Bills › 90th General Assembly
Prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties
Topics:K–12 educationLGBTQIA+
Same legislation: HF 2396
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 25, 2024
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 30, 2024
- Done: House committeeFebruary 6, 2024
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 2396 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2396 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill prohibits school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications. The bill prohibits the board of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools from taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor, or student for addressing other employees, contractors, or students using the employee’s, contractor’s, or student’s legal name.
Read the full explanation
The bill prohibits the board of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools from taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor, or student for failing to disclose or use any personal pronouns in the greeting or signature block of any form of official communication. The bill allows an employee whose employment is terminated in violation of these provisions to enforce the provisions through a civil action which allows the aggrieved employee to receive reinstatement, with or without back pay, civil damages in an amount not to exceed three times the aggrieved employee’s annual wages and benefits, and any other equitable relief the court deems appropriate, including attorney fees and costs. Injunctive relief is also available. The bill defines “disciplinary action” to include termination of employment or the contractual relationship, suspension from employment or the contractual relationship, demotion, expulsion from school, suspension from school, detention, financial penalties, and written or verbal reprimands.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
House subcommittee
Named January 30, 2024. On February 5, 2024 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 2-1.
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
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§279.84
Amends§256E.7
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
7 for · 18 against · 1 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
90th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Similar bills
- HF 80 Prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against e…91st General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passageNearly identical
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.