Meeting Public Comments

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SSB 1150

A bill for an act restricting county and city diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.(See SF 507.)

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Westrich-CH, Quirmbach, Sires

Date: Monday, February 24, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Location: Room 217 Conference Room

Comments Submitted:

The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

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

02-23-2025

Jane Robinette

I oppose SSB1150, which seeks to micromanage county and city governments on offices, employees, policies, procedures, trainings, and activities regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. This obsession with ridding every institution and locality of valuing diversity has gone too far. Cities and counties are closer to their communities and know their communities better than the state legislature. They should maintain their ability to address diversity in a way that makes sense for their communities. Some cities and counties recognize Black History Month, Gay Pride Month, Women's History Month, etc. So those activities would now be prohibited? What about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service. Off limits now? This bill is overbroad and would stifle civil rights commission educational activities, annual civil rights symposiums, special celebrations, and much, much more. And to what end? So that more white supremacist groups will parade through our cities and pose in front of the capitol building? Iowa has real problems. Health care, food insecurity, cancer rates, affordable housing, low wages, maternal care deserts, and more. And yes, racism and sexism and homophobia and transphobia. You should not tie the hands of counties and cities to address any of these issues, especially when the state is not doing so. Please vote no on SSB1150.

02-24-2025

Nancy Henderson

I ask you to oppose SSB1150. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are meant to broaden our knowledge of one another in an effort to better serve one another. We are a community of people from various backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs. Learning how to get a long and how to understand one another better is a plus.

02-24-2025

Kristin Dietzel

I oppose SSB1150. This bill is a waste of time and creates a McCarthyesque witch hunt of public servants who could be accused of running shadow DEI offices for a variety of regular duties and responsibilities. This is a waste of time when Iowa is in a workforce shortage crisis. Do better.

02-24-2025

Circe Stumbo

I strongly oppose SSB1150 and urge you to vote against this proposed bill. This bill denies the many problems we need our governing bodies to be addressing. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central tenets of the founding of the United States. Protect our right to promote liberty and justice for all by voting against this proposal.