Parental Notification Bill for LGBT School Curricula Advances in Iowa House

An Iowa House panel approved a bill on Monday afternoon that requires school districts to notify parents if any LGBTQ-related material is used in class.

Iowa House GOP Bill Removes ‘Gender Identity’ From Civil Rights Act

Iowa House Judiciary Chair Steven Holt said he has no intention of forwarding a bill that removes gender identity from the Civil Rights Act citing unintended consequences.

‘Red Flag’ Legislation Is Unlikely in Iowa

Any attempt to introduce “red flag” legislation in the Iowa Legislature next session will likely face stiff opposition and is unlikely to pass.

Toll Roads in Iowa are a Non-Starter

An Iowa Department of Transportation study determined that introducing tolls on I-80 is a financially feasible way to pay for that highway’s expansion, but Mark Lowe, the Iowa DOT director, said they would not recommend or pursue tolling.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act Advances in Iowa Senate

Iowa’s version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) survived the first funnel week of the 2018 legislative session. SSB 3171, sponsored by State Senator Julian Garrett (R-Indianola) was passed out of the Iowa Senate Local Government Committee by a 7 to 4 vote.

All Iowans Should Benefit From Open Enrollment Law

A bill up for consideration in the Iowa Legislature would eliminate the implementation of a voluntary diversity plan as a reason to deny open enrollment of a student that allows certain school districts to hold higher-income families hostage.

Iowa House Bill Would Authorize “Bible as Literature” in Public Schools

Eleven states allow the Bible to be taught as literature in their public schools, with Kentucky being one of the most recent. Should a bill, HF 2031, introduced in the Iowa House on Wednesday pass into law Iowa would join that number.

Life At Conception Bill Filed in the Iowa House

State Representative Greg Heartsill (R-Chariton) introduced HF 279, a life at conception bill, into the Iowa House of Representatives, that is co-sponored by 22 lawmakers.

New Iowa House Bills Address Common Core, Smarter Balanced

State Rep. Sandy Salmon (R-Janesville) introduces bills in the Iowa House opposing Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards and Smarter Balanced.

Life at Conception Bill Filed in the Iowa House

HF 2142, a bill that would protect the unborn at the moment of conception introduced into the Iowa House, must be passed out of committee this week.

Bill Banning Sale or Research on Unborn Infant Remains Advances in Iowa House

A bill that bans the sale and experimentation on unborn infant remains advanced out of an Iowa House subcommittee on Tuesday.

Scott Walker Announces His Campaign’s Iowa Team

Gov. Scott Walker announced the first 65 members of his presidential campaign’s Iowa leadership team which include 1/3 of the Iowa Senate Republicans.

The Iowa House Passes Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill

An ultrasound bill passed in the Iowa House of Representatives late Thursday afternoon on a 57 to 39 vote with bipartisan support.

Branstad on Gas Tax Hike: Timing Is Right

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said that the timing is right for a gas tax hike while legislators consider transportation infrastructure funding options.

Marriage Debate Resumed in Iowa House

Iowa House Republicans introduced two bills addressing the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court decision that ruled Iowa’s Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.

Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill Filed in Iowa House

Pro-life advocates say seeing an ultrasound picture and hearing its description is an effective tool to help abortion-minded women in the state choose life.