February 21, 2020

Dear Friends,

I am grateful that…

• First funnel week is over.
• Many bills are dead, including all of the horrible, outrageous, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. All of them.
• I work alongside great colleagues. The progressive lobbyists who are at the Statehouse every day are amazingly awesome. I am grateful for their commitment to make Iowa better for all Iowans, for their persistence, and for making our corner of the Capitol a little brighter. Thank you to each of you!
• We have such amazing advocates. For every email you wrote, phone call you made, trip to the Statehouse you took, and conversation with a legislator where you stood up and used your voice for your own rights and the rights of others, and to say good public policy matters. Thank you!

It has been a difficult session so far, the worst I have ever been through in my years of lobbying. But I promise to go back on Monday.

Many bad and cruel bills died with the funnel but many still remain. Perhaps the most egregious is HJR 2004, the constitutional amendment to take away a woman’s right to a safe, legal abortion.

A public hearing is scheduled for HJR 2004 this Tuesday, February 25, at 6:00 pm at the Statehouse. Join Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, the Action Fund, and ally organizations beginning at 5:00 pm to show your support for Iowa women’s reproductive healthcare rights.

One more thing…

The voice of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund is critically important at the Statehouse. And we need your support to be at the Capitol every day.

The Doing Justice Interfaith Action Fund Celebration is this Monday evening. I would love for you to join us. It is always a fun celebration and this year Senator Zach Wahls is our featured speaker!

Let us know of your plans to attend by emailing kristin@interfaithallianceiowa.org or heading online to make your reservation. You can also find details about the event at that link.

I know you may not be able to attend, especially if you don’t live in central Iowa. The Action Fund still needs your support, if possible. You can contribute to the Action Fund efforts at the Statehouse standing up for all Iowans and ensuring we are fully funded this year by contributing online at this link.

Thank you for all you do to help us protect religious freedom, ensure equality, and challenge extremism.

With appreciation,

Connie Ryan

Executive Director

Interfaith Alliance of Iowa & Action Fund

 LEGISLATION  WATCH 

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

CIVIL RIGHTS

HSB 693 (For) A bill for an act relating to the defense of justification for certain homicide offenses.

Known as a gay or trans “panic defense,” the bill prohibits the justification or legal defense for killing another person based on the victim’s sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The legislation passed out of Subcommittee and committee this week and is eligible for consideration in the House.

SF 508 (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. (Companion bill: HF 258)

The “RFRA” bill is a religious exemption bill. This legislation would allow for discrimination in the state based on religious beliefs and would gravely harm Iowa’s strong civil rights laws. Religious exemptions primarily target the LGBTQ+ community but have also been used in other states as justification to diminish women’s reproductive rights, to overturn child abuse allegations, and other actions.

We oppose RFRA legislation because:

• Everyone’s right to choose and practice a religion, or not, is protected by the First Amendment and Iowa’s Constitution.
• RFRA would allow someone to infringe on another person’s civil rights because of their personal religious beliefs.
• Discrimination has no place in Iowa.

The legislation did not pass out of committee and is dead for the Session although the issue could always show up in other legislation.

SF 579 (Against) A bill for an act relating to nonresident alien public offense data collection and analysis.

This bill mandates data to be collected by law enforcement for criminal offenses specifically for people who are undocumented. The senator who sponsored the bill stated he wanted to find out if “they” were committing more crimes, or not.

The bill promotes racial profiling, harms the relationship between immigrant communities and law enforcement, and reinforces bigotry toward the Latinx community. Iowa is a welcoming state and this legislation undermines that value and sense of community.

The legislation did not make it out of committee and is dead for the session.

SF 2257 (For) A bill for an act relating to sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts, and making penalties applicable.

The bill bans conversion therapy for licensed professionals and does not include religious exemptions, which the Action Fund supports. It is dead for the session.

HSB 698 (Undecided) A bill for an act relating to conversion therapy provided to a minor, and making penalties applicable.

This bill bans conversion therapy for licensed professionals but does include religious exemptions, which the Action Fund does not support.

A Subcommittee was held this week but the bill did not move forward. It is dead for the session.

HF 2130 (Against) A bill for an act pertaining to bona fide religious purposes under the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965.

The bill had a Subcommittee meeting this week but thankfully did not move forward due to great opposition from civil rights advocates and businesses. The broad language would have allowed for religion to be used to discriminate, overriding the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The bill is dead for the session.

All of the following anti-LGBTQ bills are dead for the session.

SF 2130 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the consideration of fraudulent concealment of sexual orientation in a marriage application form and license to marry in the awarding of child custody.

SF 2193 (Against) A bill for an act establishing the protecting freedom of conscience from government discrimination Act, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2194 (Against) A bill for an act establishing the protecting professional freedom of conscience from government discrimination Act, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2213 (Against) A bill for an act prohibiting the performance of certain practices on a minor related to the minor’s sex, and providing penalties.

HF 2164 (Against) A bill for an act removing gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa civil rights Act.

HF 2184 (Against) A bill for an act providing for the establishment of a policy prohibiting public school teachers from engaging in political or ideological advocacy while carrying out student instruction or otherwise acting within the scope of employment by a school district, providing for related training, and providing penalties.

HF 2201 (Against) A bill for an act relating to sexual orientation or gender identity instruction or related materials provided by school districts to pupils.

HF 2202 (Against) A bill for an act requiring high school students to participate in extracurricular interscholastic athletic practices, contests, or competitions based on biological sex as determined at birth.

HF 2272 (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 penalties.

HF 2273 (Against) A bill for an act establishing the protecting freedom of conscience from government discrimination Act, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2274 (Against) A bill for an act requesting an interim study committee on gender identity, the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965, and suicide by transgender individuals.

WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE

HJR 2004 and SJR 2001 (Against) A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa to protect life by declaring that the Constitution of the State of Iowa shall not be construed to recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion.

A public hearing is scheduled for HJR 2004 this Tuesday, February 25, at 6:00 pm at the Statehouse. The hearing will be in the Supreme Court Chambers (Room 103) but there will also be seating out in the rotunda on first floor with large TVs for livestream viewing.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa and ally organizations will begin gathering at 5:00 pm. Come to the Capitol and show your support for Iowa women’s reproductive healthcare rights!

SF 2215 (Against) A bill for an act relating to ultrasound prerequisites for abortion, and making penalties applicable.

This bill is horrific. As written, it would require a vaginal or abdominal ultrasound to be performed on a woman who is having an abortion. The bill does not differentiate between a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or induced abortion. It mandates the medical provider share visual images, sound for the heartbeat, and verbal description the images on the ultrasound to the woman (although the woman does not have to look at the images and the sound can be turned down). This legislation would require a 72-hour waiting period before having an abortion; a requirement that was already struck down as unconstitutional. It mandates what the physician must tell the patient in terms of options as well as penalties against the physician if they do not comply.

The bill had a Subcommittee this week but was pulled from the Senate Judiciary Committee agenda on Thursday. The legislation is dead for the session.

HF 2478 (Against) A bill for an act relating to fetal deaths including the disposition of bodily remains, and the filing of a fetal death certificate, and providing penalties. (Formerly HSB 660)

In the case of a miscarriage or abortion at 12 weeks or after and if in a medical facility, the bill requires a fetal death certificate after 12-weeks gestation (current law is 20 weeks). The bill also states the staff must inform the woman of her choices to dispose of the fetal remains. The disposition choices are limited to burial, interment, or cremation for stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and induced abortion.

This bill has already caused harm to Iowa women who have experienced miscarriages. The majority party seems willing to sacrifice the grief of women and families by pushing the political agenda of personhood and eliminating the legal and safe right to an abortion.

The bill passed out of the House Human Resources Committee with a vote along party lines and is eligible for consideration in the House.

HF 2480 (Against) A bill for an act relating to informed consent for medication abortions, and providing penalties. (Formerly HSB 672)

The legislation requires a medical facility and physicians to give medically unproven, non-scientific misinformation to a woman seeking an abortion that the abortion can be “reversed.”

This bill passed out of Subcommittee and the House Human Resources Committee this week. It passed along party lines and is eligible for consideration in the House.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

HF 2419 (For) A bill for an act relating to supplementary weighting for limited-English-proficient students and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 576)

The bill is eligible for debate in the House.

SF 199 (Against) A bill for an act relating to voluntary diversity plans under the state’s open enrollment law.

This 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 Burlington). The result for the urban districts in particular would be “white flight,” larger pockets of poverty, and segregated schools in those districts. Argument for the bill is “parental choice” regardless of the harm to students remaining in those districts.

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

HF 663 and SF 547 (Against) A bill for an act relating to education savings grants for pupils attending a nonpublic school or receiving competent private instruction, establishing an education savings grant fund, providing an income tax exemption, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including applicability provisions.

These bills are voucher bills that would allow public dollars to be provided to parents to pay for their private education choices.

Neither bill made it through the committee process and both died in committee.

VOTING RIGHTS

HJR 14 (For) A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the qualifications of electors.

This legislation is a constitutional amendment to allow for the automatic restoration of felon voting rights. Although there is bi-partisan support from legislators and broad endorsement from lobbying groups, there are roadblocks from some senators that could prevent the legislation moving forward in the Senate.

The bill passed in the House and the Senate Subcommittee during the 2019 Session. It must pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by second funnel on March 20.

SF 2129 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the restoration of voting rights to certain convicted persons and including effective date provisions.

The legislation would place restrictions on voting should the constitutional amendment (HJR 14) pass, restoring voting rights for those convicted of felonies. Restrictions would include the completion of confinement, parole, and probation; receipt of a pardon from the governor for homicide and related crimes; and the payment of pecuniary damages (monetary restitution).

The bill passed out of the Subcommittee and Senate Judiciary Committee this week and is eligible for debate in the Senate.

Senate Republicans have demanded they will not consider HJR 14 without the restrictions included in SF 2129.

GUN SAFETY

HSB 615 and SSB 3138 (Against) A bill for an act relating to firearms and weapons, including the storage, carrying, possession, or transportation of weapons and the establishment, use, and maintenance of shooting ranges.

The bills did not pass out of committee and are dead for the session.

SF 459 (Against) A bill for an act relating to the carrying, transportation, or possession of firearms on real property comprising a person’s place of employment.

This bill would not allow employers to prohibit employees from having firearms in their locked vehicles on the employer’s property. There are no exceptions in the bill (including houses of worship or private homes that have a small business with employees). It is a private property issue in that private employers should be able to have policy providing for a weapons-free property.

The bill did not pass out of committee and is dead for the session.

SF 2224 (Against) A bill for an act relating to going armed with, carrying, or transporting weapons on school district property. (Formerly SF 116)

The bill allows a person who has a permit to carry to transport or carry a concealed pistol or revolver onto school property if the person remains in the driveway or parking lot.

The bill passed out of committee and is eligible for debate.

DEATH PENALTY

SF 588 (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.

The legislation did not receive a Subcommittee meeting and has died for the session.

JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE

SSB 3181 (Against) A bill for an act regarding legislative oversight of supreme court decisions, and including applicability provisions.

One of the most bizarre pieces of legislation ever introduced is SSB 3181. As the title says, it would give “oversight” of the judiciary and particularly the Iowa Supreme Court to the Iowa Legislature.

Senator Brad Zaun’s legislation includes the following extreme proposals:

• Only the Iowa Supreme Court can rule to invalidate a law. The lower courts would be excluded from having this jurisdiction.
• If the Iowa Supreme Court invalidates a law as unconstitutional, it must be done by a vote of at least five of seven justices, as opposed to a majority decision.
• Within one year of a ruling, the general assembly can mandate certain justices attend a public hearing and defend their reasoning. The legislators can decide if they want to bring charges of impeachment or not.
• After the hearing, the justice may change their vote on the original court decision. The legislature can overturn a court decision that invalidates a law with a 2/3 vote of both the House and Senate.

The legislation did not receive a Subcommittee meeting and has died for the session.

 MORAL MONDAYS IOWA 

Moral Mondays IOWA is a collaborative project designed to highlight the progress at work in the Iowa legislature. A coalition of more than 25 progressive Iowa organizations, Moral Mondays IOWA proactively highlights legislation that spans a range of progressive issues and works for the advancement of Iowa values like equality, fairness, and justice.

February 24, 2020 | 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.
Room 304, Iowa State Capitol

Threats to Women's Reproductive Rights

 
Speakers:
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D-Ames)

Jamie Burch Elliott, Public Affairs Manager, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa

How many bills have been introduced in 2020 chipping away at the rights of Iowa women to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions and have access to providers? How many bills remain? And, what are the biggest threats? Attend Moral Mondays IOWA and learn from the experts.

Please join us at the Statehouse or live on the Moral Mondays IOWA Facebook page.

Location: Room 304, Iowa Capitol (From the ground floor, go past the cafeteria in the north hallway. Take the elevator at the far end of the hallway to the third floor behind the House Chambers.)

Please share this flyer with others.

MMI is held at the Iowa Capitol during the legislative session. All are encouraged to attend each week.

 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.

Will you be at the Capitol?

Please let us know when you plan to be at the Capitol during the Legislative Session so we can work with you to talk with Legislators on the important issues at stake this Session.

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

In addition to coming to the Statehouse—or for those who are unable to make the trip—you can always make a difference by communicating with your legislators from home.

Call, email, or write them on the issues we outline each week in the Legislative Update. Build a relationship with your elected officials ahead of time so they know you are one of their constituents and you care about these critical issues. You can also attend legislative forums your legislators host in your district and talk with them directly!

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!