Meeting Public Comments

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

Comments Submitted:

02-04-2026

Lazarus Winklepleck

I strongly OPPOSE this bill! Middle and high school students are at a critical developmental stage. Limiting access to accurate, inclusive information does not protect students; it risks making schools less safe, creates confusion for educators, and undermines evidencebased health education. We need comprehensive education on all people, not just the cisgender and heterosexual ones.

02-04-2026

Madison Atwood

Please do not pass this bill. Censorship is a slippery slope, and does not align with the values of America or Iowa. All students should have access to information that is accurate and comprehensive regarding the LGBTQ community, especially students in secondary schools. It is harmful to deny this access to our students.

02-04-2026

Josie Moore

This bill that is actively causing harm to some of the most vulnerable youth in our state. As educators and school counselors, we take an oath to do no harm and to support all children. HF2121 directly contradicts that responsibility. It limits our ability to provide students with accurate, evidencebased, and inclusive information that supports their health, safety, and wellbeing.Teaching students about healthrelated needs connected to sexual orientation or gender identity does not cause a student to become gay or transgenderjust as talking openly about suicide does not cause someone to attempt it. In both cases, education is about providing resources, fostering understanding, and being proactive rather than reactive. Silence and restriction do not protect children; informed, compassionate support does.Teachers and school counselors are trained professionals who rely on best practices and evidencebased instruction.

02-04-2026

Emily Nelson

This bill propses a real threat to the mental and physical health of students and educators alike. We need as much love and support for our childrens future as possible. Please listen to your public opinion as civil servants, and oppose this bill.

02-04-2026

Monica Cox BSN RN

OPPOSE HF2171. Vaccine requirements keep children safe from preventable illnesses that we've already overcome. To end these requirements would be to go backwards in public health. No medical decisions are being made by schools. Medical decisions are still between parents and providers. There are processes for exemptions if they so choose. These requirements not only protect the kids that are in school but also the ones they go home to including those who are immunocompromised or too young to vaccinate. Children are not being excluded from education for not being vaccinated but they will be excluded from education if they are hospitalized or worse from vaccine preventable illnesses. We're already losing children to pertussis and measles due to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. OPPOSE HF2171.

02-04-2026

June White

This proposed bill is actively harmful to students and staff involved in contemporary education. Not only does it exclude individuals who may find themselves in samesex relationships or have a gender identity outside of the man or woman binary, but it doesn't leave room for discussion and understanding on the topics. This can lead to widespread misinformation and disinformation as individuals look towards untrustworthy sources. If passed, ageappropriate sex education will be quite literally illegal in the state of Iowa in all forms, including ways to prevent sexually transmitted infections, proper consent, and any education on related situations. This can lead to even more unwanted pregnancies or teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual assaults with less reports, as countless people will be uneducated in topics related to the previously stated. This bill can and will harm children, educators, and everyone else involved. Do not proceed with this bill.

02-04-2026

Jakob Jehn

The American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association both acknowledge the existence, development, and impact of one's gender identity and sexual orientation. Gender identity and sexual orientation usually emerge during early adolescence. As such, it would be both unwise and willfully uninformed to not allow any sort of educational opportunity for students to learn about these very real and consequential topics. I would like young Iowans, especially high schoolers entering into adult life, to have the chance to formally learn about the wide variety of human experience related to gender and sexual orientation.

02-04-2026

Jaime Bonner

Please oppose HF 2121. Our students deserve education on these important topics. Professional educators should decide what content is appropriate, not politicians. If Iowa wants to keep and attract individuals and families we have to show support for robust education and the LGBTQ community.

02-04-2026

Alexis Newport

I grew up in the Iowa schools. Its how I fell in love with teaching, Im currently in school to teach English as Second Language. My experience on both sides of a classroom, teaching and learning, has taught me that an important lesson we should be teaching our kids is literacy and critical thinking, which cannot be done if we ban materials and curriculum that may challenge their beliefs. Its also through my experience as a gay student that I know how important it is to have accurate information on topics like sexual health. Students shouldnt have to consult the internet, which is filled with falsehoods, to be educated on their health.

02-04-2026

Angela Gates

I wish our government would work as fast on ANYTHING that benefits our entire state as fast as they work on bills against the LGBTQ+ community. I strongly oppose this legislation. It denies students access to ageappropriate, factual information & undermines schools ability to support student wellbeing & safety. The vague language may also create an unintended effect of discouraging educators from responsibly addressing topics in health education, literature, or counseling.If we really take the language of the bill from a broad perspective, it means that school dances, prom, Valentine's day events, homecoming king & queen, anything promoting the "straight agenda" should also be prohibited as those are gender identity & sexual orientation based. But that's certainly not the intention of this bill. This bill's sole purpose is to isolate the LGBTQ+ community.Students of all ages need support in the form of inclusive, evidencebased education that reflects realworld experiences.

02-04-2026

Nicole VanderLinden

I wish you'd vote no on HF 2121. But I don't have much hope you'll do that, as I've seen this legislature ignore overwhelming public comment again and again and again. I take solace in knowing that all of these regressive policies will one day be reversed, and that this will be remembered as an especially dark and stupid chapter in Iowa history. I'm just so sad for all the kids you're harming in the meantime.

02-04-2026

Nate Nims

I oppose this legislation. Students deserve access to ageappropriate, researchbased education that supports their health, safety, and wellbeing. Instruction that acknowledges the realities of sexual orientation and gender identity may feel challenging to some, yet it can and should be offered in thoughtful, developmentally appropriate ways that help young people understand themselves, one another, and the wider worldwithout fear of stigma or legislative repercussion.As a pastor, I feel a responsibility to speak when legislation could directly or indirectly harm our neighbors, particularly those who are made to be marginalized. In a pluralistic society, no single religious perspective should determine what all students may learn in public schools. My own faith tradition affirms the sacred worth of LGBTQ persons, and I am concerned that this bill reflects voices that do not share that conviction, to the detriment of young people who are already at heightened risk.

02-04-2026

Mary Starry

I strongly oppose this bill! Iowa education has been systematically destroyed by the political system for way too many years. This type of bill is the reason. Public education should be focused on providing factual information to students regarding all subjects, not politically oriented denials or falsehoods. And each child needs to be acknowledged for who they are, recognized and celebrated as the person they are, not treated as an abnormality, which this bill tries to do. It is time for Iowa legislators to educate themselves on the current biology of sex and gender and stop believing and sharing information from the 20th century!

02-04-2026

Echo Paradox

I am an educator in a high school and a trans/nonbinary person and the passage of HF2121 will cause irreparable harm to Iowa's students and educators. Removing access to education doesn't make queer people not exist. It just makes us less safe. This is going to contribute to the rising exodus of young Iowans. Lack of comprehensive education will also drive away families looking to move. My family moved here in 1999 for access to better education and now I wish I could leave so I can give my child access to the education they deserve.

02-04-2026

Megan Derhammer Capek

My name is Megan Derhammer Capek. I live in Bayard, Iowa of Guthrie County. I am vehemently against legislation HF2121. School curricula should be developed and set by professional educators, NOT censored by partisan politicians with agendas. Please vote NO. Additionally, this accelerated process of having the subcommittee and the committee meeting the same day on such a specifically restrictive and inappropriate bill leaves little time for public response. I feel this is deliberately censorship and does not allow for thoughtful, intentional policy making. Sincerely,Megan Derhammer Capek(she/they)

02-04-2026

Julia Martell

Oppose HF 2121. This bill relies on censorship instead of focusing on the importance of ageappropriate education for the youth of Iowa. Having curriculum reflect the reality that there are people and bodies beyond cisgender and heterosexual will only serve to help student wellbeing and mental health. Working to restrict curriculum by rushing along subcommittee and committee meetings is not transparent governance and is NOT what the constituents want.

02-04-2026

Preston Vorthmann

Hello, my name is Preston Vorthmann, and I am an 8thgrade science teacher in Council Bluffs. I'd like to share my opposition to HF2121, which would further limit programs, instruction, conversations, etc. around LGBT topics and issues. This bill is similar to the law passed for K6 that is currently being challenged in court. As a teacher and member of the LGBT community, I find both the K6 law and the 712 law harmful to my students.Oftentimes, middle school is when students start to discover who they are, and eliminating any conversation around the LGBT identities in health or personal discussions can increase the mental health concerns already associated with these students. I grew up in a small conservative town, and my only outlet for learning more about what I was feeling with my orientation was through books. LGBT students should be offered a safe and supportive environment at school, just like every other student, and I believe this bill would decrease that sense of safety

02-04-2026

Kai Smith

Please oppose HF 2121. As someone who went to a high school whose curriculum failed to acknowledge LGBTQ+ people, I was confused and lost. All of the things supporters of this bill claim happen when LGBTQ+ people are actually discussed in high schools. In reality, age appropriate, evidence based education about LGBTQ+ experiences exists and is safe for children. I wish I had an academic understanding of LGBTQ+ people in high school instead of the warped story that popular culture touted. As for the legality of this bill: this blatantly discriminates against LGBTQ+ people. It writes a narrative that erases LGBTQ+ people from existence. We exist. We are here. And we will not disappear... no matter how much supporters of this bill want that. Please do not fall for the fear mongering. Do your research. And help ALL kids feel safe and accepted at school. Please vote no.

02-04-2026

Cynthia Paschen

Good morning fine people.Things are chaotic and loud and not great right now. Ask yourself, will this bill make life better for all of our children? Or will it in fact harm them.My son is transgender. If you take the time to speak with Iowa school children about gender, more often than not they will reply, yeah, my sister is gay/bi/trans/queer. So what's it to you? It doesn't bother me, why should it concern you. Short answer: it does not. Please vote this harmful legislation down.I do not understand why this is necessary. do You??

02-04-2026

Rose Daugherty-Rudd

I write today asking that you oppose house bill 2121. House Bill 2121 that would censor LGBTQ+ content in schools for 7th12th graders. At these ages Iowas students should be armed with information to help them achieve health education standards, regardless of their sexual orientation. Students deserve an honest education. Students also deserve to see representation in books or articles or videos, of themselves and of their families whatever that looks like. Please consider not censoring this content for our older students who deserve a way to ageappropriately learn about themselves and the world around them. Thank you for your time.

02-04-2026

Kari Chavez

Age appropriate researchbased growth and development and health education is critical for students in grades 712 who are on the brink of adulthood. Lack of access to this education for high school students leads to severe, longterm consequences, including higher rates of undetected mental health issues like depression or suicide, increased risk of STDs and unplanned pregnancies, and poor physical health outcomes. Without proper, evidencebased guidance, students often struggle with decisionmaking regarding personal safety, and restricted access to comprehensive, sciencebacked sexual health education can prevent students from delaying sexual activity or using protection.School Counselors, School nurses, and health teachers provide education for students that is ageappropriate and gives students the tools they need to make the best decisions for themselves. I am in opposition to HF2121 which would restrict access to information students need to guide their life outcomes & choices

02-04-2026

Ellsi Mertens

This bill is nonsensical, a waste of time that is being paid for by taxpayers to target an already downtrodden community and to further erode our educational institutions to line the pockets of private schools. What business do partisan lawmakers have deciding what children ought to know, rather than the educational professionals you seek to gag? Not to mention the sheer lack of time for public response, trying to slip this under the radar. I hope that our lawmakers will see reason and see public outcry and vote no on HF2121. However, based on other legislation passed by Iowa Lawmakers recently, it seems that our lawmakers are determined to ignore the public and move forward with whatever helps them target the scapegoat of the week without giving any good faith reasoning.

02-04-2026

Ky Drabek

I oppose this bill! Students in 712 absolutely should learn about age appropriate gender and sexuality issues, and not learning about them will only make our queer students feel others but will also prevent our allies and cisgendered and heterosexual friends from realizing that queer people are normal and should be accepted. Banning age appropriate gender and sexuality education will only make being queer more dangerous. I urge you to oppose this bill and provide a transparent legislative process.

02-04-2026

Misha Schwanebeck

Please oppose HF 2121 and support inclusive education that affirms and protects all Iowa students, including LGBTQ+ youth. Every student deserves medically accurate, ageappropriate health education that reflects the diversity of their lives and supports their mental and physical wellbeing. Removing these topics increases the risk of bullying, shame, and isolation.

02-04-2026

Stefanie Munsterman

Im writing as a constituent to urge you to oppose HF 2121.This bill would block ageappropriate, researchbased health education for students in grades 712, undermining student wellbeing and limiting schools ability to create safe, inclusive learning environments.Inclusive education helps reduce bullying, supports student mental health, and creates safer schools for everyone. It also sends the wrong signal to businesses and workers considering Iowa. Companies look for communities that value inclusivity, workforce readiness, and quality of life. Policies like HF 2121 make it harder to attract and retain talent.I believe in education that centers care and evidencebased learning, and in an Iowa that is competitive, compassionate, and futurefocused. Strong schools support strong communities and a strong economy. Please vote no on HF 2121. Thank you for your time and service.

02-04-2026

Barbara Royal

PLEASE vote NO on HF 2121. This bill will prohibit ageappropriate, researchbased human growth and development and health education for students who are nearly adults. Your constituents do not want this to happen!!!Moving this bill from subcommittee to full committee on the same day is the opposite of transparency! You allow no time for public notice and an opportunity for feedback from your constituents. The least you could do is postpone this meeting for a week so there can be more time for commentary.

02-04-2026

Susan Langan

I am writing to strongly oppose HF2121. This bill is so damaging to Iowa's secondary students. The Iowa legislature has already made life so difficult for our LGBTQ+ population. Why do you want to make things even worse? What is the harm in allowing students to learn about who they are and feel positive about their identity? As a high school counselor for over thirty years, I am telling you that this bill will only cause more heartache, and LGBTQ+ students will continue to be at higher risk for suicide. Give me one reason that if this bill were to pass, it would benefit our Iowa students? Even if students are not LGBTQ+ students, they need to learn about other people's lifestyles. Not all of our students will stay in small towns in Iowa, and we need to be open to learning that there are different ways of living and THAT IT IS OK to be in the LGBTQ+ population. This bill is AWFUL, and if you allow it to move forward, you are doing a HUGE DISERVICE to ALL students in Iowa.

02-04-2026

Hunter Clapsadl

I OPPOSE this bill. Our public schools and students are up against much greater issues. If the legislature channeled energy into focusing on closing the educational gaps present among Iowa students instead of trying to eradicate LGBTQ+ people/material from the public sector, I would almost guarantee we would see better educational outcomes for ALL Iowa students. Use your power for good, help our students learn about a vast assortment of topics, content, and ideas so they can grow up to form their OWN opinions. This bill is a waste of public time, money, and energy. Your constituents are watching.

02-04-2026

Susan Langan

Vote NO on this bill. There are no good reasons to vote yes. This is not a good bill. It is horrible and damaging. As a high school counselor for over thirty years, I sat with many students who were exploring and questioning their gender identity and sexual orientation. It would have been cruel, inhumane, and UNETHICAL for me to tell those students, I am sorry I can't talk to you about this issue.How is learning about other gender identities and sexual orientations a bad thing? How is this hurting anyone? It does not help anyone. Vote NO.

02-04-2026

Lorinda Hoover

I oppose this bill! Accurate, transparent information and support is absolutely critical for students of all ages, but especially in middle and high school as they develop physically and emotionally. This bill will harm students and tie the hands of educators. I am a United Methodist Christian who believes passionately in the sacred worth of all people, and this bill tramples that sacred worth.

02-04-2026

Mara B

AGAINST. I was born and raised here in Iowa, and I have always seen myself teaching here after finishing my education, as my grandmother, my greatgrandmother, and my grandfather all taught here in Iowa. Sadly, if HF 2121 is passed, I will be pushed to teach in another state. I believe, and have been taught throughout my time in the teacher education program, that one of the most important parts of being an educator is promoting inclusivity and diversity, as well as helping students learn about those who are different from them. This bill would be detrimental to my ability to educate students successfully. Specifically, special education is an area with many unfilled roles, something I have witnessed myself. Bills like HF 2121 would discourage individuals from getting their education in this state to pursue a career in education here.

02-04-2026

Sarah Chang

NO to HF2121! It's a national extremist special interest driven solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist. The legislatures job is to adequately fund public schools, not to establish or limit curriculum or topics of discussion. This kind of censorship puts educators in an impossible position, and makes all supporting legislators complicit in the bullying of students in demographics which are treated as less than. It is also quite underhanded to rush legislation through as quickly as possible to avoid public awareness and comment. As a parent, I am intensely opposed to the wasteful and destructive government overreach that is HF2121.

02-04-2026

Genevieve Nelson [Alta Community Library]

Another intrusive piece of legislation that continues to divide rather than educate. With all of the dramatic legislation, you are going to cause voters to swing away from conservative candidates in the next election. Even for those of us who are conservatives, this kind of legislation is not encouraging of the freedom of information. Something you should be more concerned about. Vote NO.

02-04-2026

Megan Kiernan

I oppose this bill!! You cannot censor people. LGBTQ+ people exist, and trying to shield kids in grades 712 from these facts of life does a great disservice to them and does not set them up for success in our communities. Students should be allowed to have access to all accurate information and view points and be trusted to form their own opinions. It is harmful to limit this information from our students, especially those who are in or have family that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

02-04-2026

Kadence Witt

I strongly oppose this bill. As a current senior in high school who is ready to graduate, this bill will negatively impact the future generations to come. Censorship of queer individuals for the sake of comfortability of others is corrupt. Grades 712 are people who have decisionmaking skills and can decide on their own whether or not it's something they are interested in. Censoring queer people and rejecting the idea that these things and topics even exist, is to alienate a minority that has existed since this green Earth has. There has not been one singular point in time where I was personally affected negatively by the queer minority's freedom of speech in an educational space. Do not pass this bill!

02-04-2026

Jocelyn Krueger

Vote no on HF2121. It is an afront to the fullness of the community of the state of Iowa and the pupils in every classroom. Everyone has a gender identity and sexual orientation and it is necessary to discuss, mention, or acknowledge in many situations, including in school and in educating our young people. There can be no discussion of relationships or history without it. There can be no analysis or performance of Romeo & Juliet without mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity. There cannot be comprehensive health and development education without it, and no discussion of any families without gender identity or sexual orientation coming up. Our education system and our communities are made hollow by legislation like HF 2121. Vote no.

02-04-2026

Cindy Kruthoff

Please approve this bill. In our community, the public school refuses to enter into a 28E agreement with a community based preschool for aged 4 children. Parents should have the choice to enroll their 4 year old in the pre school that best fits their needs. Our tax dollars should service ALL children. Thank you.

02-04-2026

MARIBETH NEWMAN

Vote No on HF 2121. No education on such critical issues that can effect a womans health for the rest of her life? Students need to hear how to care for themselves, prevent disease and pregnancy. If youre worried about abortion, self knowledge is the best way for young people to care for themselves. They are exposed to misinformation constantly. We need to give them real true facts.

02-04-2026

Charity Tyler

Please vote no on HSB636. There is absolutely no reason to prohibit schools from accessing/partnering with public libraries. The benefits to schools providing their students access to libraries includes enriching their educational experience as well as the costsavings for rural schools without a robust budget for their own libraries.

02-04-2026

Alexson Calahan [Small Adventures Communications]

I am a parent of middle schoolers and an Urbandale business owner. Removing gender and identity discussions from schools unnecessarily politicizes healthy development. As an Urbandale student lost their life to genderbased bullying just this school year, I am asking our legislators to stand firm against this. Support our LGBTQ students, do not try to erase them.

02-04-2026

Anne Craven

I implore you to vote no on this bill. It will do real and lasting harm to children and adolescents in the LGBTQA community. If heterosexual education is allowed at school, it is not controversial to have a well rounded education on all identities at age appropriate levels.

02-04-2026

Madeline Cole

As of my submission of this comment (11:56am on February 4, 2026), the only plea on this page to "approve" this legislation is someone talking about preschool enrollment who clearly clicked the wrong link on accident. EVERYONE ELSE is against it for the mental and physical safety of LGBTQIA2S+ youth and families in our state, as well as right of EVERY CITIZEN IN IOWA to have a wellinformed, accurate education. That speaks for itself. Vote NO.

02-04-2026

Claudia Knutson

Please be responsible legislators and oppose the HF2121 Bill coming up for a vote. I see nothing but harming our student body in Iowa, as a whole, and targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Our Nation was built on the foundation of "all men being equal." That includes men, women and children. Think about why we are actually having to write this opposition to the Bill and what it means if it is passed. Then use your conscience and decency to guide your vote.

02-04-2026

Karen Ahrenholtz

HSB 604 Please support HFB 604! Here is the impact a recent decision by the Carroll Public School District has had on my family. Kuemper Catholic Schools and Carroll public schools have had a long standing good relationship regarding State Funded Free Preschool 4 Tuition. Carroll recently announced that it will be limiting Kuemper to only 80 children to be enrolled at the preschool in their facility (last year they had 100 children). There are currently 90 children showing interest for fall Preschool 4 at Kuemper. One of those children is my grandson. The parents are now in limbo waiting to see if he will be one of the lucky ones accepted to attend the same school as his brother. Passing this bill will give all families the choice to keep their children together attending the same school. Thank you.

02-04-2026

Jessica Link

Vote no on HSB 636. This bill seeks to limit access to materials that help educate, inform, and inspire students. Many school libraries are under resourced and public libraries help fill in those resource gaps. Mobile libraries often bring technology and activities to students that cannot be provided in schools. No student is better off when we limit their resources. No educator is better off having less materials to support their learning goals in the classroom. This bill is harmful and unnecessary. Vote no. Support students in Iowa.

02-04-2026

bruce martin

This legislation seems founded on unwarranted fear and ignorance, and likely to promote fear and ignorance. Surely we want a state in which young people feel comfortable with each other and with themselves. They will figure out what such a law means, and many will not stick around. Iowa needs as many young citizens as possible. This legislation works against our state's future. Please defeat it

02-04-2026

K Milburn

The rapid advancement of HF 2121 through the Iowa House is a concerning departure from transparent, thoughtful policymaking. By moving from subcommittee to full committee in a single day, our legislators are effectively shutting the door on meaningful public feedback from parents, educators, and health experts. Every Iowa student deserves access to ageappropriate, researchbased health education that prepares them for adulthood. This bills broad prohibitions risk leaving our 7th12th graders without essential information and support systems. Our childrens wellbeing and the integrity of our democratic process should never be sidelined for a political agenda. Iowans deserve a seat at the table when the health and safety of our students are at stake.

02-04-2026

Hannah Mitchell

Iowa has already seen the realworld consequences of HF 2121 under SF 496: widespread confusion for educators, inconsistent enforcement, and a chilling effect on students freedom of speech and association. As students prepare for college, careers, and civic life, they deserve accurate, ageappropriate information and the ability to engage with the real world. Iowa law requires schools to provide health education, yet HF 2121 would prohibit educators from acknowledging sexual orientation (including heterosexual relationships). This invites arbitrary enforcement and educational deprivation. The K6 version of this law remains under active legal challenge, and a federal judge has already found key provisions likely unconstitutional. While lawmakers advance legally suspect policies, students bear the costlosing access to information, supportive learning environments, and leadership opportunities they will never get back, even if the law is later struck down.

02-04-2026

Julie Rosenbohm [Citizen & Parent]

Moving HSB 636 forward will be doing all harm and no good. There are so many smaller school districts without a welldeveloped library who rely on these partnerships to bring additional resources to students. Families in all districts who don't have the ability to get children to the library can currently count on bookmobilespopulated with ageappropriate materials. Facilitating access to public library materials does nothing but harm. Parents *already* have the ability to opt out of this, but by legislating these partnerships away, you remove any choice that the vast majority of parents want (and currently have) to opt IN. Restricting access to books and information for ALL students will not help our alreadyunderfunded and overburdened schools. Please do not move this forward.

02-04-2026

Mandy Newton Rosenow

This bill is damaging to everyone in Iowa. We are not going to attract businesses, families or investments to our state when the message is that we pretend gay people people do not exist or are bad.This legislation is harmful to our neighbors and loved ones whether they are part of the LGBTQ community or not. Our children are not put in danger by learning about people who are similar or different from them. Our state has real issues that need to be addressed. This bill is not helping make iowa safer, more stable or healthier. Please vote no on this and focus on Iowas real needs.

02-04-2026

Joa LaVille

As a youth services public librarian for more than 26 years, I can say that our partnerships with our local schools at all levelspreschool, elementary, middle, & high school have had enormous and often lifelong impacts on students. These partnerships maximize taxpayer investments by giving all children and their families the opportunity to utilize resources for information, improve literacy, and have a positive impact on reading achievement. This is an important way to level the playing field for all. It does not seem that the motivation for this bill has the best interests of all Iowans in mind. Please use your energy on bills that will improve the lives of families and children, as much as school/library partnerships already do.

02-04-2026

Jillian Aschliman

I am strongly opposed to bill 636. With restricted funding for public schools and our rapidly declining literacy rates across this state, why would lawmakers create additional barriers for students to access reading materials?

02-04-2026

Mark Turnage

Please vote No on HF 2121.LGBT students will have a better education when they know they aren't a taboo subject or a target of someone else's beliefs. They'll also be more willing to contribute their work experience instate as adults.Educators with training, not censorship, will have the competence and professionalism necessary to welcome and support LGBT students into becoming great Iowans.Parents with access to affirming resources will have the educational support system needed to choose kindness for themselvesand pass it on to their kids.HF 2121 chooses censorship, unprofessionalism, and the delete button over a valuable opportunity to develop Iowa's professional competence and training for all students. Choosing censorship over training isn't just unprofessionalit's unIowan.Consider how the work you do merits the dignity of your seats, Representatives.

02-04-2026

Rev. Steve Sieck

I oppose this bill. If it indeed aims to Provide Ageappropriate And Researchbased Instruction in Human Growth and Development Including Instruction Regarding Human selfesteem, Stress management, Interpersonal relationships, then pretending LGBTQ adolescents or their families dont exist is counterproductive. 27% of the LGBTQ population in Iowa have kids. How are their kids are supposed to fill out any survey or questionnaire about their home if they cant refer to their two moms? How are the roughly 25% of teens who identify as LGBTQ are supposed to learn about relationships, sexuality, selfesteem, and stress management while being erased from the conversation? I appreciate the research based emphasis, and implore you to read the research: the Add Health Study, the ABCD Study, the Trevor Project 2024 Study, and many others, which indicate that a healthy and respectful acknowledgement of sexual and gender differences improves both LGBTQ and straight kids' development.

02-04-2026

Emma Stoffer

There are two incredibly harmful bills on today's agenda. I strongly oppose both HSB 636 and HF 2121. Both bills will have a negative impact on Iowa's public schools, which are already vulnerable due to the actions and inactions of our state leaders. Every student in Iowa deserves efficient, practical, and equitable access to books from the libraries in their communities and access to information that speaks to their lived experiences. LGBTQIA+ individuals are not invisible, and they are valued members of our Iowa communities. These bills are vile efforts to create barriers and spread values rooted in hatred. Do better.

02-04-2026

Jess Netolicky

I oppose HSB636. This bill prevents collaboration between schools and public libraries. It undermines literacy, limits access for students who need it most, and creates unnecessary barriers between children and educational resources.

02-04-2026

Caleb Bonjour [Gladbrook-Reinbeck CSD]

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I rise in opposition to House Study Bill 636, which would prohibit school districts from entering into agreements with public libraries that allow students to access library resources using schoolissued identification and would prevent mobile libraries from accessing school property.I serve a rural Iowa district, and we are exploring a sharedservices agreement with our local public library. This work is practical, not ideological. It is about expanding access for students, sharing limited resources, and reducing costs for both the school district and the cityexactly the type of local efficiency and collaboration the state has encouraged.This bill would effectively stop that work before it begins. For rural communities, public libraries are often the primary access point for books, digital resources, and literacy supports. A onesizefitsall prohibition removes local control and limits communities ability to meet student needs.

02-04-2026

Caleb Bonjour [Gladbrook-Reinbeck CSD]

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I rise in opposition to House File 332, which would require school administrators to provide direct classroom instruction on a recurring basis.This mandate does not reflect the realities facing Iowa schoolsparticularly rural districts. Our administrators are already stretched thin. Principals routinely step in to cover classrooms due to staffing shortages, respond to student needs, address safety and discipline issues, and support teachers in real time. Adding a required teaching assignment would create additional absences that must then be covered, compounding existing staffing challenges.This bill would not increase instructional capacity; it would reduce leadership capacity. It would pull administrators away from the very responsibilities that keep schools running safely and effectively. Local school boards already have the authority to assign teaching duties when appropriate. This removes flexibiliy and creates unintended consequences.

02-04-2026

Grace Rogers

HF 2121 AGAINST. (see attachment for 200+ public comments left on subcommittee meeting)... The previous version of this bill from K6 has already impacted my children in negative ways. When their counselor gave a presentation about bullying, my child told them that they forgot to mention LGBTQ+ as a group that can be bullied and the counselor told my child, were not allowed to talk about that in school. So essentially by NOT allowing discussion about gender identity and sexual orientation, were giving children a green light to bully LGBTQ+ kids. Its utterly ridiculous that the Iowa legislature is spending any time on these sorts of bills whatsoever when they could be feeding hungry children or increasing teachers salaries to name a few. Get your heads out of the bible and do something GOOD for Iowans.

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