Iowa

Iowa bill removing gender identity from civil rights code moves forward in key subcommittee

Published

1 year ago

February 25, 2025

Iowa bill removing gender identity from civil rights code moves forward in key subcommittee

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) -The push to remove additional civil rights protections for transgender Iowans advanced another step Tuesday. A senate subcommittee approved the change which would remove gender identity from the state civil rights code.

There is an urgency by some Republicans to make the change this week. It would remove protections from discrimination for transgender Iowans at work and when looking for a place to rent.

Some Republican legislators also hope that the changes could prevent public funding for gender affirming care for prisoners and Medicaid patients.

With protesters lining the hall outside unable to fit into the room, Iowans got to weigh in on the legislation.

Deb Davis from Johnston says the bill is common sense and protects female spaces like locker rooms and restrooms.

“The rights of biological females need to be protected. I also do not want my Iowa tax dollars being spent on elective hormones and genital surgeries of others,” she said.

Jess Bierling of West Des Moines came out as transgender in 2014.

Bierling says she decided to stay in Iowa after graduating from college because of the current Iowa Civil Rights Act.

“I expected to lose a lot when I came out, including my family, friends, and job. Having my job protected by the Iowa Civil Rights Act made it easier to move forward,” she said.

Kathryn Kueter, from Pleasant Hill, said gender identity being protected in the civil rights code contradicts civil rights given to sex, specifically for women.

“You can’t tell women their spaces and their rights will be protected and then in the same breath allow men, counterfeiting as women to invade those spaces,” she said.

Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, told lawmakers that transgender Iowans are our neighbors.

“Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is unthinkable to remove civil rights and legal protections from people that we love,” she said.

The lawmakers on the subcommittee voted to advance the bill in a 2-1 vote. It now goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.

The full house and senate could both debate this legislation Thursday if they have enough Republican support to pass it.

And since both chambers would be debating the same bill, they speed up the process and could get this sooner to Governor Kim Reynolds for her to sign it into law.

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Iowa

Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

Published

5 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

DES Moines, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff Saturday in honor of state Sen. Julian Garrett, who died June 8 at the age of 85.

Flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset June 20, the day of Garrett’s funeral, on the Iowa Capitol Building and across the Capitol Complex. The order also applies to all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Garrett served 16 years in the Iowa Legislature, first representing House District 55 from 2011 to 2013 before serving in the Iowa Senate through the 2026 legislative session.

In addition to his legislative service, Garrett was a farmer, attorney and former employee of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

“Sen. Garrett was a friend who served our state with integrity — whether as a cattle producer, a Little League coach, an attorney in the executive branch, or a legislator,” Reynolds said in a statement. “For 15 years, we worked together to unleash opportunities for the Iowans we served, and his impact will be felt for generations to come.”

Reynolds is encouraging individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government entities to lower their flags to half-staff during the same time period as a sign of respect.

Garrett represented southwest Iowa in the Legislature and was known for his work on judiciary and agriculture-related issues during his tenure at the Statehouse.

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Iowa

Iowa man injured in 3-vehicle crash on I-35 near Albert Lea

Published

15 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Iowa man injured in 3-vehicle crash on I-35 near Albert Lea

An Iowa man was injured Thursday afternoon after three vehicles traveling northbound on Interstate 35 collided near Albert Lea.

Thomas Gene Anderson, 34, of Winnebago, Iowa, was taken by Mayo Ambulance to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for non-life threatening injuries, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Anderson was listed as the driver of a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer.

The report states the Blazer and a 2020 Nissan Rogue, driven by Brenda Sue Bangs, 52, of Glenville, and a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, driven by Lisa Ann Bettin, 64, of Altoona, Iowa, were all northbound on I-35 near milepost 10 when the vehicles collided at 3:49 p.m.

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Iowa

Iowa High School Baseball Stats: Leaders On The Diamond This Summer

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Iowa High School Baseball Stats: Leaders On The Diamond This Summer

As we work through the month of June, things are starting to heat up on the diamond around Iowa high school baseball.

With the start of postseason play just around the corner in July, teams are working to get prepared for the stretch run.

High School On SI Iowa has a Top 25 state power ranking while the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association releases weekly class-by-class rankings.

Here are leaders as of June 17, 2026 for several major hitting and pitching categories. Stats are from those uploaded to the Bound website.