HF 571: Relating to protections for medical practitioners and health care institutions, including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties

What it does

This bill relates to protections for medical practitioners (practitioner), health care institutions (institution), and health care payors (payor), involving exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech. The bill provides definitions for “conscience”, “discrimination”, “health care institution”, “health care payor”, “health care services”, “medical practitioner”, and “participate in a health care service”. The bill provides that a practitioner, institution, or payor has the right not to participate in or pay for a health care service (service) that violates the practitioner’s, institution’s, or payor’s conscience.

Senate subcommittee · named January 16, 2026

• Sen. Jeff Taylor (R) · jeff.taylor@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Matt Blake (D) · matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Jesse Green (R) · jesse.green@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 12 for, 27 against

For: 1st Amendment Partnership; ADF Action; Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance; Do No Harm Action; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowans for Freedom; Pulse Life Advocates; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation; VALOR Iowa

Against: AFSCME Council 61; American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists; Bitches Get Stuff Done; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Family Planning Council of Iowa; Iowa Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives; Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Iowa Association of Rural Health Clinics; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and 15 more

In plain words

1. February 6, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Judiciary committee · as HSB 139
2. February 6, 2025House subcommittee named: Gustoff, Holt and James · as HSB 139
3. February 12, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 139
4. February 20, 2025Approved by the House committee · as HSB 139
5. February 20, 2025Committee vote: 13–4 · as HSB 139
6. February 24, 2025Filed in the House
7. February 24, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 571 · as HSB 139
8. March 26, 2025Passed the House, 64–32
9. March 27, 2025Arrived in the Senate
10. June 16, 2025Sent to the Senate Judiciary committee
11. January 16, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Taylor, Blake and Green
12. January 22, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
13. February 4, 2026Approved by the Senate committee
14. March 9, 2026Passed the Senate, 30–16
15. March 23, 2026Passed the House, 63–27
16. May 6, 2026Sent to the Governor
17. May 19, 2026Signed into law