Iowa Legislature Passes 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortion

The Iowa Legislature passed a 24-hour waiting period for abortion during a final floor debate marathon that concluded the 2020 legislative session.

WATCH: 2020 Iowa Prayer Breakfast

The 59th annual Iowa Prayer Breakfast was held entirely online on Thursday, April 9, 2020, and featured Dr. Jim Garlow as the keynote speaker.

Religious Liberty Bill In Iowa House Considered ‘Too Broad’

An Iowa House subcommittee passed on a bill offered by State Rep. Sandy Salmon that would expand the definition of “bona fide religious purpose” in Iowa law.

Iowa House Bill Allowing Civil Action for Minors Accessing Porn Tabled

An Iowa House subcommittee tabled a bill, HF 2239, that opened online distributors of pornography to civil action if they knowingly allow access to minors.

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.

Iowa Judge Orders Sex Ed Funding for Abortion Providers to Continue

Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin temporary blocked a new law that restricts abortion providers from receiving state sex education grant money.

Three Pro-Life Bills Advance in Iowa House and Senate

HF 257, SF 259, and SSB 1170, all pro-life bills, passed out of their respective subcommittees in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate.

Reynolds Rebukes Iowa Supreme Court Ruling at Pro-Life Rally

Gov. Kim Reynolds: Couples have to wait three days to marry or adopt, but according to the Iowa Supreme Court an abortion, taking an innocent life, can’t wait 72 hours.

Iowa House Bill Requires “Health and Wellness” Checks of Homeschoolers

HF 272 sponsored by State Representative Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City) requires school districts to perform quarterly home visits of their homeschooling families.

Update: Reynolds Signs Bill Changing Iowa’s Statewide Assessment Developer

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bipartisan bill rejecting the Iowa Department of Education’s choice for a statewide assessment in favor of one developed by the University of Iowa’s Iowa Testing Program.

Fetal Heartbeat Abortion Ban Advances in Iowa House, Survives Funnel

The Iowa House Human Resources Committee passed the fetal heartbeat abortion ban by a 12 to 9 vote just before the second funnel deadline of the 2018 legislative session.

Anti-Common Core, School Choice Bills Die in Iowa House

HF 2317, a bill that would make the Iowa Academic Standards voluntary for public schools and accredited non-public schools and HSB 651, a bill that would expand school choice in Iowa, died in the Iowa House Education Committee without a 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.

Bill Overriding Iowa Department of Education’s Assessment Choice Advances

A bill, HSB 578, making the University of Iowa’s Iowa Testing Programs the vendor who develops and administers Iowa’s statewide student assessment passed the Iowa House Education Committee 21 to 1.

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.