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91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HSB 139: Relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties

Became HF 571 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

_____ 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.

Sponsors

Not listed

Cost

No fiscal note

House subcommittee · named February 6, 2025

  • Rep. Bill Gustoff (R) · bill.gustoff@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Steven C. Holt (R) · steven.holt@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Lindsay James (D) · lindsay.james@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
  2. February 6, 2025House subcommittee named: Gustoff, Holt and James
  3. February 12, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
  4. February 20, 2025Approved by the House committee
  5. February 20, 2025Committee vote: 13–4
  6. February 24, 2025Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 571

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/HSB139