Relating to local laws implementing the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965

This bill relates to local laws implementing the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 (civil rights Act). The civil rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment, wages, public accommodations, housing, education, and credit practices based upon certain characteristics of a person. Current law requires cities, to the extent possible, to protect the rights of the citizens of this state under the civil rights Act, and provides that the civil rights Act shall not be construed as limiting a city or local government from enacting any ordinance or other law which prohibits broader or different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices. The bill strikes this limitation and instead prohibits cities and local governments from enacting any ordinance or other law which is broader or has different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices than those provided in the civil rights Act.