Bills › 88th General Assembly
Pertaining to bona fide religious purposes under the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2020
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 17, 2020
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary This bill creates a clear definition for what counts as a "bona fide religious purpose" under Iowa's civil rights laws. It applies to religious groups that provide housing, education, employment, or services. The new rule says a purpose is religious if it follows a sincerely held belief, even if that belief isn't part of a larger organized religion.1
Read the official explanation
This bill defines “bona fide religious purpose” under the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 (“the Act”) as any lawful purpose that furthers a sincerely held religious belief, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief, and without regard to the correctness, validity, or plausibility of the religious belief. The term shall be interpreted broadly, with any and all ambiguities resolved in favor of the bona fide religious institution professing the religious belief. The term, which pertains to certain exceptions to the Act relating to employment, accommodations or services, education, and housing, was not previously defined.
House subcommittee
Named February 17, 2020. Meeting: Tuesday, February 18 · 3:00 PM · House Lounge.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part