Meeting Public Comments

Michael Roberts

Please vote NO on HSB155. Diversity equity and inclusion programs are essential to making higher education accessible and welcoming to all Iowans. Stop the culture war nonsense and focus on the very real problems Iowans are facing.

Kristie VanGorkom

Please vote NO on HF284. I am STRONGLY opposed to this bill.

Chris Stoner

Please vote no on HF 284, which adjusts the qualifications for eligibility for Enrich Iowa funding for libraries. Im Chris Stoner, and Im the Director of the Hiawatha Public Library. In Fy24, money from the Enrich Iowa program made up just under 10% of my librarys total budget. Also in Fy24, my library spent a total of $455 on dues and membership payments to library professional organizations.At the subcommittee meeting for this bills companion bill, I heard a lot of talk about how people are concerned that their state tax dollars are being used to pay fees for professional organizations that engage in lobbying and advocacy work. If thats truly the main concern that is motivating this bill, then why is the bill focused on barring libraries from being eligible for Enrich Iowa funding AT ALL if they have professional memberships? The more reasonable alternative would be to stipulate that Enrich Iowa funds cannot be used to pay for professional memberships. Libraries that receive money from the Direct State Aid portion of Enrich Iowa are already required to report what that Direct State Aid money was spent on anyway.But if keeping state taxpayer dollars from being spent on lobbying organizations isnt the primary motivator of this bill, its easy to draw conclusions about what the real motivator is particularly with the other libraryaverse bills that are being put forward in tandem with this one. Left unchanged, this bill is just a threat meant to discourage Iowa libraries from advocating for their local communities by isolating library staff from professional organizations and lobbying networks that other segments of the government participate in regularly without concern.$455 of dues and membership fees is 0.5% of the total amount of Enrich Iowa money we received last year. My city government, or my friends of the library organization, have no issue funding participation in professional organizations. We dont use Enrich Iowa money to pay for professional dues and memberships. We rely on Enrich Iowa money to help do exactly that to enrich Iowa through helping us improve the breadth and quality of the library services we provide to every person in this state. Enrich Iowa funds we receive are almost entirely reimbursements for providing library access to all Iowans outside of Hiawatha who want it, and for inter library loans that expand the breadth of our library collection beyond what our building can hold.And its shameful to use the threat of losing that communityenriching funding as a way of stopping libraries from effectively having discussions with legislators on behalf of their communities. Lets work together on a solution instead. Thank you.

Elsabeth Hepworth

Cutting funding for library memberships in state and national library associations would severely harm vital community hubs across our state. It would mean: Rural libraries would lose their voice in state and national governments, impacting funding and laws that affect them; Library staff would lose access to training, expert advice, and shared resources, making it harder to offer beneficial services; Rural libraries would be cut off from networks of other libraries, limiting collaboration and the sharing of best practices; and lastly, with rural Iowans paying more for slower internet speeds, libraries would struggle to provide the resources and technology access their communities need, especially in areas with limited internet. Please vote no to HF 284 because Iowa's rural libraries and the communities they serve have the most to lose.

Clare Duffy

Please vote NO on HF284.

Benjamin Clark

Folks, library associations are where librarians learn about best practices from around the country to serve us better. They also provide millions of dollars in grants to fund programs and collections. If theres something you think needs to be addressed about a librarys collection, lets have that discussion rather than flailing and bringing harm to one of the most important institutions in our community.

Heidi Landt

Please vote NO. Taking away necessary funding from public libraries is a terrible idea!

Kimberlee Stoner [None]

Please vote NO. I am a conservative Republican and believe in free speech and free access to all of the materials currently available at our wonderful community libraries.

Cathy Stoner

I am a registered Republican and I believe in less government and more personal freedoms. I urge you to Vote NO on HF284. As a retired teacher I know that professional subscriptions can be valuable in helping professionals to be life long learners. Libraries play such an important role in our communities providing not only information but technology and many other services. We should support our libraries instead of making it more difficult for them to serve our communities.

Emily Bell

Please vote no. I am a registered independent who believes in protecting our freedom of speech. We need to protect our libraries and librarians.

Josh B

While I get that public institutions, including libraries, have lost the plot in the past decade when it comes to DEI and gender, this is fundamentally a free speech issue and thats the bottom line. If someone disagrees with whats being taught, they can ignore it (or better yet challenge it) but banning access to ideas we dont like is not how we operate. Vote NO!

Martha McClurg

Please vote NO to this legislation. I want my communitys libraries to continue to be centers of learning and knowledge. In order for that to happen, staff have to be provided with opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate with others in their field which is exactly what professional organization membership enables. Disallowing libraries from being part of their own professional organizations (the Iowa Library Association and the American Library Association) will cripple our communities.

Ryan OLeary

Vote no on HF284

Denise Roberts

Oppose HF284. Withholding state funds from public libraries based on association membership (the American Library Association) would hurt Iowans. Library users have the right to read and seek information freely under the First Amendment. The ALA actively advocates in defense of these rights by promoting library services and librarianship. Protect our democracy and defend our constitution by opposing this bill.

Andrea Rogers

Vote NO on HF284. This legislation is unnecessary and would undermine a vital resource for our state. Professional associations generate millions in funding through grants and continuing education programs, benefiting our economy and workforce. These organizations provide essential opportunities for librarians across all fieldsacademic, legal, medical, school, and publicto learn, collaborate, and share expertise, strengthening their profession and the communities they serve.

Kirsten Hermstad

Please do not pass HF284. I am disappointed that with all of the genuine and concerning issues we face as Iowans (human trafficking, 2nd highest rate of cancer in the nation ) that this is consuming the time and energy of any elected official. Please move on, for all Iowans.

Derek Johansen

Vote NO on HF284. This legislation will negatively impact all libraries, not just public libraries, and is completely unnecessary. A solution in search of a problem that does not exist.

Katie Roche

Look at all of the objections to this bill. These are Iowans who this legislation will affect, let alone the countless others their organizations serve. I oppose this bill because HF284 strips state funding from libraries affiliated with professional associations, undermining the fundamental right to free association in our democracy. This policy affects all types of librariespublic, medical, legal, small and rural, theological, and more. These associations play a crucial role in securing millions of dollars for our state, supporting training, materials, programs, and infrastructure. Additionally, they provide librarians and staff with essential education on best practices, emerging trends, opportunities, risks, and peer collaboration.

josh bujalski [Durant Police Department]

This is in reference to HSB 106. I am reaching out as a School Resource Officer. I have been emailing and have been providing some public comments on this bill. I have commented and emailed on both sides the senate and the house. I really believe that we need to follow in the footsteps of the state of Louisiana. They have a bill to where a student cannot have in their possession an electronic device during the instructional day. Which they define as soon as the student enters the school building until they leave the building. Of course there is exceptions, as a student with an IEP, or a 504 plan. I think if we dont go hard at this, there will be districts like mine that just rubs it off and will have a policy but will not enforce it. The issues that I have seen with my 2 years in the school have stemmed from the use of cell phones. I grew up with no cell phones, and I believe you all did as well. Our students are 1 to 1 with an IPad and can do almost everything they can on their phone on the IPad. The only thing that they cant do is make calls. I also think you have to add smartwatches to the bill as well. Here is the link to the Louisiana bill. Thank you.

Jillian Aschliman

I am writing in opposition of SF284. This is a blatant attack on public libraries and is clearly meant to silence any sort of organized dissent to a partisan agenda. There are several other professional organizations in our state that use taxpayer dollars to advocate for or against legislation that would affect their work or mission, yet librarians are the only ones facing punitive action for doing the exact same thing.