855 would have added community colleges to legislation passed last year prohibiting state universities from funding or maintaining DEI offices. While this legislation did not make it through the second funnel, community colleges are included in a bill that would bar state entities from funding DEI offices or officers. DEI in private universities: House File 854 would have prohibited private universities from opening, funding or otherwise maintaining offices of diversity, equity and inclusion as a prerequisite for participation in the Iowa Tuition Grant program. Dropout prevention funding: House File 579 would have increased the limit for a funding source – the modified supplemental amount ratio – that school districts can levy to fund dropout prevention programs to 5% if approved in an election, with the amount not allowed to increase more than 0.5% each fiscal year. Financial information: House File 296 would have required universities to report and post online budget lines, expenditures and goods and services totaling $50,000, as well as written contracts, salary reports and any expenditures made related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The bill, as well as others, were referred back to the Iowa House Higher Education Committee after dying in the second funnel. Food dyes and margarine: The use of synthetic food dyes, margarine and other artificial additives would be banned from school meals, snacks and beverages under House File 212, a measure modeled after a California law. Foreign funding: House File 575 would have required state universities to put together an annual report on foreign funding sources, amounts and how funds were used. The legislation did not make it through the second funnel deadline. General education requirements: House File 401 would have codified general education requirements for public colleges and universities, including directives to have students take courses in social studies, math and statistics, natural and social sciences, the humanities, Western heritage and American heritage. According to the bill, these classes cannot 'distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa.' It was placed under unfinished business in April. Grooming behavior: Senate File 273 would have implemented mandatory reporting requirements of school employees licensed by the state Board of Educational Examiners if they engage in 'grooming behavior' toward students, defined as actions taken to build 'trust or emotional connections with a student with the intent to exploit such student.' Gulf of America: House Study Bill 97 would have required Iowa schools replace references to the Gulf of Mexico with 'Gulf of America' and 'Denali' with 'Mount McKinley' in instruction and classroom handouts, in accordance with an order from President Donald Trump to rename these geological features in early 2025. Home schooling: House File 888 would have made changes to state regulations on homeschooling. It included provisions allowing more than four unrelated children to receive instruction from one person, and would have removed current requirements that parents of students in homeschool instruction provide proof of immunization and blood lead tests. The measure also would have prohibited world language courses that use grammatical gender systems, like Spanish or French, from using gender-neutral language. Iowa Tuition Grant changes: House File 867 would have required Iowa College Aid to allocate half of Iowa Tuition Grant dollars to students enrolled in degree programs connected to high-wage, high-demand job fields. The legislation failed to make it through the second funnel. Library associations: House File 880 would have stripped eligibility to receive Enrich Iowa Funds provided through the State Library of Iowa for libraries that are members of nonprofit organizations like the Iowa Library Association or American Library Association that engage in advocacy or lobbying work at the state, federal or local level. Loan programs: House File 703 would have required ISL Education Lending to report certain loan data to Iowa College Aid relating to the annual percentage rate of the Federal Direct PLUS loan compared to college family loans and partnership loans. If the loans had a lower APR than the federal loan program, Iowa College Aid would have needed to post the information online and share it with universities, which would add it to financial aid offers. The bill died in the second funnel. Peace officer tuition waivers: House Study Bill 329 would have required state universities and community colleges to waive tuition and fees for eligible members of law enforcement and other peace officers in Iowa and created a fund to reimburse institutions for waivers. The bill passed out of subcommittee in April, but did not move forward. Penalties for pro-terrorism language on campus: House File 576 would have allowed public and private colleges to penalize certain nonimmigrant visa-holders for voicing support for, or encouraging others to support, terrorist organizations or actions. Schools and natural disasters: House File 315 would have granted school districts impacted by natural disasters to have an additional year of budget adjustments. School chaplains: The House passed House File 884, legislation allowing public school districts, charter schools and school innovation votes allow religious chaplains to provide 'services' to students, through employment or volunteering. The measure did not receive a hearing on the Senate floor. Sexual abuse education: Senate File 172, also called 'Erin's Law,' would have directed the state Department of Education to create guidelines for schools to teach K-6 students about child sex abuse. Syllabus reports: House File 270 would have required state university instructors post syllabi information online in a way the public can access, including the instructor's name, planned lessons, course requirements and materials that will be used in class. While the legislation died, the Iowa Board of Regents has directed state universities to post syllabus information online. Tampons, pads in school bathrooms: House File 883 proposed putting free feminine hygiene products in women's restrooms at Iowa schools for 6th through 12th grade students. The initiative would have been funded by the state from the summer of 2025 through June 2028. Though a House subcommittee was held on the bill during the last week of session, it did not advance. Tuition waivers: House File 577 would have required state universities to waive tuition and fees and provide a $5,000-a-semester stipend for undergraduate students who earn the highest-possible scores on the ACT or SAT, but failed pass through the second funnel. Use of names, pronouns: Senate File 8 proposed banning schools from disciplining a teacher or student for not using a transgender student's preferred name or pronouns if these differ from their legal name or pronouns corresponding with the legally designated sex, regardless of if a parent had directed a school to use a different name or pronouns for their child. Abortion protection: Senate Joint Resolution 1 was a proposed constitutional amendment from Senate Democrats enshrining the right to access reproductive care. It did not receive any subcommittee or committee hearings. Child care access: One of Reynolds' priority bills for the 2025 session on child care passed the Senate with an amendment, but was not taken up in the House. Senate File 445 proposed shifting $16 million in funding from Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) and federal Child Care and Development Fund Wrap Around Child Care funds to create a new competitive grant pilot program, providing three-year grants of up to $100,000 for preschool and child care centers to provide full-day care, in addition to consolidating 34 ECI boards into seven regional boards. The measure also proposed shifting roughly $3.6 million in funding from the Shared Visions program for at-risk children from birth to age 5 to go to programs for at-risk 3- and 4-year-old children. The bill also included a provision to permanently enact an existing pilot program allowing child care workers to receive state assistance for child care of their own children. Child care workers: House File 382 would have allowed minors as young as age 16 to provide 'flex care' for children from infancy to age 2 without direct adult supervision in child care centers. HPV vaccine for minors: Senate File 304, passed by the Senate, would have removed a provision in Iowa law that allows minors to consent to vaccinations related to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases or infections – most notably, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine – without their parents' approval. Iowa law requires parental consent for minors to receive most other vaccines. Medical conscience: Health care professionals, institutions and payors would not have to perform or pay for a health care service they say goes against their conscience or personal beliefs under House File 571. The measure, which passed the House but was not debated on the Senate floor, would have stated these entities could not be held civilly, criminally or administratively liable if they do not perform health care services because of a personal belief stated in 'good faith.' Medication abortion restrictions: House File 775 would have banned abortion medication from being distributed by mail, requiring these medications be distributed in-person with patients giving written consent to receive the medication acknowledging risks and ability to potentially reverse the effects of abortion medication. mRNA vaccines: Senate File 360 would have banned gene-based vaccines that use nucleic acids like messenger RNA (mRNA), such as the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. It would have penalized providers that administer mRNA vaccines with a simple misdemeanor charge and fine of $500 for each violation. Nursing home inspectors: Senate File 532, a proposal from Democratic Sen. Claire Celsi, would have made multiple changes to nursing home oversight, including a $600,000 funding increase for 30 new care-facility inspectors, higher penalties for certain regulatory violations by health care facilities. It also proposed banning Medicaid-certified nursing homes from requiring residents or families consent to arbitration instead of legal action over negligent care claims. Psilocybin program: House File 978 proposed legalizing the use of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in 'magic mushrooms,' for psychiatric therapy. The bill proposed creating a similar program to the Iowa medical cannabis program for psilocybin, including the creation of a Psilocybin Production Establishment Licensing Board. The measure passed the House but was not taken up in the Senate. Vaccine manufacturer immunity: House File 712 proposed requiring vaccine manufacturers waive immunity from lawsuits over certain vaccine injuries in order to distribute vaccines in the state. Currently, many vaccine injuries are covered through a no-fault compensation program under the federal 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. Public sector union lists: Senate File 472 dealt with the recertification process for unions through the Employment Appeal Board (EAB). The bill would allow Iowans to seek court action compelling government employers to provide a list of employees within a bargaining unit to the EAB, a required step before a union recertification vote that some Republicans claimed employers were intentionally not performing as a way to preserve existing union representation in contract negotiations. Annexing southern Minnesota: Sen. Mike Bousselot's proposal directing the state to begin negotiations with Minnesota for the purchase of nine southern Minnesota counties, Senate File 354, did not receive a subcommittee meeting. Artificial intelligence: Rep. Ray Sorenson, chair of the House Economic Growth and Technology Committee, said he expects conversation on the use of artificial technology in creating election materials to continue in the 2026 legislative session. This year's proposal, House Study Bill 294, failed to advance through the first funnel. Citizenship on IDs: House File 439 proposed requiring Iowa driver's licenses and non-operator identification cards list a person's citizenship status, a measure supporters said would help poll workers verify voters' citizenship status during elections but that critics said could lead to discrimination. County funding: House Study Bill 310 proposed putting a three-year moratorium on Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) programs and funding for the four most populous counties in the state. Homelessness: House Study Bill 286 and Senate Study Bill 1195 were companion proposals discussed earlier this session to criminalize sleeping and camping on public property. The bills, which did not advance, would have also allowed local governments to designate certain spaces for legal homeless encampments, and to create 'drug-free homeless service zones' – places where the facility operators could face criminal charges if individuals receiving services are found to possess or use controlled substances while at the facility. Property taxes: House Study Bill 313 and Senate Study Bill 1208 address rising property taxes in the state. While there are many components to the bill, one of the top changes included is a move from the state's 'rollback' to a 'revenue-restricted' system for calculating local property tax costs, capping the increase of most property tax levy rates to 2% each year. The measure would also shift $426 million funding for K-12 schools from local property taxes to the state. Republican legislative leaders said they aimed to move on property taxes this session,but also said that the legislation was being reviewed to ensure that the measure will have its intended impact of lowering property tax costs for President Amy Sinclair said she would 'like to see it get done this year, but we want it done right, rather than fast.' Religious beliefs of adoptive, foster parents: Prospective foster or adoptive parents could not be required to accept policies about gender identity and sexual orientation that conflict with their personal beliefs in order to be deemed eligible to become a child's caretaker under Senate File 473. Age verification for obscene materials: House File 864 would have required pornography websites and other online distributors of obscene material implement 'reasonable' age verification methods to prevent minors' access. Age verification for social media: Parents would need to give permission before a minor could create an account on a social media platform under House File 798. The bill also would have required social media companies provide parents the ability to access their child's posts and messages on the platform, and to revoke access to the account at any time. Death penalty: Senate File 320, this year's proposal to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa, proposed capital punishment in cases where a person was convicted of first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer. Human smuggling: House File 572 would have created the criminal offense of human smuggling, defined as acts including the transportation of an undocumented person with the intent to conceal them from law enforcement, encouraging or coercing them to stay in the country against the law by concealing or harboring them, and directing multiple people to say on agricultural lands without the landowner's consent. The bill proposed higher penalties for cases involving monetary gain and those that risk or cause serious bodily injury or death. Religious and immigrant rights advocates argued the measure could mean people providing aid to undocumented immigrants could face criminal charges. ICE agreements: House Study Bill 187 would have required all law enforcement agencies in Iowa to enter into written memorandums of agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by Jan. 1, 2026, for participation in immigration law enforcement efforts. Law enforcement officers and immigrant rights groups expressed concerns about the measure hurting relationships between police and Latino communities and putting new financial strains on local law enforcement. Immigration law enforcement: House File 946 was proposed following a February social media post by Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx in February stating he would not comply with immigration detainer requests from ICE or other federal agencies outside of 'valid' judicial warrants and court orders – a post that also result in Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filing a lawsuit against the county and Marx for violating state law. The bill, which passed the House but did not advance in the Senate, stated law enforcement officers who 'knowingly and intentionally' fail to comply with state laws on federal immigration enforcement would be subject to investigation by the attorney general. Obscene performances: House File 891 garnered significant attention earlier in the 2025 session, when a version of the bill proposed penalties related to minors going to drag shows that defined these shows as performances where the main aspect is 'a performer who exhibits a gender identity that is different than the performer's gender assigned at birth through the use of clothing, makeup, accessories, or other gender signifiers.' The measure was significantly changed, removing this definition and creating a new criminal charge for exposing a minor to an obscene performance or admitting a minor to premises with obscene performances, evaluated using current obscenity definitions. The bill still failed to advance. Obscenity laws in libraries: House File 521 proposed removing current obscenity law exemptions for libraries and educational institutions. The measure could have subjected public libraries to costly litigation, opponents said, by people who want certain materials removed from shelves even if those materials do not meet the definition of 'obscene' in Iowa law. Pesticide lawsuits: Senate File 394, a proposal providing legal protections for pesticide manufacturers from certain lawsuits, including claims that pesticide products gave individuals cancer, passed the Senate but did not have enough support to pass the Iowa House. This multistate legislation spurred by the manufacturer of Roundup failed for the second year. Beneficial use water permits: House File 861 would have required the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to determine beneficial use on a case-by-case basis when considering water-use permits. Chemtrails: House File 927 would have prohibited the release of air contaminants that intentionally affect 'temperature, weather, or the intensity of sunlight.' Rep. Adam Zabner, D-Iowa City, proposed an amendment to the bill to 'research the existence of Bigfoot in the state.' Community solar: A bill that did not see debate, House File 404, would have allowed communities to build small solar projects and connect into the electric power grid. Community members would have received waivers on their electricity bills if they purchased shares of the solar project. Utility companies opposed the bill because they would have been responsible for the connection maintenance. Governor's energy bill: An energy bill proposed by the governor faced significant opposition from both the U.S. Department of Justice and former Iowa Utilities Commission members. House File 834 and Senate File 585 would have granted existing utility companies the right of first refusal to new transmission projects, expanded advanced ratemaking principles and created regulations for anaerobic digesters. Land acquisition: Bills that would have prohibited DNR purchases of land from auction, Senate File 553 and House File 714, did not advance. PFAS: A bill that required sewage sludge to be tested for perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl or PFAS did not advance. House File 723 would have notified landowners if the sludge destined for their fields contained PFAS. Eminent domain for CO2 pipelines: House File 943 would have stopped hazardous liquid pipelines from being granted eminent domain rights. The bill, advanced from the House, had its language added as an amendment to HF 639, but was ruled not germane during Senate debate. Office of the Consumer Advocate: Representatives unanimously passed House File 578 to restore the Office of the Consumer Advocate as an independent office, but the bill did not advance in the Senate. Double Up Food Bucks: House File 970 would have allocated $1 million to the Double Up Food Bucks program which allows recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to double their spending on produce. The bill, which advanced from the House, but was not taken up by the Senate, conditioned the allocation to the program on the approval of a waiver from the federal government to restrict the foods SNAP recipients can purchase. Senate File 232, which did not advance, would have allocated the funds to Double Up Food Bucks, with no conditions. School nutrition: House File 851 would have instructed the education department to seek a federal waiver from school nutrition guidelines to instead prioritize Iowa-specific foods like corn, pork and dairy. The bill advanced from the House in March, but was not taken up on the Senate floor. Rural grocery initiative: House File 1032 would have appropriated funds to establish a grocer reinvestment program and a local produce processing grant program under the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The bill advanced from the House April 24, but did not have a subcommittee meeting in the Senate. However, spending for the program was approved in the economic development budget bill, sent to the governor. The appropriations bill allotted $1.25 million for the grocer reinvestment and local food processing fund if the measure is signed into law. Brooklyn Draisey, Cami Koons and Clark Kauffman contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa lawmakers plan to block Medicaid coverage for gender dysphoria treatments
Hundreds gathered at the Iowa State Capitol Feb. 24, 2025 to protest legislation that would remove protections for gender identity under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Republican lawmakers are trying again to pass a ban on Medicaid funding going to gender-affirming care for transgender Iowans, this time by including language in the proposed budget for health and human services programs. A Senate subcommittee advanced Senate Study Bill 1237 Wednesday, the HHS appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026. The measure included language that the funding allocated for Iowa's Medicaid program 'shall not be used for sex reassignment surgery or treatment related to an individual's gender dysphoria diagnosis.' Iowa has attempted to ban Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care law before, but these laws were struck down by the courts for violating the Iowa Constitution and the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the state's denial of two transgender women's transition-related care through Medicaid violated the Iowa Civil Rights Act. A Polk County District Court judge also ruled in 2021 that a law passed after that state Supreme Court decision, which amended the Iowa Civil Rights Act to allow for the exclusion of Medicaid coverage for transition-related health care, violated the Iowa Constitution. Earlier this year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law a measure that removed gender identity as a protected class in the Iowa Civil Rights Act. As activists rallied against the measure for potentially allowing for the legal discrimination against transgender Iowans, one of the arguments posed by lawmakers was the fact that previous laws attempting to deny Medicaid coverage for transition-related health care were blocked through the state Civil Rights Act. Keenan Crow, policy and advocacy director at One Iowa, said Thursday that one of the major differences between the language in this year's Senate appropriations bill and previous attempts to ban Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care was the reference to all 'treatment related to an individual's gender dysphoria diagnosis,' not just sex reassignment surgery. This could impact transgender Iowans' ability to access mental health care and other services, Crow said. 'Our first line of intervention on any gender dysphoria case is going to be mental health counseling, period, that is the primary treatment for gender dysphoria,' Crow said. 'And obviously I am not okay with restricting surgical care either, but to go even further and and get into restricting medications and mental health supports and all this other stuff, that is truly wrong.' Even with the removal of gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, denying transgender Iowans gender-affirming care could still be unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause. The 2021 district court ruling found the law prohibiting Medicaid coverage of transition care violated both state civil rights laws and the state constitution. The Iowa Supreme Court declined to rule on the constitutionality of the law in 2023. The House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee met Thursday to discuss its version of the HHS budget bill, House Study Bill 342, which passed unanimously. The House legislation, in its current form, does not include the Senate's language. But House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters Thursday that the House supports restricting Medicaid funds going toward transition-related health care. 'We don't believe the taxpayers … should be paying for surgeries and other hormone therapies,' Grassley said. 'I know that there's a piece of that that's in the Senate bill, I think you will see a piece focused on those two things that I just said on our side. But again, we have not negotiated the Senate language out with them. They may have some different languages where we may settle, but I think you could expect to us to, at least, have that conversation about the taxpayer paying for those two items.' The chair of the House HHS appropriations subcommittee Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, said she has spoken with Grassley about the provision, and that there will be discussions with the full House Republican caucus. However, she said that the House would likely consider different language on the measure that would not impact Medicaid coverage for mental and behavioral health care for transgender Iowans. 'If this were to come before the House, we would just be talking about surgery and hormone therapy,' Meyer said.
