HF 854: Prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices

What it does

This bill prohibits a private institution of higher education, as defined in the bill, from establishing, sustaining, supporting, or staffing a diversity, equity, and inclusion office, as defined in the bill. The prohibition does not apply if otherwise provided by federal or state law or accreditation standards. The bill specifies activities that the bill shall not be construed to prohibit. The bill authorizes any person to report a private institution of higher education’s potential violation of the requirements of the bill to the attorney general, who shall provide notice of such report to the department of education and the institution within days.

House subcommittee · named January 22, 2025

• Rep. Taylor R. Collins (R) · taylor.collins@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Heather Hora (R) · heather.hora@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Jennifer Konfrst (D) · jennifer.konfrst@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 9 for, 11 against

For: Cicero Action; Do No Harm Action; Foundation for Government Accountability Action; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; PELLA PAC; 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 Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church; Iowa Insurance Associates; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Safe Schools; NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Iowa-Nebraska; One Iowa; One Iowa Action

In plain words

1. January 22, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Higher Education committee · as HSB 60
2. January 22, 2025House subcommittee named: Collins, Hora and Konfrst · as HSB 60
3. February 12, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 60
4. February 26, 2025Approved by the House committee · as HSB 60
5. February 26, 2025Committee vote: 7–4 · as HSB 60
6. March 7, 2025Filed in the House
7. March 7, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 854 · as HSB 60
8. April 3, 2025Sent to the House Higher Education committee