Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

Subcommittee members: Hayes-CH, Matson, Stone

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Location: RM 103

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

01-27-2025

Storm O'Brink

As someone who has worked with trans youth for the last 8 years, I strongly oppose this bill. Its entire purpose is to further dehumanize trans youth. We see what you're doing by scheduling this subcommittee meeting with less than 24 hours of notice to the public. You intend to slam this bill through, regardless of what the public saysor any of the people most affected by this bill if it were to become law. You don't care what your constituents think, you're simply busy scapegoating trans kids while there are real issues facing Iowa's youth like homelessness, abuse, and poverty that you're refusing to address. Vote this down, stop sneaking around, and do something useful that actually helps people.

01-28-2025

Donna Cook

Please do the right thing and vote no This is clearly permission to bully It does not increase safety in our schools but will jeopardize our students safety and wellbeing. Let's use your time and our resources to improve our schools. Please support local control and the system already in place in IowaPlease do not create harmful and unnecessary laws Please make meaningful legislation.

01-28-2025

stella armstrong

I oppose this bill. Its yet another waste of time put forward this session. I vaguely remember a time where this state was known for niceness, and now were writing laws that legally permit bullying marginalized children. Truly unbelievable the lengths conservatives will go to so they can continue bullying kids.

01-28-2025

Lisa Martincik

I strongly oppose HF 80, a bill with no positive aspects and seemingly designed to disrespect students, disempower parental support, and support bullying. No common sense, no lived experience, no decent impulse, no studies and no expert advice support the actions of this bill. it encourages bad behavior and clearly serves no greater good. Please disregard this embarrassment of a document and focus on issues that will help Iowans.

01-28-2025

Deb Talan

Please dont do this. Please, lets be better than this. Lets be on the right side of history and say: in Iowa, we believed people were who they said they were. To legalize misgendering of trans kids is at best rude, and at worst, truly causing harm. Lets be a state that leads with CARE, instead of FEAR.

01-28-2025

Whitney Turner

I would like to publicly oppose to this bill. I believe that parental choice should be allowed for all parents. As a teacher, I should respect that parental choice and the student's choice to be named how they so choose. It should not be up to lawmakers to decide what parents get rights and what parents have their rights taken away.

01-28-2025

ALISON THOMPSON

Transgender people in our state do not need another bill passed that would be detrimental to them. Please do not pass this. Have compassion and respect for ALL Iowans, not just those that fit in to your narrative of normal.

01-28-2025

Lauri Okun

This is a horrible bill that pushes to further marginalize & torment youth in our schools. This is meanspirited & encourages hateful behavior against summer of our most vulnerable students. There is no public good or benefit from wasting legislative time considering such a worthless piece of legislation. Im sure there are better ways to move Iowa back to bring a topnotch education state, but this isnt it. I disapprove of this bill.

01-28-2025

Deborah Hansen

I ask you to use common sense and Vote NO on HF80. This bill is no more than a bill to allow bullying. We must protect the rights of all our citizens. I ask how does this affect you, what does this do to provide the true needs of the state maternal healthcare deserts, childcare deserts, mental health services. Please think through your actions and the harm you are causing.

01-28-2025

Lori VanLo

This is just unnecessary and cruel. Instead of doing something about Iowa's cancer rates and pollution you are focusing on how someone wants to be referred to in this world? This is just a ridiculous distraction so you don't have to actually help anyone. Stop trying to distract people with something that will affect like 2 kids a year and just let them be! Just a waste of money, time, and energy. But maybe the cruelty is the point, says a lot.... ew

01-28-2025

Vicki L DeMoss

I would like to register my opposition to this bill which is based on discriminatory personal beliefs and should not the the basis of legislation. This bill would disenfranchise students, promote hate and negatively impact student mental health.

01-28-2025

Susan McMorran

I am opposed to this bill, it is disrespectful to dead name anyone who has chosen to change their name. If you want to dead name a person there should also be a law that under the age of 18 if a childs full name is Jennifer it can not be shortened to Jenn, if a childs name is Kenneth it can not be shortened to Ken.

01-28-2025

Christina Downey

Good morning, I would like to register my opposition to this bill. This is not a choice for a school system or for anyone else to make. This is a decision for the parents and the child. This bill would allow children to be harassed and bullied by their teachers and staff at their schools. The mental health for children is already in crisis. This bill would further add to a childs pain.

01-28-2025

Brianne Bethards

I oppose this bill. If someone provides you with their name and how they would like to be addressed, the right thing to do is to address them as such. This bill completely lacks morals, kindness and compassion. Please let's get back to "treat others with love".

01-28-2025

Cindy Newton

As a teacher who sees first hand how this bill would greatly impact the mental health and wellbeing of our students, I oppose this bill. Support our kids, all our kids. Do not open another avenue for displaying hate in our schools.

01-28-2025

Tabitha Simms-Quigley

I am strongly opposed to HF 80. By law, I have to fill out what names my kids may be called. To allow teachers and others to call them by other names goes against that law, and my rights as a parent, without recourse.

01-28-2025

Lyndi Flugum-Collins

Families spend a lot of time determining what to call their children, including using middle names, initials, etc., to make their children feel confident and cared about. My family has a name thats been used for 5 generations, so we use a nickname, for example. The childs comfort in school will help them learn better, which is the purpose of school. Adults need to do all they can to support the student needs. This bill does not support student needs.

01-28-2025

Elizabeth Rapson

Whatever happened to Iowa nice? It seems the legislature is preoccupied with bullying. Pass something that is helpful to the citizens of Iowa. HF80, a bill that would allow teachers and staff to misgender students without any consequences, flies directly in the face of parental choice arguments. School districts already have a requirement that parents have to sign a form telling teachers what they want their child to be called, which is already an administrative burden for families and schools. There is either parental choice or there is not. We ask that you respect parental choice in these matters as you have in other matters.

01-28-2025

Kiran Thijm

I strongly oppose HF 80. To my understanding there was less than 24 hours of notice for the subcommittee for this bill; Why are you so eager to enact bills that will harm kids? This is not small government nor free speech of you. Shame on you.

01-28-2025

Tiffany Welch

As a parent and community member, I am strongly against HF 80. As a parent, by law, I have to give permission to what name and pronouns my child can be called at the schools they go to. If the birth name isn't on the list, they are not to be called that, because of law. Remove any punishment violates my rights and choices as parent. Keep parent choice alive, and vote no

01-28-2025

Jessica Chrystal

Imagine trying to waste your elected positions to bully & vilify my family and children while we spend time volunteering for organizations and tucking the dog into bed at night.It'd beyond pale and disturbing. They should worry about things like the price of eggs,the bird flu and the farm economy and not the legalize bully of my kids and their freinds.If that's the kind of state Republicans want to turn Iowa into,those Republicans can always resign their seats and move to Russia and serve in the Duma. Their ideology and laws are more in line with theirs and not the freedom loving Iowans they serve.

01-28-2025

Gina Hausknecht

I strongly oppose this unnecessary bill which denies young Iowans and their families the right to selfdetermination. For those committee members seriously considering supporting this bill, please take a look in the mirror: does the legislature not have more important things to do than bully children for being a little different? This is not the support teachers need from you: they need wellresourced schools and the respect to be allowed to do the jobs they were trained to do free of governmental meddling with curriculum standards, library shelves, and classroom rosters.

01-28-2025

Kennedy LaVille Thoren

I am writing to you as a resident of Iowa and practicing psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, to urge you to NOT support HF80 or any other discriminatory legislation.Did you know using someones preferred name and pronouns could save their life?Studies show that transgender youth with acceptance from at least one adult had 39% lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared with their transgender peers who were not accepted. Nonbinary youth with acceptance from at least one adult had 33% lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared with their nonbinary peers who were not accepted. Language matters. This kind of legislation is not going to stop trans youth from existing, but it will influence how many go on living.Our state has emphasized the importance of mental health care and claims to be prolife, yet these bills continue to resurface. Take care of our kids and do not allow this legislation to progress. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/trgh.2021.0079Respectfully,Kennedy LaVille Thoren, DNP, ARNP, PMHNPBC

01-28-2025

Jared Knote

Oppose. Activist, culture war issues like this do not seem constructive for business. Iowa needs the best people and businesses to move here, create jobs and grow the economy. Relocation strategies for individuals involve consideration of schools. Attractive schools do not condone bullying. This bill results in unattractive schools environments. Not what Iowa needs to attract workers.

01-28-2025

Jen Welsh

Good Morning I am writing today to oppose this bill. I am a public school teacher and know the challenges that Iowas children are facing every day. Kids are struggling with mental health issues, body image, the effects of social media, and still recovering from the impact of COVID. This bill aims to give students one more thing to worry about and possibly be bullied about. In a state where government pushes parent choice, this is very contradictory. Parents must give signed consent for teachers to call their child any name other than the one they are registered with or face consequences. This bill takes that power away from parents, not very parent choice like. There is so so much wrong with education in this state, I encourage you all to dig deeper, problem solve actual problems that students and teachers are facing. Student name choice is very very low on that priority list. Come visit a school, walk the halls, see the struggle, talk to the experts, then go back to the legislature and begin fixing what is actually broken. Signed, a teacher, a mother, and a decent human being.

01-28-2025

Katie Sanderson

I oppose this bill. In fact I havent seen a single comment that is in support of this bill. Please use your time & energy to focus on bills that HELP people and that do not TARGET a very small minority. These children are already targeted daily. Be a better example to our youth.

01-28-2025

V Fixmer-Oraiz

I would like to register my opposition to this bill. As a public servant that was elected by residents of my county, I fail to see how this upholds our duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare or our residents, especially our children. We have serious issues, such as hunger, housing insecurity, the list goes on and on. Im ashamed that yet again, Republicans cant help but bully children and take away more rights from parents to make the best decisions for their family.

01-28-2025

Jasmine McAleavey

I oppose this bill. Everyone has a right to their identity. Statistics show that acknowledging a person correctly leads to better life outcomes. We can do better than this shady attempt to create a legal bullying loophole.

01-28-2025

Paula Blake

I am opposed to HF 80Please leave the children alone. Let them concentrate on their studies. As a retired 39 year veteran teacher I've witnessed stressed students stagnating in our classrooms. Tell me about these names, am I naming a boy or girl?TaylorTylerAlexCourtneyRandySandyChrisLeslieAubreyAngelJordanAveryQuinnBlakeBrookCharlieFrankieStevieCaseyHaydenJessieJackie JodyJanDevonKimShannonWill these and others like them be banned next??Help children. Feed children. Stop attacking them and the teachers. Will these same rules be applied to the private schools our state is now funding?Paula Blake

01-28-2025

Lina Maria Murillo

I am registering my overwhelming objection to this bill. It seems to me that if you are advocating for less government intrusion into our every day lives, a bill forcing people to use a name they do not like or want is exactly the opposite.That school districts and other schools have chosen to lead with respect and treat trans and nonbinary children and adults with dignity and honor their chosen names seems obvious in any caring society. This bill sanctions cruelty. It uses the law to bully and demean.As a parent of a trans child I am appalled, embarrassed, and ashamed that state legislators would busy themselves with such clear forms of obscene inhumanity when the people of Iowa need help with housing, healthcare, and clean water.

01-28-2025

Eric Saylor

This is a bill designed to encourage bullying and marginalize a tiny minority of students. It serves no educational, pedagogical, or emotional purpose other than to hurt children. I strongly oppose this proposal and am appalled that it was even put forward.

01-28-2025

Pamela Mohr

Please do not advance HF80, a bill that would allow school staff and students to misgender students. This is sanctioned bullying and is detrimental to a student's wellbeing and mental health. All students deserve to feel safe and welcome in their schools. Neuroscience backs this as well. If a student does not feel safe, they will not be able to learn. Please vote no.

01-28-2025

Jeremy Wilhelm

Please oppose HF 80 as it is an open call for more discrimination against the rights of children and the rights of parents to protect their children in public. Your job is to protect and serve, not to enable ignorant individuals to verbally abuse and discriminate against people they dont understand. Choosing names, pronouns, and gender identity are all acts of autonomy, and should be protected and respected in a free, autonomous society.

01-28-2025

Denise Perez

I am opposed to this bill. It is nothing more than a license to bully children. How about focusing my tax dollars on something that improves education,healthcare, child care, housing, and a million other things that actually improve Iowans lives.

01-28-2025

Guillermo Morales II

I am opposed to this cruel bill. Allowing teachers to misgender or deadname students will cause students harm, subject students to bullying, erode the trust that should exist between students and teachers, and make schools less safe for trans students. This bill is nothing more than state sanctioned violence against children.

01-28-2025

Patricia Boddy

Opposed. HF80 undermines maintaining schools as safe spaces for all students. A sense of safety is a priority for learning. Its not just the students directly bullied at risk those who witness or just sense the sorrow and/or fear of fellow students also face an eroded learning environment. Lets find ways to support all students, not reinforce damaging othering.

01-28-2025

Tori Rowley

I strongly oppose this bill because it fosters an unnecessarily cruel and hostile environment for children who simply want to express their authentic selves. Legislation like this risks causing lasting harm to some of Iowas most vulnerable youth by marginalizing and stigmatizing them at a time when they most need support and acceptance.This bill contradicts the values of fairness, dignity, and freedom that Iowa has historically upheld. It targets a specific group of children, violating their rights and making it more difficult for them to access the safety and belonging they deserve in their schools and communities.Research consistently shows that affirming environments are critical to the mental health and wellbeing of transgender youth. Bills like this not only increase the risk of mental health struggles but also send a dangerous message to all children about whose identities are valued and respected.Rather than dividing us, Iowa should be leading with legislation that uplifts all children and fosters inclusion. This bill does nothing to protect kids or improve outcomes; instead, it creates unnecessary harm, isolates families, and makes Iowa a less welcoming place to live.I urge lawmakers to reject this harmful bill and instead focus on policies that bring us together, promote equality, and protect every child in our state.

01-28-2025

Micail McPhee

This is a totally inappropriate bill. School is a place where kids and their families deserve to feel respected and safe. It's so easy to simply call a child by the name they ask you to call them. Refusal to do so can create totally unnecessary distress in a place that needs to feel safe and welcoming. Please vote no.

01-28-2025

Emma Barber

I strongly oppose HF 80. This proposed bill does nothing to protect students and instead lays a solid framework for discrimination to run rampant. This bill would encourage misgendering and bullying of our already vulnerable youth.

01-28-2025

Deanne Stuart

For the many, many reasons listed by so many othersexperts, parents, teachersetcI vehemently oppose this bill. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Where is Iowa Nice in this bill? What good does it to for our youth? Pleasedont do this.

01-28-2025

Tiara Munoz

This bill is in action to only cause harm and hurt towards underrepresented and unprotected individuals who face scrutiny and danger every day due to negative attitudes and discriminatory policies such as the one trying to be passed. At what point will Iowa see that the protection of children in the school place should be treated with the upmost concern and safety. Acting in respect to an individual is not a crime, disrespecting and threatening the life of another is a crime. By normalizing misgendering individuals, we are opening up a can of worms that support hindering the care and safety of children and boosts the egos and insecurities of adults fueled by hatred and prejudice.

01-28-2025

Gabriela F

Please Vote no on HB 80 and stop the hate! Your job is not following a political agenda. Your job is to work for the wellbeing of Iowans.You are hurting children, and that's very cruel. I urge you to consider the majority of Iowans who don't want to hurt children, so please VOTE NO ON HB 80!

01-28-2025

Clara Quinn

Against! This is a weak attempt to allow intimidation and manipulation of children. Dont worry, they ARENT your kids. Historically Iowa has been at the forefront of level headed protection of individual civil rights. WHAT HAPPENED!? So disappointed in our state government, bullying children instead of protecting our tax dollars with important legislation that improves the lives of its citizens. The brain drain continues as you drive the youth of Iowa to move away to feel safe, have healthcare and raise their children. Not my Iowa.

01-28-2025

Holly Thayer

I urge you to oppose this bill and protect Iowa's children. I often hear the argument that children are being dragged into conflicts about gender and sexuality unnecessarily. I usually disagree, but in this case, it's spot on. This legislation absolutely puts children in the middle of an unnecessary conflict. It allows students to disrespect one another's autonomy and personal choices, and it encourages bullying. And it allows teachers and staff to set a harmful example. Please consider the potential harm and don't advance this legislation.

01-28-2025

Adam Strait

Please vote no. All this is doing is empowering those who have no respect for other human beings. These are children exploring who they are and they should be allowed to without prejudice. A teacher should not be in a classroom if they can not be respectful to youth and call them by the name or pronouns they go by. It's disgusting that someone so disrespectful and full of hate could be allowed to instill that onto the youth of Iowa. These are the type of people the youth should be protected from. If an employee can not respect a child, they should have disciplinary action taken against them.

01-28-2025

Ken Hanson

I'm in opposition to this bill. Everyone deserves to be called the name that they want to use. Legalizing disrespect of anyone is contrary to our values as Iowans. Gay and transgender students are already stigmatized by society. Allowing teachers to disrespect them only leads to more stigma. Protect children.

01-28-2025

Audrey Fusco [Studio Fusco]

As an Iowan, I believe in our ability to foster safe and inclusive spaces for all students. I strongly oppose HF08. This bill seems less about protecting education and more about targeting already vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ youth. Schools should be environments where students feel respected and supported, not singled out or marginalized. Policies that alienate or stigmatize students based on identity only serve to worsen mental health outcomes and undermine their educational success. I urge you to prioritize equity, compassion, and learning for all.

01-28-2025

William Brauch

I oppose this bill. It is the students interest in a safe environment for learning that the State should protect in the situations contemplated by this bill, not the interests educators who wish to exercise their religious beliefs to the detriment of students. Educators may hold a variety of religious beliefs, based on various religions and religious practices. Here, the State would be choosing one belief to uphold, that being a belief that God did not intend human beings to be trans. The potential for harm to the students psychological wellbeing by deadnaming the student greatly outweighs any benefit to the educator in being free to exercise their religious beliefs in interacting with that student. Indeed, their role as an educator does not include using the youth under their care as fodder for demonstrations of their own piety. They are there to educate and protect. The State fosters neither through this bill.

01-28-2025

Abigail Escatel

I oppose the mere introduction of this bill let alone the possibility that it would pass. This bill is absolutely irresponsible and unprofessional. Any measure that decreases accountability for educators and staff members who have so much power over our young people is inhumane. Trans youth should have the unquestioned protected right to live with dignity and respect. And if anyone in the education system thinks they can harm our trans youth without consequences, then it is only because of policies like these that consistently deny the value of marginalized lives. This policy is antithetical to the individualist culture this country so proudly purports. This bill disempowers students, parents, families, and communities from demanding that human level respect. This is an absolute infringement on our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

01-28-2025

Sally Ortgies

I am opposed to this bill. It will create an unsafe school environment for our states transgender kids. Is it that difficult for a child to be called the name that the parent has already approved with the school? Why take this unnecessary step that opens the door to bullying of vulnerable children? I ask you to please focus on issues like water quality, pollution, and Iowas rising cancer rates. Thank you.

01-27-2025

Darci Kidd

I would like to register my opposition to this bill. The legislature has already overstepped its bounds in the area of student and parental rights when it comes to transgender and nonbinary students. Adding to this a bill that would excuse authority figures in the school from using damaging language like incorrect pronouns or dead names is a cruelty. These are children who need the support and understanding of school staff and not casual cruelty that they would have a blanket get out of jail free card to use. Transgender people are valued members of our community and should be treated with dignity and respect.

01-27-2025

A Erazo

HF80, a bill that would allow teachers and staff to misgender students without any consequences, flies directly in the face of parental choice arguments. School districts already have a requirement that parents have to sign a form telling teachers what they want their child to be called, which is already an administrative burden for families and schools. There is either parental choice or there is not. We ask that you respect parental choice in these matters as you have in other matters.

01-27-2025

Riley Rodemaker

Hello! I would like to provide my view regarding HF80. As a mental health counselor, I am acutely aware of the struggles that many individuals deal with on a regular basis. In particular, individuals who are transgender experience increased stress, discrimination, and oppression. Furthermore, I am sure that many people can recall the stress and pressures of being a child and teenager. Now, imagine being a transgender child or teenager and how difficult that can be in todays world. It is a simple and easy thing to use someones correct name and pronouns, even if you disagree or do not understand gender identity. Results from the Trevor Projects National Survey on LGBTQ Mental Health 2020, which collected data from over 40,000 LGBTQ youth ages 1324 across the US, found that transgender and nonbinary youth who report having their pronouns respected by ALL or MOST of the people in their lives attempted suicide at HALF THE RATE of those who did not have their pronouns respected (https://www.trevorproject.org/survey2020/?section=SupportingTransgenderNonbinaryYouth). Additionally a study from 2018 that was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that for each additional social context in which a youths chosen name was used, there was a statistically significant decrease in depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviors, after adjusting for degree of social support and demographic variables (Vance, SR. 2018). Therefore, ensuring that individuals are held accountable for using correct pronouns seems like a fair request given the immense positive impact it has on children and adolescents lives. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.

01-27-2025

Tara Abbott

I would like to register my opposition to this bill. It would necessarily harm vulnerable children for the comfort of teachers. Allowing school staff to misunderstood students would drive an already at risk population out of the school system and damage their mental health. This bill will likely also create ferpa violations for teachers who are misgendering/ mistaking trans students who wish to keep their medical information and status as transgender private from the general school population. It will also encourage a climate of aggression and bullying towards trans and likely all lgbtq children.

01-27-2025

Laura Coyle

I oppose this bill because it will support teachers to make children feel unwelcome and targeted and lead to increased self harm, depression, and suicide. This bill would remove protections for some of our most vulnerable children.

01-27-2025

Elizabeth Arnold

I am writing to share my vehement opposition to this bill. This bill encourages disrespect of students as well as parental expectations. We deserve the right to ask that our children be treated with dignity and respect. Our state considers gender identity to be a protected class, and this bill contradicts that

01-27-2025

Meghan Oneal

I would like to register my opposition to this bill.For a state that prides itself in parental choice, this bill flies directly in the face of just that. This bill would allow teachers and staff to misgender students without any consequences regardless of parental choice. It seems like a huge step back for supporting students and their right to feel safe and respected at school. When schools are supposed to be places where everyone is encouraged to express themselves, laws like this can undermine that sense of safety, especially for trans and nonbinary students who already face so much unnecessary hardship.

01-27-2025

Amanda Staker

I am vehemently opposed to this bill. Allowing students and teachers to use the incorrect name for students is harmful. This bill basically condones bullying trans kids in school. School is supposed to be a safe place so that children can focus on learning. It is a persons right to request to be called by their name and there is no good reason to call them by any other name. This bill will lead to the belittling of an already marginalized community. It will do only harm. Please do not support this bill! Remember that your constituents are looking to you to protect the rights of all Iowa citizens.

01-27-2025

Jennifer Harris

I would like to register my opposition to this bill which would allow students, teachers and staff to dead name transgender and LGBTQ students. Not only is this a form of bullying (which is illegal per Iowa Code) in Iowa schools, its just plain cruel. It is already required for parents to allow their students to use a name other than what is on the birth certificate as well as give the authority to have their children use different pronouns. To give other students, teachers and staff the authority to flat out. BULLY others based on gender identity is abhorrent. This bill is equal to allowing the use of the word nigger towards black and brown students. Its derogatory. If this bill passes, any suicides by students who are bullied by this law would be all on you. Would you be able to live with yourself, knowing your actions caused an LGBTQ student to harm themselves?

01-27-2025

Jen Bradley

I am opposed to this bill. Misgendering students is harmful to their mental health. The bill will hurt young people while also defying parent choice in the matter. Teachers must respect all students' name and pronoun choices in order to provide students with a safe and supportive learning environment.

01-27-2025

Marcus Price

This seems like a feeble attempt to undermine the free will of the individual. Regardless of opinions on gender if a student and parents are okay with the name then it is no one elses place to say otherwise. This is an issue of individual rights. Dont give this daylight.

01-27-2025

Gwendolyn Neal

I register my strong opposition to this bill. As an Iowa educator, I've seen firsthand how legislative attacks on the rights and dignity of trans youth have damaged them socially, emotionally, academically, and even in terms of their physical health.A trans student of mine, who was getting abused at home and knew it would get significantly worse if her parents knew she was trans, was heartbroken to discover that Iowa lawmakers had obligated teachers and counselors to inform parents of any new names or pronouns she could get the courage to experiment with. School was the safest place in the world for her, and suddenly she couldn't trust the adults there either. My heart breaks to think of it.I think of her and young people like her when I think of who this bill will impact. This will legalize and protect harassment and bullying. This will give adults in authority the power to insult their dignity and belittle their freedom to define herself. Worse to contemplate still is that that is exactly what my lawmakers are contemplating doing: an officially notarized insult to some of our most vulnerable Iowans. Give our young people a reason to trust us.

01-27-2025

Kathryn Bradley [None]

As a person who has struggled with my own sexual identity and the grandmother of a precious Trans child I vehemently oppose this proposition.The teachers need to step into the 21st century and allow our Trans children their true identities and chosen names. To do less than this is disregarding their mental and emotional health. Each person regardless of gender or name has the right to pursue their happiness and feel included and safe in their school environment. As someone who fought in the 70's for gay rights when they were frowned upon and womens rights to control their bodies as in Roe V Wade,I will fight for my grandchildren and their children until fair and equal support is given to every individual!

01-27-2025

Emma Denney

vote no on HF 80. this bill would harm transgender kids, people who have already been singled out at attacked by this legislature. This bill looks to make Iowa schools miserable and untenable for trans kids, in the hopes that they'll be forced back into the closet, out of school, or worse. HF 80 is the state condoning harassment and bullying, as long as it targets kids that have already been dehumanized by this legislatures efforts and rhetoric. Vote NO on HF 80, and hold onto what little is left of your dignity and conscience.

01-27-2025

Tiffany Hoffman

As the parent of a TransMasc student that has gone through the legal process to change their name, we have seen the ramifications of classmates intentionally deadnaming them. This bill will allow students, teachers, and administration to legally and willfully mock and bully our LGBTQ youth without consequence. I urge you, with all my might, to vote NO on this incredibly harmful and discriminatory bill. LGBTQ youth have always and will always exist and deserve the same respect and protections as every other human being.

01-27-2025

Danetta Dobre

I strongly oppose HF80, which would allow the deadnaming and misgendering of transgender students in our schools. It is an affront to basic decency to not require the most basic of courtesies for the health and safety of our students. Using the correct name and pronoun is a simple and easy way to support the transgender people in our lives. Not doing so is directly harmful to the mental health and wellbeing of our trans friends, family, and students. Holding staff and students to that standard is common sense.Sincere mistakes with sincere apologies are sincerely forgiven this bill is NOT about sincerity. It is about giving adults in positions of power even more power to drive transgender students out of the classroom and back into the closet. As your constituents, we expect you to listen to our comments and represent us accordingly. Please vote NO to HF80 to protect our trans students.

01-27-2025

Stacy Volmer

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding HF 80, a bill that would allow students and school staff to deadname other students in Iowa schools. This bill is deeply harmful and poses a significant risk to the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly transgender and nonbinary students.Research consistently demonstrates that respecting a students name and pronouns is critical for their mental health, academic success, and overall sense of safety in schools. According to a 2021 study from The Trevor Project, transgender and nonbinary youth who are affirmed in their identities by using their chosen name and pronouns are 50% less likely to consider suicide compared to those who are not. Schools should foster an environment that protects students and prioritizes their wellbeing, not one that empowers others to disregard or undermine their identities.HF 80 not only undermines the dignity of LGBTQ+ students but actively opens the door to bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Allowing individuals to deadname students is an invitation to target and marginalize some of our most vulnerable youth. Forcing trans and nonbinary students to endure such treatment could lead to feelings of rejection, fear, and isolation, exacerbating mental health struggles and increasing the risk of suicidal ideation.This bill is fundamentally at odds with the values of inclusion and respect that Iowas schools should uphold. Every student deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment free from hostility and harm. Legislation like HF 80 would place additional, unnecessary barriers in the path of students already navigating a challenging world.I urge you to oppose HF 80 and instead focus on policies that protect and uplift all students, ensuring that Iowa schools remain a safe and supportive place for every young person, regardless of their gender identity. Let us send a clear message that Iowa values all its students and will not condone legislation that endangers their wellbeing.

01-27-2025

Chris Bostwick

I would like to register my opposition to this bill as I know it will directly harm people I know and love who may not be able to voice their opposition and in a time when we desperately need compassion and understanding towards the most vulnerable.

01-27-2025

Benjamin Claes

NO ON IA HF80!I am begging you to vote No on IA HF80! This bill will enshrine bullying of trans students into Iowas educational institutions and goes against Iowas exemplary record of safe and inclusive education for all. Seeing the Iowa state legislature attempting to codify discrimination against children into law is disgusting. I love this state and I refuse to see us turn in this direction. What are we doing here? How is this possibly a good use of anyones time. Experts have repeatedly come to the capitol to explain how these antitrans laws harm children, yet you continue to force feed these harmful and hateful laws to your constituents. Let me be clear: WE DO NOT WANT THIS. IOWANS DO NOT WANT THIS. We want you to actually help us! Fix our bridges! Solve our cancer problem! Clean our Rivers! Dont bully our most vulnerable children from the statehouse. Iowa used to be a bastion of tolerance and a pillar of quality education. Why is the Iowa Legislature doing everything in their power to destroy these Iowa legacies? I am a proud Iowan who is completely baffled by the backward priorities of this legislative body.Thank you for your time.

01-27-2025

Logan Fleming

As far as I can tell, this bill only serves to oppress people who would like to be known by their preferred pronouns and does nothing to actually protect teachers. Please focus on enacting legislation that benefits all Iowans, and stop trying to make minority groups' lives more difficult. The complete lack of human empathy one must have to introduce this legislation is beyond appalling.

01-27-2025

Andrew Barsky

I am vehemently opposed to HF 80. This law does nothing but provide for discrimination on the basis of transgender identification; allowing bigots to get away with bigotry and punishing those who try to stand up for the rights of the marginalized.Many others have already explained the myriad harms to the transgender community that passing this bill would cause. What I want to ask is who is possibly harmed by just calling someone by a name that they prefer? It is a tiny little thing that you can do to demonstrate that you respect someone for who they are, and should not be an issue. It has been made an issue solely by those who want to deny the humanity of others. I can think of no good reason to support this bill beyond a desire to be hateful.

01-27-2025

Michelle Townsend

I am not sure what this bill will do to benefit all Iowans. It purports to protect teachers and school staff, but doesnt accomplish that. Its another in a long line of attacks on LGBTQ+ and trans Iowans, especially LGBTQ+ and trans youth. Why? This bill is a waste of legislative resources, and is patently discriminatory. Please vote no.

01-27-2025

Matt Cabel

I strongly oppose this bill. Too frequently lately I see our state legislators focusing on issues that are not in any way focused on improving the lives of Iowans. Instead, this bill, like many others before it, would cause great distress to many of our most vulnerable in our student populations. Students deserve to feel safe and respected in the classroom, regardless of their gender identity, color of their skin, or their academic abilities. I urge our legislators to please focus on issues that are pertinent to the livelihoods of all Iowans, such as reducing our extremely high cancer rates, instead of putting children in harms way. Trans lives are human lives.

01-27-2025

Kristen Snavely

Please vote no on this bill, it is disrespectful and antithetical to the values of Iowans. We want our schools to be welcoming places where students are safe and encouraged to focus on learning. This bill is a waste of our resources and serves to target and harm young students in our state.

01-27-2025

Erin Wells

I oppose this bill. It manages to simultaneously hurt a minority group, undermine parental authority, and enshrine lack of civility into our legal code. A touchstone for our success as a society is how we treat those with no power. Please use your legislative power to lift and protect the vulnerable.

01-27-2025

Laurie Smith

I strongly oppose HF80. Schools are supposed to be SAFE spaces for our children. ALL CHILDREN! Parents, educators, and politicians alike are charged with protecting ALL CHILDREN, regardless of their race, religion, gender, identity, or sexual orientation. This bill does NOTHING to protect children, and in fact, this bill endangers some of the most vulnerable. PLEASE, do the right thing for ALL CHILDREN. .

01-27-2025

Andrea Childs

To whom it may concern:I would like to voice my strong opposition to HF80, and urge Iowa not to further villainize trans individuals. I have a variety of reasons for this opposition, which I will explain below.First, as it currently stands in Iowa, no one can discriminate on the basis of gender identity. However, by allowing deadnaming and removing disciplinary action for this harmful practice, we would effectively be allowing discrimination in our schools. There are some people who will always disagree with trans existence, and these people will feel empowered to act on their discriminatory beliefs because they know there are no repercussions. Secondly, Iowa educators are already required by law to contact parents if students voice wanting to go by pronouns that dont match the gender listed in programs like Infinite Campus and PowerSchool. If a student is going by a certain name other than their legal name, or are going by other pronouns, it has already been approved by that students parents. This bill erases the argument of parent choice that so many antitrans bills fall under, and tells accepting parents that the government knows better than they do. This is simply not true. While I firmly believe it is an individuals right to state their preferred name and pronouns, however, in Iowa, students must have their parents approve it. If parents have approved, and staff or students knowingly refuse to follow this, they are blatantly ignoring a parents wishes.Furthermore, this is yet another bill targeting trans youth. Pretending that they dont exist does not get rid of them instead, it forces trans kids into hiding, and into detrimental mental health situations. Not, I will add, because they are trans, but because their identity is not being accepted. Trans individuals have existed throughout all of human history while it may go by many names, we are aware of transitioning gender identities in Native communities. The idea that trans people are unhuman or unnatural is quite simply false. Finally, I will appeal to the Christians who support this bill because of religious beliefs. Please, thoroughly read the Bible, and remember the teachings of Jesus Christ. Most important to him were to love thy neighbor and not judge others. Supporting antitrans legislation spits in the face of His teachings, and the lessons He wanted us to learn. I say this as a Christian woman who loves first, who believes in accepting others. I hope you take my words into consideration. This bill is harmful and will lead to further discrimination against our trans children. Our government should not be condoning discrimination it should be actively fighting against it.

01-27-2025

Holly Kooistra

I oppose the House Bill 80. This basically endorses and protects the bullying of Trans students. The harm it will do is immense. It, also, ignores the requests by parents who support their students and their name choices. What happened to parents rights there. What is happening to common courtesy and respectful treatment of all? Schools should be safe places for all of our students.

01-27-2025

Angela Dvorak

I strongly oppose this bill. This bill encourages disrespect of students who are LGBTQ, who are a protected class, who deserve respect and dignity from all of us. Our state considers gender identity to be a protected class, and this bill directly contradicts that. We should be writing bills that promote the safety and wellbeing of all or our children. This bill does the opposite. I implore you to actually listen to your constituents, all of the comments oppose this bill.

01-27-2025

Ann Wells

I oppose this bill. We should not be spending taxpayer money (by introducing bills, etc.) to make the lives of minority groups more difficult. This group already endures horrific bullying, and has increased risk of suicide. This bill would only exacerbate problems in their lives. Please use your power to improve the lives of all Iowans, especially the minority groups who are most vulnerable.

01-27-2025

Dave Baker [The 29th State]

I am writing to express my profound and vehement disapproval of Iowa House File 80. This bill not only promotes harassment but serves absolutely no constructive purpose. It is a thinly veiled attack on marginalized individuals and stands in opposition to the principles of respect and dignity that should guide our states legislation.There is no reasonable justification for deadnaming individuals or denying them the right to be addressed by their chosen pronouns. Such practices are inherently disrespectful and damaging. People have an inalienable right to define their identity, and any attempt to undermine this is not only myopic but a blatant overreach of legislative power.I find it particularly galling that such a bill is being entertained when Iowa faces real and pressing issues that demand urgent attention. Rural counties are grappling with the closure of essential services, forcing elderly residents to drive miles for groceries or medical care. Our state ranks 44th in the nation for mental health resourcesa critical issue affecting individuals across all demographics. Over 12% of Iowa's children live below the poverty line, a stark indicator of systemic failure that should be at the forefront of legislative concern. Rather than addressing these substantial challenges, the legislature is wasting taxpayer dollars quibbling over pronouns. This is not only an embarrassment but a disservice to the citizens of Iowa. As a former Republican voter, I am appalled by this diversionary tactic that seeks to stoke division rather than provide solutions.I urge you to abandon frivolous and harmful legislation like HF 80 and instead focus your efforts on initiatives that will genuinely improve the lives of Iowans. Prioritize expanding access to healthcare, strengthening rural infrastructure, investing in mental health and poverty alleviation programs or anything that actually betters the lives of Iowas. These are the issues that demand your attentionnot a punitive, discriminatory attack on personal identity.Please do the right thing. Say no to HF 80, and commit yourself to solving the real problems our state faces.

01-27-2025

Kate Fairfax

I would like to register my opposition to this bill. ALL students should be able to feel safe at school and this bill would openly allow and encourage bullying. It is harmful to trans students to be called by their deadname, so don't do it! Children learn from the adults in their lives how to treat others, please do not continue to teach them to be hateful by approving this bill and allowing their teachers to be hurtful to students. Please protect our students.

01-27-2025

Amy Passaro

I would like to register my strong opposition to this bill. Deadnaming and disregarding childrens gender identity can cause significant harm and create unsafe environments for students. We should prioritize policies that support and protect young people, not ones that undermine their wellbeing. This is a shameful waste of Iowans time and resources in the pursuit of a bill that will target and jeopardize the safety of an already vulnerable population.

01-27-2025

Alek Kiebuzinski

HF 80 allows public school employees to misgender students, as well as use names that their students do not identify with. Teachers and school employees have a responsibility to support, protect, and be compassionate towards their students, regardless of if they understand or agree with the issue at hand. Using preferred names and pronouns is something that costs employees nothing, but gives confidence and support to students. On the other hand, deliberately misgendering and deadnaming students causes harm, emotional turmoil, and decreases students sense of selfworth. Given the fact that failing to use preferred names and pronouns can be detrimental to students, while the opposite is not harmful to either party, and rather helps students, I oppose HF 80, and believe employees and teachers should be held accountable for intentionally hurting their students.

01-27-2025

Karna Bosman [KARNA BOSMAN]

I am opposed to HF80HF80 undermines parental choice by allowing teachers to misgender students without consequence, directly contradicting existing administrative requirements that respect parental authority. This bill pretends to protect educators but instead targets vulnerable trans students, promoting cruelty and statesanctioned bullying. It threatens the safety and wellbeing of students, wastes resources, and erodes civility and inclusivity in our schools. Respecting students' chosen names and pronouns fosters a welcoming environment conducive to learning, which aligns with Iowan values. This legislation serves no practical purpose but to oppress marginalized groups and violate individual rights. I urge you to vote no on HF80 and focus on laws that uplift and protect all Iowans, rather than targeting the powerless.

01-27-2025

Kelly Danilson

I strongly oppose this bill. A bill was already passed that stated parents had to inform schools of their childs preferred name and pronouns. That bill never should have made it to a committee table for many reasons. It was and still is a hurtful hoop for kids and their families to jump through. Well, we jumped your hoop and did what you say law requires. Now you want to pass a bill to protect people who would and will misgender our children and loved ones??? No thank you. When will you start protecting our children and loved ones from cruelty??? It is a mighty privilege to never have to face such bills yourself and the worries that come with them. You speak so highly of parent choice. You are not respecting our choice from the prior bill when you fathom a new bill such as this. Which then makes it seem some parents get to have choice for their children, but not all parents. Please use your common sense. Is this bill going to help support children or hurt them? Is this bill going to help or hurt our loved ones in their place of employment or will it lead to more toxic environments? If you are leading with a true Christian heart, the answer is staring you right in the face. This is an obvious one. If you are not helping, you are hurting. Use your time for more helpful causes like uniting communities vs marginalizing. You are missing an amazing opportunity to know and learn from amazing humans who are equally deserving of love and who are very much deserving of bills that protect their rights vs bills that would attempt to strip rights away. I pray that your hearts and minds are able to see outside of your ignorance and that you lead with love.

01-27-2025

Jennifer Santiago

I would like to state my strong opposition to this bill. There is nothing in this bill that will do anything other than make it legally possible to harass and intimidate students without repercussions. There is already a requirement for parents to fill out a form to indicate what their child should be called.

01-27-2025

Karla Steffens

Our children must be made to feel safe, loved, protected. It is our responsibility as parents to keep them alive, love them, accept them for who they are and encourage them to realize their own potential. All childrenwhether straight or queer, cisgender, transgender, or intersex, deserve to be loved, protected, indeed they deserve to be celebrated. God makes no mistakes. LGBTQIA+ deserve the right to be true to who they are, proud versus feeling demonized, shamed, and made to feel unworthy of acceptance. Vote to celebrate ALL children, respect their right to be their beautiful and authentic selves, called what they choose to be called. Honor their wishes to be called by their chosen name. It will save lives. So, if you are truly prolife, your vote should be the reason these kids feel their own lives are valued, that they matter. Their lives depend on your acceptance.

01-27-2025

Vero Hernandez

Im here commenting my opposition to this bill that would legalize the bullying of transgender and nonbinary children. Iowa has passed bills that prioritize parental choice in regards to their children, this directly contradicts that. Keep hate and discrimination out of schools.

01-27-2025

Nichole Eden

I oppose this dehumanizing bill for all of the reasons others have already expressed. I implore you to stop proposing legislation against transgender people. Put the time, energy, and tax dollars to work for the good of ALL Iowans.

01-27-2025

Gina Durfee [Individual ]

I have had the honor of walking a small part of two former students journey to their true self. Both struggled in school. Both had attendance issues. One student was terrified to walk across the stage at graduation for fear the announcer would use her former name. Please do not intentionally harm kids by making it ok to call them by a name that makes them feel less than human.

01-27-2025

Cathy Anderson

This is one of the most disturbing and disgusting bills the Iowa legislature has considered. Allowing staff and students to basically bully those who choose to make a lifestyle change that was not taken lightly by them is beyond comprehension. How about meeting with kids who are transgender and get their viewpoint instead of going by your misguided ideas and beliefs.

01-27-2025

Amy Russell

I oppose this bill. Why we we mandate by law that you can't fire someone for behaving inappropriately? Seems antithetical to building a well managed school. We already have arduous laws that make it difficult enough for a kid who wishes to go by a different name. (Which, incidentally, is totally fine and none of our business to try and control) This is a waste of the legislature's time and our taxpayer money. I think we have enough real problems without having to create new ones for children and educators. Embarrassing.

01-27-2025

Jill Bjorklund

I, along with the 52 other desperate Iowans whove commented here so far, beg you to vote no on HF80 and kill this bill. As the parent of a trans kid and as an educator, I am all too well aware the harm this bill would do to an already vulnerable population. SF 496 already enshrined parents rights when it comes to decisions about their childs education. Where are my rights now? As an educator, I am held to a code of ethics and the Iowa teaching standards, both of which demand teachers create a safe learning environment, meet the needs of all their students, and specifically prohibit the discrimination of any students based on their gender identity. If you legalize bullying and blatant discrimination of Iowa students, and also mandate their attendance, you are forcing extremely vulnerable students into hostile environments 8 hours a day. Public schools should not be a source of danger! Vote no!

01-27-2025

Hannah Rapson

I am writing an opposition to proposed Bill HF80. According to data published in 2022 by the NIH, 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide. This bill is reckless and not simply a matter of disagreement. It is an overreach by the government on individual and parental rights, as well as an act of child endangerment. The schools already require parental disclosure regarding preferred name. Trans youth with as little as one family member or friend who support their identity are half as likely to commit suicide. This bill is a waste of our tax dollars and is a risk to the lives of children. For gods sake, what are you doing?These are the children in our communities, whose education we should be funding and whose rights and safety we should be protecting. Vote NO to HF80.

01-27-2025

Rick Phillips [PELLA PAC]

We will register our support for HF80. When there are only two biological genders it is nearly impossible misgender male and female. Each have obvious features that reveal what they are and have basically remained this way unchanged since time immemorial. What has led the way to increased cases of mental illnesses is inventing imaginary genders and believing there are special rights that go along with those imaginations. This violates Article 1, Section 6, laws uniform of our Iowa Constitution. If we want to step back from this insanity it would require telling children, the truth and allowing them to work through it discovering the truth of their identity. The wrong thing to do is promote a delusion with a child especially something so serious as lying to them about something that will alter their perception of reality for life. How can so many people support doing that? Lets teach our little girls to grow up and become good wives and mothers. Lets teach our little boys to grow up and become good husbands and fathers. Lets pass HF80 and not punish teachers or students for doing the right thing by not going along with the insanity. Its time to wreck this crazy train of pronouns, gender identity and made up words like misgender. How does a lie make children feel safe?

01-27-2025

Alta Medea

I am writing to urge you to vote no on HF80. This bill endangers the lives of our youth and directly takes away parental rights to support and care for our children. This bill directly harms our youth and jeopardizes the mental health of our young people. As a state that is trying to find ways to improve mental health and reduce the risk markers for selfharm, suicide, and bullying, it is imperative that the House Subcommittee votes no on HF80. I am appalled that this bill made it to subcommittee. Consistent research over the years from JAMA, the Trevor Project and the National Library of Medicine have shown that the use of proper pronouns and gender identity acceptance from others (especially their schools where they spend a significant amount of time) can reduce the risk for these youth. I have attached an article from the JAMA Pediatrics for your review. Please vote no on HF80 and support all of Iowa youth.

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