Bills › 91st General Assembly
Prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties
Sponsored by Rep. Helena Hayes (R)
Topics:K–12 educationLGBTQIA+
Same legislation: SF 8
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 23, 2025
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. 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, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, 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 also prohibits the boards 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 students using the student’s name as it is listed in the school’s registration forms or records. 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. 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 23, 2025. On January 28, 2025 it recommended passage.
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§279.87
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
9 for · 13 against · 4 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.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2396 Prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against e…90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
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.