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
Topics:Civil rightsK–12 education
Same legislation: HF 620
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 20, 2023
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 22, 2023
- Done: House committeeMarch 1, 2023
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 620
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 620 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 620 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa school districts and charter schools cannot punish students or staff for using a person's legal name instead of their preferred pronouns. This rule also prevents schools from disciplining anyone for failing to include personal pronouns in official emails or documents. These protections apply to everything from school suspensions and expulsions to losing a job or receiving a written warning.1
Read the official explanation
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. 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 defines “disciplinary action” to include termination of employment, suspension from employment, demotion, expulsion from school, suspension from school, detention, financial penalties, and written or verbal reprimands.
House subcommittee
Named February 22, 2023. On February 27, 2023 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 2-0.
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
42 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 23, 2023 (42) · on the Legislature’s site
Family tree
90th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Similar bills
- HF 2139 Prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against e…90th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 2396Nearly identical
- HF 80 Prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against e…91st General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passageVery similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.