Bills › 91st General Assembly
Prohibiting public entities from engaging in certain activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating a private cause of action, and including effective date provisions
Sponsored by the House Education Committee
Topics:K–12 educationDiversity, equity & inclusion
Same legislation: HSB 155
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 11, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 11, 2025
- Done: House committeeFebruary 27, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 18, 202561–37
- Done: Senate committeeApril 7, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateMay 9, 202534–16
- Done: To the GovernorMay 22, 2025
- Done: Signed into lawMay 27, 2025
Signed into law What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill prohibits state entities, defined to include local government entities, from expending moneys to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or to hire individuals to serve as diversity, equity, and inclusion officers. The bill prohibits state entities from expending any moneys appropriated by the general assembly or any other moneys derived from bequests, charges, deposits, donations, endowments, fees, grants, gifts, income, receipts, tuition, or any other source to establish, sustain, support, or staff a diversity, equity, and inclusion office, or to contract, employ, engage, or hire an individual to serve as a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer.
Read the full explanation
The bill provides that this prohibition does not affect a state entity’s funding of academic course instruction, research or creative works, activities of registered student organizations, arrangements for guest speakers and performers with short-term engagements, mental or physical health services provided by licensed professionals, or policies or procedures related to diversity, equity, and inclusion that are required pursuant to a contract with a federal governmental entity. The bill also provides that this prohibition shall not be construed as prohibiting bona fide qualifications based on sex that are reasonably necessary to the normal operation of a state entity. The bill authorizes the attorney general to bring an action against a state entity for a writ of mandamus to compel the state entity to comply with these prohibitions. The bill also authorizes a student or alumnus of a public school, or an employee of a state entity, alleging a violation of the bill’s provisions to bring a civil action for injunctive relief against the state entity to prohibit the state entity from continuing such violation. The bill establishes the venue in which such actions may be brought. The bill takes effect upon enactment.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendments S-3149, S-3073, H-1094; see Amendments. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
Senate subcommittee
Named March 26, 2025. On April 1, 2025 it recommended amendment and 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
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 · 15 against · 15 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.
Study bill
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.