SF 579: Relating to local laws implementing the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965, local civil rights commissions, and local civil rights agencies, and including effective date provisions

What it does

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to local civil rights commissions or local civil rights agencies. The bill provides that any complaint that is filed with a local commission or local agency where a party is a political subdivision shall be referred to the Iowa office of civil rights for processing. The bill provides that a local agency or local commission complaint, upon request by any party, shall be transferred to the Iowa office of civil rights for processing if the complaint alleges a violation of the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 and has not been resolved within months of the filing date of the complaint.

House subcommittee · named February 19, 2026

• Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R) · skyler.wheeler@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Aime Wichtendahl (D) · aime.wichtendahl@legis.iowa.gov
• Rep. Craig Steven Williams (R) · craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 4 for, 13 against

For: Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa League of Cities; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation

Against: Building Bridges; City of Coralville; City of Des Moines; City of Iowa City; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa Safe Schools; One Iowa; One Iowa Action; and 1 more

In plain words

1. February 25, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Local Government committee · as SSB 1184
2. February 25, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Webster, Knox and Sires · as SSB 1184
3. March 3, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it · as SSB 1184
4. March 6, 2025Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 579 · as SSB 1184
5. March 10, 2025Filed in the Senate
6. March 10, 2025Approved by the Senate committee
7. March 26, 2025Passed the Senate, 43–4
8. March 26, 2025Arrived in the House
9. March 31, 2025House subcommittee named: Jones, Bloomingdale and Wichtendahl
10. April 1, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it
11. April 1, 2025Approved by the House committee
12. April 1, 2025Committee vote: 19–1
13. February 19, 2026House subcommittee named: Wheeler, Wichtendahl and Williams
14. February 23, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
15. February 24, 2026Approved by the House committee
16. February 24, 2026Committee vote: 19–1
17. March 2, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
18. March 5, 2026Passed the House, 60–26
19. March 9, 2026Passed the Senate, 29–16
20. March 10, 2026Sent to the Governor
21. March 10, 2026Signed into law
22. March 13, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted