SF 473: Relating to certain sincerely held religious or moral beliefs of certain entities for purposes of child foster care and adoption

What it does

This bill relates to certain sincerely held religious or moral beliefs (beliefs) of child foster care providers and prospective adoptive parents. The bill prohibits the department of health and human services (HHS) from requiring an individual licensee (foster parent) to affirm, accept, or support a policy related to sexual orientation (orientation) or gender identity (identity) that conflicts with the foster parent’s beliefs, or precluding a person from providing child foster care as a foster parent based, in whole or in part, on the person’s beliefs related to orientation or identity, including but not limited to the foster parent’s intent to guide, instruct, or raise a child in a manner consistent with the foster parent’s beliefs.

House subcommittee · named March 3, 2026

• Rep. Craig Steven Williams (R) · craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Jon Dunwell (R)
• Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D) · beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 8 for, 16 against

For: 1st Amendment Partnership; ADF Action; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Lutheran Family Service; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation

Against: Bitches Get Stuff Done; Common Good Iowa; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Four Oaks; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa ACEs 360; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics; Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association; Iowa Safe Schools; and 4 more

In plain words

1. February 27, 2025Filed in the Senate
2. February 27, 2025Approved by the Senate committee
3. March 25, 2025Passed the Senate, 35–14
4. March 25, 2025Arrived in the House
5. March 28, 2025House subcommittee named: Wheeler, Holt and Wessel-Kroeschell
6. March 31, 2025House subcommittee named: Williams, Holt and Wessel-Kroeschell
7. April 2, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
8. April 2, 2025Approved by the House committee
9. April 2, 2025Committee vote: 14–6
10. March 3, 2026House subcommittee named: Williams, Dunwell and Wessel-Kroeschell
11. March 5, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
12. March 18, 2026Approved by the House committee
13. March 18, 2026Committee vote: 14–6
14. April 20, 2026Passed the House, 58–34
15. April 21, 2026Passed the Senate, 28–16
16. May 5, 2026Sent to the Governor
17. June 2, 2026Signed into law