Despite Jeers, Iowa Legislature Pushes Ban on Local Trans Protections

Iowa House bill bans civil rights ordinances on gender identity

Local governments would be banned from adopting civil rights protections that are broader than the Iowa Civil Rights Act under a bill advanced by a House subcommittee. Governor Reynolds signed a law last year that removed gender identity as a characteristic protected under Iowa’s civil rights law. Coralville and Iowa City have adopted resolutions providing […]

Iowa lawmakers advance bill blocking local civil rights protections for transgender Iowans

House Study Bill 664 would block local governments from enforcing civil rights protections that go beyond what is written into state law.

Local civil rights protections could not exceed state law, bill proposes

Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, led a subcommittee meeting Feb. 9, 2026 on a bill that would ban local civil rights protections exceeding those outlined in the state Civil Rights Act. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill Monday to restrict local governments from enacting civil rights protections for groups not protected under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. House Study Bill 664 would state that cities and local gove…

Despite jeers, Iowa Legislature pushes ban on local trans protections

Iowa House Republicans advance bills to eliminate local civil rights protections, allow parents to force LGBTQ kids into 'conversion therapy'

LGBTQ rights supporters protest in the halls of the Iowa State Capitol, while House subcommittee consider two bills that would further erode the protection of the rights of LGBTQ Iowans, Feb. 10, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village Republican members of two Iowa House Judiciary subcommittees advanced two bills on Monday that continue the anti-LGBTQ agenda Gov. Kim Reynolds and legislative Republicans have enshrined in state law since 2022. As t…

Local governments would be banned from adopting civil rights protections that are broader than the Iowa Civil Rights Act under a bill advanced by a House subcommittee

Local governments would be banned from adopting civil rights protections that are broader than the Iowa Civil Rights Act under a bill advanced by a House subcommittee. Governor Reynolds signed a law last year that removed gender identity as a characteristic protected under Iowa’s civil rights law. Coralville and Iowa City have adopted resolutions providing local protections for gender identity. Katie Freeman, a member of Coralville’s city counci…