HF 2557: Allowing a person to raise, guide, and instruct a child in a manner consistent with the child’s sex

What it does

This bill allows a person to raise, guide, and instruct a child in a manner consistent with the child’s sex. The bill exempts from the definition of child abuse a person raising, guiding, or instructing a child in a manner consistent with the child’s sex, including but not limited to referring to the child by titles or pronouns consistent with the child’s sex; seeking and consenting to a mental health service for a child for the purpose of helping the child live a life consistent with the child’s sex; making mental health or medical decisions based on the child’s sex; and declining to consent to gender transition procedure-related activity for a child.

Senate subcommittee · named March 10, 2026

• Sen. Lynn Evans (R) · lynn.evans@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Adrian Dickey (R) · adrian.dickey@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach (D) · herman.quirmbach@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 11 for, 16 against

For: 1st Amendment Partnership; Concerned Women For America of Iowa; Inspired Life; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; Protect My Innocence; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation; VALOR Iowa

Against: Bitches Get Stuff Done; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa ACEs 360; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Mental Health Advocacy; Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association; Iowa Psychological Association; Iowa Safe Schools; League of Women Voters of Iowa; and 4 more

In plain words

1. February 4, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee · as HSB 669
2. February 4, 2026House subcommittee named: Wheeler, Holt and Wichtendahl · as HSB 669
3. February 5, 2026House subcommittee named: Dunwell, Holt and Wichtendahl · as HSB 669
4. February 9, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 669
5. February 12, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 669
6. February 12, 2026Committee vote: 14–7 · as HSB 669
7. February 16, 2026Filed in the House
8. February 16, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2557 · as HSB 669
9. March 4, 2026Passed the House, 65–31
10. March 5, 2026Arrived in the Senate
11. March 10, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Evans, Dickey and Quirmbach
12. March 12, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
13. March 18, 2026Approved by the Senate committee