April 9, 2021

Dear Friends,

As the Iowa Legislature turns more of its attention to appropriations, we cannot forget there are multiple policy bills still alive.

We have lost many battles this year and I know it can be very disheartening. Please remember your voice does matter, even if the legislation we oppose still passes or the bills we hope will move forward end up back in the proverbial drawer.

We cannot cede the public debate on these critically important issues over to those who are working to take away rights, divert public dollars for private choices, or harm Iowans in other ways. We must continue to bring the progressive voice from both a faith and secular perspective to the Statehouse.

Thank you for using your voice and for all you do to make Iowa a better, more welcoming place for all Iowans.

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?

PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HF813 (Against) A bill for an act modifying and establishing charter school programs and making appropriations. (Formerly HSB242)

The bill is eligible for debate in the Senate.

TAKE ACTION ON HF813

• CALL or EMAIL your senator and tell them to oppose HF813.
  • The Senate Switchboard is open Monday–Thursday at 515-281-3371.

TALKING POINTS on HF813

• A group of people not elected by taxpayers in the geographical area could open a charter school using taxpayer money and without the input of the locally elected public school board.
• A charter school would have no oversight by locally elected school board members from the school district and therefore the public would have no representation on the use of taxpayer dollars.
• Iowa has a public charter school program already available that allows public school districts to create innovative charter schools to fit the needs of a district and its students. Oversight is provided by the public school board. Iowans who want to establish a public charter school should work with their public school district to explore the current option.

The bill creates a new charter school program that would allow the creation of a charter school within the boundaries of a public school district without the authority and oversight of the district. Charter schools under the new law would in essence be a private charter school because there would be no oversight by a school board elected by the people of the district. Additionally, a private, for-profit entity could manage the charter school.

It is alarming to see continued efforts to privatize our public education system through bills such as this.

BE BETTER IOWA

 HF802 (Against) An Act providing for requirements related to racism or sexism trainings at, and diversity and inclusion efforts by, governmental agencies and entities, school districts, and public postsecondary educational institutions.

The bill is eligible for debate in the Senate.

TAKE ACTION on HF802

• CALL or EMAIL your senator and tell them to oppose HF802.
  • The Senate Switchboard is open Monday–Thursday at 515-281-3371.
• USE the hashtags and SHARE any of the graphics on all your personal and, if possible, organizational social media platforms. (Images also included as attachments.)

TALKING POINTS on HF802

• Prohibits effective diversity training for all state, county, city, public post-secondary education, and public K-12 education entities.
• Diversity training should be intentional and proactive in addressing bias, privilege, values, beliefs, and the present-day impact of our nation’s history regarding racism and sexism.
• The overreach by the legislature will impact all government entities at every level and their ability to determine the appropriate diversity training for their employees and locale.
• Will impact Iowans—all of us—and particularly those interacting with our government at all levels including students, families, residents, customers, and clients.
• This is an economic issue for our state. Iowa will be perceived as unwelcoming.
• It is a social justice issue for Iowans, disproportionately impacting people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and the immigrant community.

#WhiterByDesign

#BeBetterIowa

PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO PROTEST

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

SF476 is eligible for debate in the House. The bill is being touted as the “Back the Blue” bill; however, it is mostly anti-protester, tipping the balance significantly away from constitutional rights and toward law enforcement.

TAKE ACTION ON SF476

• CALL or EMAIL your state representative and tell them to oppose SF476.
  • The House Switchboard is open Monday–Thursday at 515-281-3221.

A strike-after amendment has been filed by the majority party that would incorporate various sections of several pro-police bills. The amendment provides for sections we can support:

• Adding current or retired judges, prosecutors, or law enforcement officers to the list of people able to have their residential address held confidential from public records by state and local entities. The bill also adds county assessors and county recorders that must maintain confidentiality for the participants of the program, when requested.

The amendment also includes sections we oppose, primarily because of additional charges, enhanced penalties, or tipping the balance against protestors:

• Under current law, you can be charged with serious misdemeanor if you willfully fail to stop your vehicle or intentionally attempt to elude law enforcement in a “marked” official police vehicle with a uniformed police officer. The bill adds unmarked law enforcement vehicles and removes “uniformed.” The penalty is enhanced to higher charges of aggravated misdemeanor and Class D and C felonies for various reasons described.
• Adds charges of assault for the use of a laser pointer during a protest if aimed at another person with intent to cause harm.
• Adds civilian employees to law enforcement and fire departments already in law who are protected from harassment and assault and providing enhanced penalties.
• Adds a required order of restitution if public property valued at $1500–$10,000 is damaged, altered, destroyed, or defaced.
• Adds to the definition of disorderly conduct obstructing any street, sidewalk, highway, or other public way with the intent to hinder others. Provides for penalties. Enhanced penalties are provided for if is present during a riot, damage to property, bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death occur.
• Bans control at the local level by prohibiting adopting or enforcing a policy that discourages the enforcement of state law.
• Discrimination by local government is prohibited and an application for civil action may be taken to the Attorney General.
• Provides qualified immunity for law enforcement hindering the rights of Iowans impacted to hold an officer as well as the agency, city, or county liable for their actions.
• Enhances the penalty for willingly joining in or remaining part of a riot.
• Enhances the penalty for willingly joining in or remaining part of an unlawful assembly.
• Provides for immunity for a driver of a vehicle who injures a protestor that is part of a riot, demonstration, unlawful assembly, or disorderly conduct and is blocking traffic of a street or highway unless the driver’s action includes reckless or willful misconduct.

 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 

HF813 (Against) A bill for an act modifying and establishing charter school programs and making appropriations. (Formerly HSB242)

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

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

HF228 was amended and passed the Senate. It has now returned to the House for consideration of the amendment.

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.

HF605 (For) A bill for an act relating to supplementary weighting for limited-English-proficient students and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly SF544, HSB148, and SF430)

HF605 passed the Senate and will be sent to the governor for her signature.

The bill provides for additional weighting for English Language Learners (ELL). It creates the Intermediate and Limited Proficiency levels for students based on their language skills and needs providing for differentiated weighting for up to five years for each level. We would prefer the weighting is even higher, but it is a good step in the right direction.

 CIVIL RIGHTS 

 HF802 (Against) An Act providing for requirements related to racism or sexism trainings at, and diversity and inclusion efforts by, governmental agencies and entities, school districts, and public postsecondary educational institutions.

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

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

See  TAKE ACTION  above for details.

HF744 (Undecided) A bill for an act providing for training, prohibitions, and requirements relating to first amendment rights at school districts and public institutions of higher education. (Formerly HSB 237)

HF744 was amended and passed the Senate. It has now returned to the House for consideration of the amendment.

The legislation is part of the original bill that we opposed, SF478, but only includes the First Amendment protections. The Action Fund is registered “Undecided” and we are monitoring the bill. 

 REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS 

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. (Formerly SJR2, HSB41)

HJR5 passed the Senate. It will be considered again in the 2023-24 General Assembly and, if it passes, will go to the people for a vote in the 2024 general election.

Talking Points on the Constitutional Amendment to Ban Abortion

• 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.

 LABOR RIGHTS 

SF492 and HF754 (Against) A bill for an act relating to unemployment insurance and including applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB1172 and HSB203)

The bills are eligible for debate in their respective Chambers.

The bills do multiple things including, in part, eliminating the first week of unemployment from eligibility and striking additional unemployment benefits for more than one dependent.

 MORAL MONDAYS IOWA 

MONDAY, APRIL 12

12:00 - 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.

The making of a lawmaker in the most divided legislature, and a pandemic

Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (Windsor Heights)

Rep. Sue Cahill (Marshalltown)

As the Session begins to (hopefully) wind down, Moral Mondays IOWA will highlight some of the newer members who have joined the legislature in these divided times, and during a pandemic. Who are they? What compelled them to run for office? How has the experience been so far? About what issues have they been most passionate during this Session? And what are their thoughts on the legislation still lingering in the legislature?

Join us Monday, April 12, at noon as we welcome Senator Sarah Trone Garriott and Rep. Sue Cahill to Moral Mondays IOWA.

Sponsoring organizations of MMI: 

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!