Hunter
03/06/23
With funnel week wrapped up, Iowa legislators will be tackling a number of high-profile bills that still have a chance to become law, including Gov. Kim Reynolds’ education bill, book-banning bills, and several of the 20 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced.
Iowa Starting Line reports that a number of bills didn’t make it past Friday’s deadline. They include two bills aimed at banning gay marriage, and a bill that would’ve banned anyone under the age of 18 from using social media.
A group of about 20 House Republicans introduced a total abortion ban bill that failed to move forward. Governor Reynolds and other leaders are waiting for the state Supreme Court to decide a related case before they advance further abortion restrictions.
Other bills that failed include those that would’ve removed slavery as a form of punishment from the state constitution; banning the attendance at drag shows to anyone under 18; and bills that would’ve provided free breakfast and lunch to schoolkids.
Among the high profile bills still alive include two championed by Governor Reynolds. One is her 1600-page Government Restructuring bill. Reynolds paid an out of state firm about a million dollars to formulate the legislation, which she claims will streamline government and save hundreds of millions of dollars. Detractors say the legislation will leave some Iowans behind and gives too much authority to the Governor’s office.
Iowa Starting Line says the governor’s education bill in its original version includes book censorship, prohibits calling students by their nicknames, fines schools up to $5,000 for violating “parental rights,” and removes teaching about AIDS, HPV, and the HPV vaccine. Legislators say the bill will be amended.
Other bills still alive include ones that would remove all funding for Diversity Equity and Inclusion position and offices at Iowa’s three state-run universities, prevent trans students from using the restroom and/or locker room they identify with in schools, change the qualifications of what books can are allowed at school libraries, and prohibit gender-affirming care for those under 18.