Join Us for a Legislative Forum with Sen. Janet Petersen, Rep. Sean Bagniewski & Rep. Austin Baeth
When: Saturday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Northwest Community Center (5110 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines)
This week, Senate Republicans kept pushing their culture war agenda. Here are two examples of mean-spirited bills they passed out of the Iowa Senate:
SF 494 — Asset testing and eligibility restrictions for SNAP, Medicaid, FIP, and CHIP
- The bill creates a maze of hoops for Iowans to jump through in order to apply for and access several federally-funded programs, including food assistance and health care.
Status: Passed Senate March 22.
SF 496 – Book Ban, Don’t Say Gay/Trans, Curriculum Prohibitions, Transparency Omnibus
- Book Ban: Bans books in K-12 material that has a description of a sex act.
- Don’t Say Gay/Trans: A school shall not provide any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion or instruction relating to gender identity or any sexual orientation in grades K-6.
- Outing Trans Teens/Adolescents: Requires any school employee to notify a parent if they believe the parent’s child has expressed a different gender identity.
Status: Passed the Senate March 22.
A few brighter public policy bills advanced through the Iowa Senate with bipartisan support:
- Don’t Device and Drive. Hands-free legislation aimed at preventing distracted driving cleared the Iowa Senate this week. Senate File 547 bans using an electronic device while driving, but it allows the use of one-touch or voice-activated features or devices. The change will help ensure drivers keep their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road, keeping all of us safer. Offenders will be issued warnings for a short period after the law takes effect, and then face $100 fines for violations. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
- Stop human trafficking. A bill creating a new Human Trafficking Taskforce passed the Senate this week. The taskforce will create an annual report examining resources available for victims and law enforcement and what additional resources are needed.
- Expand penalties for stalking. Senate File 201 enhances penalties for stalking when there is a technological device used to track a victim. This bipartisan bill stems from the growing use of GPS devices in stalking crimes. It is now eligible for consideration in the House.
Governor Reynolds signed these divisive bills into law:
SF 482 – Bathroom bans in schools
- Prohibits persons from entering single and multiple occupancy restroom facilities in elementary and secondary schools that do not correspond with the person’s biological sex.
Status: Signed by the Governor March 22.
SF 538 – Banning gender-affirming care for minors
- The bill bans gender care for persons under age 18, allowing politicians to veto informed decisions made by patients, parents, and providers.
Status: Signed by the Governor March 22.
QUICK TAKES:
- Join the Book Club. The State Historical Society of Iowa’s book club kicks off this month with an online discussion of “The Good Country: A History of the American Midwest, 1800-1900” by Jon Lauck at 7 p.m. March 30. The first-ever chronicle of the Midwest’s formative century, “The Good Country” describes a rich civic culture that prized education, literature, libraries and the arts. Author Jon Lauck will join the discussion. Register here.
- Welcome, VPOTUS. Last Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Des Moines to discuss reproductive rights with legislators and community advocates. Iowans are concerned about government overreach limiting reproductive freedoms, and Senate Democrats are pushing back against Republican politicians who want to restrict or take away reproductive freedom from Iowans.
- Student Loan Forgiveness Update. The Government Accountability Office decided last Friday that President Biden’s student debt relief program is subject to congressional review, providing a new tool for Republicans in Congress to try to block the measure. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she’ll try to do exactly that – even though than 408,000 Iowans would be eligible for student loan debt forgiveness under the plan.
- American Rescue Plan anniversary. March 11 marked the second anniversary of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. This transformative legislation created millions of jobs, funded the vaccination campaign, and helped cut the child poverty rate by nearly half in 2021 — the lowest level on record.
Grateful to Iowans Advocating for Social Justice!
