February 26, 2021

Dear Friends,

Do you know the day-before-election song that is also in that little-known musical, Les Misérables? Yes! That one. One Day More. A really great supporter of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa & Action Fund posts it on social media before any big election. One day more.

Where am I going with this? One week more until the first funnel arrives and many of the really horrible, egregious bills will go away, as they did not pass out of the committee in the chamber from which they originated. Well, at least they go away in their current form for this Session (remember bad ideas never die in any legislative session until Sine Die). One week more.

This week several bills we strongly oppose were introduced and are scheduled for subcommittees next week. Three I want to highlight and strongly urge you to take action: the religious exemption (RFRA) bill, the new voucher bill, and the charter school bill. Please read through the Take Action below and contact the legislators we suggest on those bills.

Thank you to everyone who supported and those who watched the Champions of Justice: 2021 Interfaith Action Fund Celebration this past Monday! It was a blast doing the event virtually with Jackie Norris. And all our champions and speakers were absolutely fantastic! If you didn’t get to watch yet, you can find the video on our YouTube channel or on Facebook.

Thank you to each of you! We so appreciate you using your voice and everything you do to make Iowa better for all Iowans.

With appreciation,

Connie Ryan

Executive Director

Interfaith Alliance of Iowa & Action Fund

 TAKE ACTION 

The issues highlighted are of high priority for the next week of the Legislative Session. Will you take action today?

VOTING RIGHTS MATTER

SF413 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, including absentee ballots and voter list maintenance activities, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HF590, SSB1199, and HSB213)

The legislation passed the House and Senate and could be signed by the Governor after the Senate sends it to her. It is an expansive voter suppression bill that is harsh, unnecessary, and will make it more difficult for Iowans to vote.

In part, it will negatively impact Iowans who are disabled, older, communities who have historically been disenfranchised or struggled to vote, those who travel for any period of time during the shortened absentee ballot time period, those who work long hours or multiple jobs, and more.

TAKE ACTION ON SF413

• Contact the Governor and tell her to protect access to voting for all Iowans. Veto SF413.
• Call 515-281-5211 or register your opinion online.

TREAT ALL IOWANS FAIRLY: STOP RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS

SF436 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the standard of judicial review and providing a claim or defense when a state action burdens a person’s exercise of religion, and including effective date provisions.

SF436 is Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) legislation. RFRA creates religious exemptions that allow a person to use personal religious beliefs as justification to discriminate against another person and to circumvent any other law, including the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Reason we oppose religious exemption laws:

• We believe all people should be treated fairly and equally. That’s why it’s shocking to realize in this day and age, we are still debating whether it should be legal to discriminate against someone or turn them away from a business simply because of who they are.
• Religious exemptions create a license to discriminate. They would lead to expensive lawsuits and send a message to businesses that they have a right to impose their own personal religious test on customers before agreeing to serve them.
• Religious exemptions are bad for our state. The vast majority of young people do not want to live in a state that does not embrace diversity and civil rights.
• Religious exemptions are bad for Iowa businesses and our economy. It is hard to attract people to work in Iowa or attract new businesses when our laws do not value diversity.

TAKE ACTION ON SF436

A subcommittee is scheduled for Monday, March 1, at 3:00 PM.

• Contact the subcommittee by Monday and urge them to vote no.
• Contact Senate Republican leadership by Monday and ask them to stop SF436!
• Attend by Zoom here.
• Written public comments can be submitted here.

Senate Subcommittee on SF436

dennis.guth@legis.iowa.gov

jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov

claire.celsi@legis.iowa.gov

Senate Republican Leadership

jake.chapman@legis.iowa.gov

jack.whitver@legis.iowa.gov

brad.zaun@legis.iowa.gov

PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HSB242 (Charter Schools) and HSB243 (Vouchers)

HSB242 (Against) A bill for an act modifying and establishing charter school programs.

It is unclear what problem the bill is attempting to solve. Iowa has a public charter school program already available that allows school districts to create an innovative charter school to fit the needs of the district and the students. The bill creates a new charter school program that would allow the creation of a charter school within the boundaries of a school district but outside the authority and oversight of the district, which we oppose.

HSB243 (Against) A bill for an act establishing a student first scholarship program for certain pupils attending nonpublic schools, establishing a student first scholarship fund, providing an income tax exemption, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

This is a voucher bill. It allows public money to be used to pay for the private school choices of a few parents rather than public schools that are available to all Iowa students. The voucher money is placed into an “account” for the parent to utilize for approved educational expenses. The unused, public funds roll over from year to year in the student’s account. This bill does not allow the unused money to be used for post-high school education, as we have seen in past legislation. Additionally, private schools in Iowa do not have to follow the same rules of accepting all students, including not accepting students based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or if they have special needs of any kind.

The Action Fund opposes vouchers because:

• Public dollars should be used for public schools, not private choices.
• Public dollars should not be used for the personal benefit of a small group of families at the expense of nearly 500,000 public school students in rural and urban districts across the state.
• Public dollars should not be used to fund private schools that do not have to follow the same rules as public schools, including not being required to accept all students.

TAKE ACTION ON HSB242 AND HSB243

Both bills are scheduled for subcommittee meetings on Tuesday, March 2.

• Email ALL the members of the House Education Committee by Tuesday and ask them to oppose HSB242 and HSB243.
• HSB242 (charter schools) convenes at 11:30 AM. Submit public comments here. Watch here.
• HSB243 (vouchers) begins at 12:00 PM. Submit public comments here. Watch here.

House Education Committee

Republican Members

• dustin.hite@legis.iowa.gov - Chair
• skyler.wheeler@legis.iowa.gov - Vice Chair
• jacob.bossman@legis.iowa.gov
• holly.brink@legis.iowa.gov
• cecil.dolecheck@legis.iowa.gov
• joel.fry@legis.iowa.gov
• garrett.gobble@legis.iowa.gov
• chad.ingels@legis.iowa.gov
• david.kerr@legis.iowa.gov
• tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov
• sandy.salmon@legis.iowa.gov
• ray.sorensen@legis.iowa.gov
• henry.stone@legis.iowa.gov
• phil.thompson@legis.iowa.gov
• john.wills@legis.iowa.gov

Democrat Members

• ras.smith@legis.iowa.gov - Ranking Member
• sue.cahill@legis.iowa.gov
• molly.donahue@legis.iowa.gov
• tracy.ehlert@legis.iowa.gov
• ruthann.gaines@legis.iowa.gov
• mary.mascher@legis.iowa.gov
• sharon.steckman@legis.iowa.gov
• cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov

PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN IOWA

 SJR2 and HJR5 (Against) A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa that the Constitution of the State of Iowa does not recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or require the public funding of abortion.

SJR2 passed out of the Senate State Government Committee and could be debated in the Senate. HJR5 has already passed the House.

TAKE ACTION ON SJR2

• Email your senator on why you oppose SJR2.

Talking Points on SJR2

• Abortion is healthcare. The right to a safe, legal abortion must be protected for Iowans.
• Iowans deserve to have access to all reproductive healthcare options, including a legal and safe abortion.
• Abortion is a deeply personal healthcare decision that should be made by the pregnant person in consultation with a healthcare provider and possibly other supportive people, if they choose (e.g. spouse or partner, family, faith leader, friends).
• Politicians do not have a role to play in a person’s reproductive healthcare decision-making process and must stop threatening access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, for Iowans.
• The only arguments against reproductive healthcare, including abortion, are based in individual religious beliefs. It is wrong to insert one’s personal religious beliefs into public policy impacting the rights of others.

GUN SAFETY MATTERS

 HSB254 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the acquisition and possession of weapons and providing penalties.

The legislation is a comprehensive gun rights bill with several concerning sections including:

• Removes the requirement to display a valid permit to carry to bring a firearm into the state capitol or on capitol grounds.
• Expands the list of already exempt persons to include private investigators and security personnel who can carry a firearm on school grounds in the performance of their duties.
• Prohibits a political sub-division from enacting an ordinance, resolution, or policy that prohibits the carrying of a firearm and voiding previously approved local decisions.

TAKE ACTION ON HSB254

An in-person subcommittee is scheduled on Monday, March 1, at 12:00 PM.

• Email the subcommittee members by Monday.
• Submit public comments here.
• Watch here.

House Subcommittee for HSB254

steven.holt@legis.iowa.gov

jared.klein@legis.iowa.gov

beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov

 LEGISLATION WATCH 

Below are some of the bills on which the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund is registered and our position on the legislation. You can click the link and read the bill. We encourage you to contact your legislator on any of the legislation.

 PUBLIC EDUCATION 

HSB242 (Against) A bill for an act modifying and establishing charter school programs.

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

HSB243 (Against) A bill for an act establishing a student first scholarship program for certain pupils attending nonpublic schools, establishing a student first scholarship fund, providing an income tax exemption, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

HF222 (Against) A bill for an act providing for the reduction of certain funding and budgets for public schools, community colleges, and regents institutions following the use of specified curriculum and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HF222 would prohibit the use of “The 1619 Project” or any information derived from it from being used as curriculum by regents institutions or in K-12 schools, or face reduction in funding.

The bill has passed out of subcommittee and could be considered by the House Education Committee at any time. Our goal is to stop it from being considered in committee.

Talking Points on HF222

• We must provide our K-12 and college students the opportunity to learn about history through many lenses, including those that are rarely highlighted.
• Students thrive when they have access to more information. It helps them to learn and to develop their critical thinking skills when they are challenged by different points of view.
• Trained educators and local school officials are best suited to determine curriculum that meets the learning needs of their students.
• This moment in time calls for a more expansive list of resources from different perspectives so Iowa's children and our students are able to learn and grow in their understanding of each other, and our nation's collective history—both the good and the bad.
• It is inappropriate for legislators to censor the use of a Pulitzer Prize winning essay that provides historic context to the American experience from a Black perspective, a perspective that has often been ignored in teaching our nation's history.

TAKE ACTION ON HF222

• Email ALL the members of the House Education Committee and tell them to oppose HF222.

House Education Committee

Republican Members

• dustin.hite@legis.iowa.gov - Chair
• skyler.wheeler@legis.iowa.gov - Vice Chair
• jacob.bossman@legis.iowa.gov
• holly.brink@legis.iowa.gov
• cecil.dolecheck@legis.iowa.gov
• joel.fry@legis.iowa.gov
• garrett.gobble@legis.iowa.gov
• chad.ingels@legis.iowa.gov
• david.kerr@legis.iowa.gov
• tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov
• sandy.salmon@legis.iowa.gov
• ray.sorensen@legis.iowa.gov
• henry.stone@legis.iowa.gov
• phil.thompson@legis.iowa.gov
• john.wills@legis.iowa.gov

Democrat Members

• ras.smith@legis.iowa.gov - Ranking Member
• sue.cahill@legis.iowa.gov
• molly.donahue@legis.iowa.gov
• tracy.ehlert@legis.iowa.gov
• ruthann.gaines@legis.iowa.gov
• mary.mascher@legis.iowa.gov
• sharon.steckman@legis.iowa.gov
• cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov

HF228 (Against) A bill for an act relating to voluntary diversity plans under the state’s open enrollment law. (Formerly HF86 and HSB64)

The bill would eliminate the voluntary diversity plans under the state’s open enrollment law for the five districts that opted into the plan several years ago (Des Moines, Waterloo, Davenport, Postville, and West Liberty). The result for the urban districts in particular would be “white flight,” larger pockets of poverty, and segregated schools in those districts. The argument for the bill is “parental choice” regardless of the harm to students remaining in those districts. Parents already have a lot of choice within state law and in many districts.

HF228 passed by the House and is in the Senate Education Committee.

Please contact the Senate subcommittee members and urge them to not consider HF228.

Senate Subcommittee for HF228

amy.sinclair@legis.iowa.gov - Chair

jackie.smith@legis.iowa.gov

brad.zaun@legis.iowa.gov

HF605 and SF430 (For) A bill for an act relating to supplementary weighting for limited-English-proficient students and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB148)

SF430 passed out of sub-committee and could be considered in the Senate Education Committee. HF605 passed out the House Education Committee and could be debated in the House.

SF159 (Against) A bill for an act relating to educational offerings and funding by establishing a student first scholarship program for certain pupils attending nonpublic schools, establishing a student first scholarship fund, providing an income tax exemption, modifying and establishing charter school programs, modifying provisions governing the state’s open enrollment law including voluntary diversity plans, modifying the tuition and textbook tax credit, providing for the educator expense deduction, modifying provisions related to education data collection and permissible education programs and funding, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.

SF159 is the Governor’s Omnibus Education bill. It passed the Senate but the House has divided it into separate bills.

SF269 (Against) A bill for an act relating to public school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2021, modifying provisions relating to the regular program state cost per pupil, providing a funding supplement for certain school districts, modifying provisions relating to the property tax replacement payment and the transportation equity payments, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB1159 and HF438)

The Governor signed SF269. The bill set the increase in public school funding at 2.4% for the coming school year. It is an insufficient increase in any year let alone following an entire school year in a pandemic. Additionally, there is no provision that protects schools from the decrease in enrollment numbers this year due to the pandemic, which is the number used to determine funding for next year.

HF532 (Against) A bill for an act establishing a qualified instruction funding supplement for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2020, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HF 439, HSB 184.)

The bill passed the House and is in the Senate.

SF42 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the Iowa core curriculum and to assessment and content standards for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools and including effective date provisions.

The bill passed out of subcommittee and could be considered in the Senate Education Committee.

SF292 (Against) A bill for an act directing the state board of regents to conduct a survey of the political party affiliation of the employees of the institutions governed by the state board.

HF 398 (Against) A bill for an act establishing an education scholarship account program for pupils attending a nonpublic school or receiving private instruction, establishing an education scholarship account fund, providing an income tax exemption, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

 CIVIL RIGHTS 

SF436 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the standard of judicial review and providing a claim or defense when a state action burdens a person’s exercise of religion, and including effective date provisions.SF436 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the standard of judicial review and providing a claim or defense when a state action burdens a person’s exercise of religion, and including effective date provisions.

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

SF413 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, including absentee ballots and voter list maintenance activities, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HF590, SSB1199, and HSB 213)

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details in contacting the Governor.

SSB1140 (Against) A bill for an act relating to certain public safety, public employment, and law enforcement matters, and providing penalties.

SSB1140 is the Governor’s Omnibus Policing bill (or “Back the Blue”). While the bill is being promoted as a way to address racial profiling by law enforcement, much of SSB1140 would infringe on the rights of non-violent protesters and could be harmful to communities of color.

Senate Subcommittee for SSB1140

dan.dawson@legis.iowa.gov

kevin.kinney@legis.iowa.gov

brad.zaun@legis.iowa.gov

SF476 (Against) A bill for an act relating to qualified immunity of law enforcement officers, the peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights, and protected information of law enforcement officers and state or federal judicial officers and prosecutors. (Formerly SSB1178)

The bill passed out of the Senate State Government Committee and is eligible for debate in the Senate.

SF478 (Against) A bill for an act providing for training, prohibitions, and requirements relating to first amendment rights at school districts and public postsecondary educational institutions. (Formerly SSB1205)

Our concerns center on the training language and the prohibition in addressing privilege, values, bias, etc. regarding race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other characteristics in our public universities and colleges and in our public schools.

If we as a nation are going to make progress in addressing bias and discrimination, laws cannot tie the hands of educators as they educate and work with our young people on these issues.

The bill contains a list of “divisive concepts” including several that are problematic if an educator is going to facilitate open, honest conversation with students in a class or educational setting and when it is appropriate and necessary to do so (e.g. is our state fundamentally racist; are people who are white born with privilege that oppresses others; does a man or a white person bear responsibility for the impact of history).

While there are elements of protecting free speech, it goes much further and will have a chilling impact on our educational institutions in having honest conversations and real training in addressing systemic racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and more.

The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee against the recommendations of several civil rights and education organizations and is eligible for debate in the Senate.

HSB67 (Against) A bill for an act providing that political ideology is a protected class under the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965.

Adding the term political ideology to the Iowa Civil Rights Act, given the purpose of the Act itself, is problematic. There is no clear definition in the bill for the term, leaving too broad a path for interpretation. Characteristics listed in the Iowa Civil Rights Act are defined groups of people who have historically experienced discrimination—as a clearly defined group. Our country has a long history of targeting and discriminating against specific groups of people and that is reflected in the list of characteristics of the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Changing or adding to the Iowa Civil Rights Act should be done deliberatively, with clear understanding of the implications, and with the input of many stakeholders.

The bill passed out of subcommittee and is eligible for consideration by the House Judiciary Committee.

HF430 (Against) A bill for an act relating to public safety including prohibited acts on fully controlled-access facilities and disorderly conduct, and providing penalties. (HSB142)

Our concern is the excessive penalties for disorderly conduct included for actions during protests, which could also cause people to be intimidated not to exercise their First Amendment Right to peaceably assemble and protest.

The bill passed out of committee and is eligible to for debate in the House.

HJR11 and SSB1134 (For) A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the qualifications of electors. (Formerly HSB143)

The legislation is a constitutional amendment to restore the voting rights of people with past felonies and who has completed their sentence.

HJR11 passed out of committee and is eligible for debate in the House.

SF193 (Against) A bill for an act relating to requirements and prohibitions relating to vaccines and immunizations, and providing civil remedies.

The legislation prohibits vaccination requirements by employers (including healthcare providers) and prohibits the requirement of vaccination for children to attend school, changing the definition of the exemption to “sincerely held religious beliefs” or “conscientiously held beliefs.” The bill also adds “a person’s vaccination or immunity status” to the public accommodations section of the Iowa Civil Rights Code, placing this belief on the same level of characteristics of people who have historically experienced discrimination.

The legislation passed out of the subcommittee and is eligible for debate in the Senate Human Resources Committee.

HF377 (For) A bill for an act related to a commutation of sentence request from a class “A” felon sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, establishing a life imprisonment review committee to make recommendations in the case of a minimum custody level applicant who has served at least twenty-five years in prison, with reconsideration of a sentence upon the governor’s request or inaction, and providing expedited review in the case of an applicant’s terminal illness and incapacitation.

A subcommittee was held but no recommendation has been made.

 LGBTQ+ RIGHTS 

SF224 (Against) A bill for an act prohibiting persons from entering single and multiple occupancy toilet facilities in elementary and secondary schools that do not correspond with the person’s biological sex.

The subcommittee recommended passage to the Senate Education Committee.

HF310 (For) A bill for an act relating to the defense of justification for certain violent crimes. (Formerly HSB11)

The legislation would prohibit a person utilizing discovery of, knowledge of, or disclosure of the victim’s sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity as a defense for a violent crime.

The bill passed the House and was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SF80 (Against) A bill for an act relating to actions taken by school districts concerning student pronoun preference.

This is a dangerous bill. It requires a school or employee of the school to notify parents at least one week in advance if they are going to ask or survey students about personal pronoun preference. Then it requires the school to disclose to the parent(s) the student’s answer. Setting aside basic privacy issues for students, it will place some students in harm’s way if they are not already “out” to their parent(s) and if the parent(s) are homophobic or transphobic.

SF167 (Against) A bill for an act relating to instruction relating to gender identity in the curriculum provided to students enrolled in elementary education programs.

The subcommittee recommended passage to the Senate Education Committee.

HF120 (For) A bill for an act modifying the elements defining hate crimes, and providing penalties.

HF154 (Against) A bill for an act relating to human growth and development course enrollment at school districts and to pupil attendance at educational conferences or seminars in which human growth and development information is provided.

HF170 (Against) A bill for an act establishing the protecting freedom of conscience from government discrimination Act, and including effective date provisions.

HF184 (Against) A bill for an act relating to student participation in interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports based on biological sex.

HF185 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the exposure of minors to, and the participation of minors in, inappropriate programming at public libraries and public elementary and secondary schools, and providing penalties.

HF187 (Against) A bill for an act relating to unfair practices involving access to areas of public accommodations or educational institutions.

HF193 (Against) A bill for an act relating to actions relative to treatment or intervention regarding the discordance between a minor’s sex and gender identity, and providing civil penalties.

HF272 (Against) A bill for an act removing gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa civil rights Act.

HF334 (Against) A bill for an act relating to student participation in interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports based on biological sex.

HF340 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the construction of the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 regarding sex and gender identity.

HF341 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the statute of limitations for recovery from injuries sustained from treatment for identity disorder.

HF342 (Against) A bill for an act defining creed in the Iowa civil rights Act.

HF405 (Against) A bill for an act relating to unfair practices involving access to areas of public accommodations designated for persons of one biological sex.

 REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS 

SJR2 and HJR5 (Against) A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa that the Constitution of the State of Iowa does not recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or require the public funding of abortion.

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

HF515 (Against) A bill for an act creating an alternatives to abortion program, and making an appropriation.

The subcommittee recommends passage to the House Human Resources Committee.

Talking Points on HF515

• Abortion is healthcare. The right to a safe, legal abortion must be protected for Iowans.
• Iowans deserve to have access to all reproductive healthcare options, including a legal and safe abortion.
• Fake pregnancy centers as promoted in HF515 are designed to mislead Iowans and coerce them into staying pregnant and not choose abortion.
• In the bill, the contractor must be a non-profit but there is no requirement of training as a healthcare or counseling provider. The contractor is not required to be licensed in psychology, social work, or any other healthcare profession. Any non-profit without real healthcare expertise could apply to be a contractor.
• The contractor must have the ability and include in its plan the ability to stalk pregnant Iowans through digital marketing. It must use “scripted strategies” when engaging prospects through their stalking methods. Scripted strategies in that conversation are designed solely to convince the persons who have been stalked to not have an abortion.
• Taxpayers will give $879,152 to a contractor to mislead, stalk, manipulate, and coerce a person into a decision they may or may not want.
• Iowans who are pregnant and deciding whether or not to continue a pregnancy should be treated with respect, dignity, and served by providers with their best interest in mind, not with a preplanned, scripted agenda.

TAKE ACTION ON HF515

• Email the members of the House Human Resources Committee with your opposition of HF515.

House Human Resources Committee

Republican Members

ann.meyer@legis.iowa.gov - Chair

steven.bradley@legis.iowa.gov – Vice Chair

eddie.andrews@legis.iowa.gov

rob.bacon@legis.iowa.gov

michael.bergan@legis.iowa.gov

brooke.boden@legis.iowa.gov

dennis.bush@legis.iowa.gov

cecil.dolecheck@legis.iowa.gov

joel.fry@legis.iowa.gov

tom.jeneary@legis.iowa.gov

shannon.lundgren@legis.iowa.gov

tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov

anne.osmundson@legis.iowa.gov

Democrat Members

beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov – Ranking Member

marti.anderson@legis.iowa.gov

liz.bennett@legis.iowa.gov

timi.brown-powers@legis.iowa.gov

tracy.ehlert@legis.iowa.gov

john.forbes@legis.iowa.gov

mary.mascher@legis.iowa.gov

kristin.sunde@legis.iowa.gov

HF434 or SSB1157 (For) A bill for an act relating to the prescribing and dispensing of self-administered hormonal contraceptives. (Formerly HSB121)

HF434 is eligible for debate in the House.

HF383 (Against) A bill for an act relating to informed consent for medication abortions, and providing penalties. (Formerly HF53)

The bill is eligible for debate in the House.

According to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa:

The abortion “reversal” legislation would require medical professionals to inform patients seeking a medication abortion that the procedure “may be possible to reverse," despite no accredited scientific evidence supporting those claims.... Politicians should not be interfering in medical care and requiring health care providers to give medically-inaccurate information to patients.

HF403 (Against) A bill for an act creating the living infants fairness and equality Act and providing for licensee discipline and civil and criminal penalties.

 GUN SAFETY 

HSB254 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the acquisition and possession of weapons and providing penalties.

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

SJR7 (Against) A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of the people to keep and bear arms. (Formerly HSB9, SJR1, and HJR4)

The legislation is a constitutional amendment to add gun rights with “strict scrutiny” to the Iowa Constitution. SJR7 passed out of both Chambers, which means the Constitutional Amendment will be on the ballot in the 2022 general election.

SF344 and HF621 (Against) A bill for an act establishing which actions may be brought against firearm and ammunition manufacturers, distributors, importers, trade associations, sellers, or dealers. (Formerly HSB116)

HF621 is eligible for debate in the House. The subcommittee in the Senate recommended passage of SF344 to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

HF518 (Against) A bill for an act creating the second amendment preservation Act.

 DEATH PENALTY 

SF82 (Against) A bill for an act creating a capital murder offense by establishing the penalty of death for murder in the first degree offenses involving kidnapping and sexual abuse offenses against the same victim who is a minor, and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB1004)

The Senate Judiciary Committee could consider the legislation at any time. Contact senators on the committee.

HF271 (Against) A bill for an act creating a capital murder offense by establishing the penalty of death for murder in the first degree, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

 JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE 

SF423 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the confirmation by the senate of certain appointees. (Formerly SSB1148)

The bill eliminates Senate confirmation of the Governor’s appointments for several state commissions, including the Commission on Judicial Qualifications and many others. This would place the appointment of many people to important commissions in the hands of one partisan official without any oversight or confirmation. Additionally, the bill allows for senators to request a confirmation of any individual who is otherwise not subject to confirmation, but that request would take the signatures of at least 26 senators. Both steps together would eliminate any possibility of the minority party of having a voice if they are concerned with an appointment.

The bill is eligible for debate in the Senate.

HF109 (Against) A bill for an act regarding legislative oversight of Supreme Court decisions, and including applicability provisions.

A subcommittee was held. Passage was not recommended, and the bill will not be considered again.

 LABOR RIGHTS 

HSB203 and SSB1172 (Against) A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance and including applicability provisions.

HSB203 and SSB1172 passed out of their committees. Both bills will be renumbered and will be eligible for debate in their respective Chambers.

 IMMIGRANT RIGHTS 

SF339 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the employment of unauthorized aliens and providing penalties. (Formerly SF84)

The bill is eligible for debate in the Senate.

 MORAL MONDAYS IOWA 

MONDAY, MARCH 1

Noon - 12:45 PM

Virtual event

Register here to attend via Zoom.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Or, watch on Facebook at Moral Mondays IOWA.

Cutting Unemployment During a Pandemic

Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (Cedar Rapids)

Charlie Wishman, President, Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO

HSB203 and SSB1172 seek to cut unemployment benefits in a number of ways, all bad for workers. From instituting a one-week waiting period for benefits to shortening the length of time someone can be on unemployment due to a business closing, these proposals make unnecessary and unneeded cuts at exactly the worst time. Cutting unemployment during a global pandemic is heartless, and cutting unemployment during an economic downturn is counterproductive; doing both at the same time is cruel to Iowa workers and their families.

Moral Mondays IOWA is scheduled for noon. The legislative schedule is less predictable this year in the scheduling of subcommittees. Please pay attention to email or Facebook in case a change in time is necessary.

Sponsoring organizations: 

Please note: The listing of an organizational name does not infer support or opposition to any particular issue or bill but is simply an indicator of the organization’s support of the broader mission of the Moral Mondays IOWA coalition.

 EMPOWERING IOWANS TO USE YOUR VOICE 

Your state representative and senator need to know your opinion on the issues, and that you are paying attention to their votes.

Can you use your voice and make a difference from home? Absolutely!

You can definitely make a difference by communicating with your legislators from home.

Call, email, or write to your legislators regarding the issues we outline each week in the Legislative Update. Build a relationship with elected officials ahead of time so they know you are one of their constituents and you care about these important issues.

If legislative forums held by your legislator are in-person, we caution you to use your judgment on whether to attend based on your situation and whether you feel safe. Encourage your lawmakers to hold virtual forums so all their constituents can participate and have their voices heard.

For all communications with legislators, whether written or verbal, we encourage you to…

• Be brief
• Use your own words
• Be civil

Find your state senator or representative and other elected officials.

House Switchboard:  515.281.3221

Senate Switchboard:  515.281.3371

Legislative Emails:  FIRSTname.LASTname@legis.iowa.gov

Iowa Capitol mailing address:

State Capitol Building, 1007 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Thank you so much for your willingness to stand up and use your voice. Together we can and will make a difference!