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Interfaith Alliance of Iowa

18 posts

Iowa Senate Panel Approves Amendment Declaring No Right to Abortion

An Iowa Senate subcommittee advanced SJR 21 that would amend the Iowa Constitution to declare there is no constitutional right to abortion.

Right to Keep and Bear Arms Amendment Passes Iowa House

The Iowa House passed HJR 2009, a “right to keep and bear arms” amendment that would amend the Iowa Constitution to add language affirming the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, by a 54 to 42 vote.

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.

Fetal Heartbeat Bill Advances in Iowa Senate

A bill, SSB 3143, that would ban abortions of pre-born babies when a heartbeat is detected passed through its subcommittee in the Iowa Senate on a 2 to 1 vote.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act Filed in the Iowa Senate

A bill entitled the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was filed in the Iowa Senate on Thursday.  The bill is modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 that was passed with bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

McCoy Wants Independent Private Instruction Parents to Notify Schools

State Senator Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines) introduced a bill into the Iowa Senate that would require parents who homeschool under independent private instruction (IPI) to submit a written notice to their local school districts by September 1st of their intent to do so.

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.

Iowa Senate Passes 20 Week Abortion Ban

The Iowa Senate passed Senate File 471, a 20-week abortion ban, on a 32 to 17 vote that included all Senate Republicans, an Independent and three Democrats.

Republicans Seek to Reform Iowa’s Collective Bargaining Law

Governor Terry Branstad and Iowa Senate and House Republicans seek to reform the state’s collective bargaining law that has not been reviewed since 1974.

Iowa Lawmakers Reach for Local Control of Education

There have been several bills filed in the Iowa House and Senate this year dedicated to devolving the power and control the Iowa Department of Education.

A Wave of Pro-Life Bills Filed in the Iowa Senate

The Iowa Senate with its new GOP majority have six pro-life bills filed including bills defunding abortion providers and banning abortions at 20-weeks.

Iowa Board of Regents Oppose Ban on Trafficking Aborted Infant Remains

The Iowa Board of Regents last week came out in opposition of a bill before the Iowa House that would ban the trafficking of aborted infant remains.

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.

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.

The First Amendment, Bullying and Harassment

Liberals are leery about the First Amendment protections in the current bullying bill in the Iowa House. Disagreement doesn’t equal bullying & harassment.

Iowa House Bill Prevents No-Fault Divorce Between Parents

State Representative Ted Gassman introduced HF 338 in the Iowa House which would prevent parents with minor children from getting a no-fault divorce.