Meeting Public Comments

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

Comments Submitted:

02-05-2026

Lisa Martincik

Im absolutely opposed to this bill. How is it that our legislators are trying to further undermine local government and prevent cities and counties from *checks notes* protecting citizens against statesanctioned discrimination?!? Is this our glorious vision of Iowa?Please cease this witch hunt and work instead on ensuring Iowans have clean water and ample healthcare.

02-05-2026

Monty Montero-Elliott

Opposed. For one thing, everybody loses when we lose home rule. Iowa is a home rule state, it's in the Iowa Constitution, and none of the existing ordinances this law would affect have broken state law. Iowans are not exactly suffering from an excess of civil rights so a bill like this seems pointless unless taken in context.This is another attempt by Reynolds and co. to not only defang and dismantle the Iowa Civil Rights Act but also to continue an antitrans crusade after succeeding in stripping away statewide gender identity protections last year. Since then a plethora of counties and cities have enacted their own protections for trans people, after tireless lobbying and organizing from the citizens and residents of these counties and cities, both trans and cis, who recognized that genderidentitybased discrimination does exist and is a threat to Iowans' lives and wellbeing and did something about it. This bill limiting these protections is politicsmotivated + a gross overreach

02-05-2026

Lex Letourneau

Protect the rights of Iowans and vote NO on this bill. Local governments have the right to address the needs of their communities. Do not ban cities from protecting their own citizens civil rights. Iowa state government should be ashamed to even introduce such a despicable bill.

02-05-2026

Ellen Rasmussen

I oppose this bill. It is contrary to the intent of the Iowa Civil Rights Act, which was meant to provide a floor from which communities could then identify other protections needed for them. Iowa communities must be free to address their own unique needs. This is statewide overreach.

02-05-2026

Anna Frank

Please vote NO on this bill. Why are we trying to strip civil rights away from people instead of actually bringing people together as a community to help make Iowa better? This is a blatant overreach and all it does is prove that all you want to do is be able to discriminate without repercussions. PLEASE vote no!

02-05-2026

Angela Gates

I oppose HSB 664.Should the need arise for a local government to protect citizens rights, they should absolutely be able to do so. Individual community needs vary greatly across our state and local policy makers should be responsive to those needs, able to protect their citizens. Furthermore, our state lawmakers may want to take note of times when local government protects rights as it may be an issue that needs to be expanded on to protect all Iowans.

02-05-2026

Kayla Ferris

I am opposed to this bill. The Iowa Civil Right Act is meant to be the baseline of protections which local governments can build on top of. Cities and Counties should retain the right to govern and protect their own communities. You must vote NO on this bill.

02-05-2026

Teresa Baustian [Iowa citizen]

I oppose this study bill and do so on the basis of Iowa's history and tradition. When Iowans came together sixty years ago with the will and determination to create a civil rights commission, they did so to prohibit the kinds of discrimination that had long restricted Iowans from becoming all that they were meant to be and hindered the state's economic growth. As the state legislators crafted the Iowa Civil Rights Act, they expressly provided that the state would not occupy the field in which this chapter operates to the exclusion of local laws not inconsistent with the chapter that deal with the same subject matter. Iowa Code section 216.19(1)(a). The state legislature in 1966 expressly precluded any intention to limit a city or local government from enacting any ordinance or other law which prohibits broader or different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices. Iowa Code section 216.19(1)(c). Iowa has operated with this structure for local laws successfully all the while

02-05-2026

Deidre Wahlin

Oppose!! Do you think your constituents are in favor of the state restricting the rights of cities to make policies that they deem appropriate? Stop your and your highly unpopular governor's obsessive behavior of harming transgender persons and do your job to make life better for Iowans.

02-05-2026

Nicole VanderLinden

Please vote no on this. The Iowa Civil Rights Act is a floor, not a ceiling, and pretending this is anything but yet another bigoted attempt to erase LGBTQ Iowans from public life is getting downright comical at this point.

02-05-2026

Alison Cocks

I oppose this bill. The government is interfering with local government and despite the atrocious bill last year what to continue to protect peoples civil rights. This bil continues the assault on people shd is cruel and inhumane.

02-05-2026

Teresa Wellman

Please OPPOSE this bill. Iowa communities should be empowered to provide for protections for any of their threatened constituents. Just because the State erroneously removed sexual identity protections doesnt mean the real community people of Iowa cant protect their neighbors.

02-05-2026

Eric Saylor

Much like HSB 669, this is garbage legislation written by and for bigots. Not having slaked their thirst for rolling back civil rights by eliminating them for transgender individuals last session, Republicans want to extend that to members of any group with the audacity to claim the same rights as them. This is a disgusting display unworthy of the history of this state, but alltoo typical of contemporary Republicans who subscribe to Wilhoit's Law: that there should be ingroups that the law protects but does not bind, and outgroups that the law binds but does not protect. A better example would be hard to find, and because of that, this legislation should be killed in subcommittee.

02-05-2026

Lindsay Elliott

Absolute opposition. Different communities across the state are going to have different priorities and the people in them have the right to enact laws to protect themselves and their neighbors, and promote their wellbeing. I can't see any good faith reason for this law to be enacted, or any existing or potential problem it could solve... but I there are a lot of bad faith motivations and problems it would cause.

02-05-2026

Mark Woolley

So much for the party's focus on local control and keeping big government out of local business. I do not agree with this bill and ask you to vote NO. Local governments should no be restricted from deciding to enact laws that this bill would prevent.

02-05-2026

Cole Cecil

I'm 100% opposed to this. What good can come from a bill that prevents local governments from prohibiting "broader or different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices"? (I quote because these are the exact words from the bill.) How could anyone with good intent want to remove protections from "unfair or discriminatory practices"? This is just plain evil, and they aren't even trying to hide it. They should be ashamed. This is not how you should treat other humans.

02-06-2026

Preston Vorthmann

I oppose HSB 664 that would prohibit cities from having stronger civil rights protections than the state. While I can understand the need for aligned policies statewide, if a city wants to provide stronger civil rights protections, given their unique populations and context, I think they should be allowed to do so. Oftentimes the state majority does not represent all Iowans point of view (just the majority) and if the minority doesn't get a voice, like they might in city or local government, this further erodes Iowa as a welcoming place.

02-06-2026

Sandra Bild-Kacena

HSB 664: Limiting Local Civil Rights ProtectionsI am writing to express strong opposition to HSB 664. This bill would remove civil rights protections and provide legal cover for harm, particularly against LGBTQ+ Iowans and transgender youth.The state should not prevent communities from enacting civil rights ordinances that protect residents. Iowa City has adopted LGBTQ+ protections because our community believes everyone deserves to live, work, and access housing without discrimination.HSB 664 would prevent communities like mine from providing protections when the state fails to do so. Civil rights should set a minimum standard, and local governments should not be required to accept only the states baseline.

02-06-2026

Felicitas Avendano

I oppose this bill. I don't have much to add to what it has already been said. It is frustrating to see how our rights keep being diminished under the false flag of "freedom" (whose freedom are they talking about? not trans people for sure), and government is being expanded and centralized more by those who say to oppose big government. Please stop this nonsense and do things that really help ALL Iowans (clean water, please)

02-06-2026

Gordie Felger

STRONGLY OPPOSED! I don't understand the endgame here. Anyone who supports this bill comes off as a bigot of the highest degree and on the completely wrong side of history. Why don't we just bring back Jim Crow and sodomy laws? Also, you might want to be careful of what you wish for. The more civil rights you take away, the easier it will be for me to discriminate against people I don't agree with, like bigots. It can cut both ways!

02-06-2026

Janet Dixon

I strongly oppose this bill. It makes no sense whatsoever to prohibit local governments from protecting their populations from civil rights violations. Civil rights should be for ALL IOWANS, not just selected groups of Iowans. It makes no sense to FORCE a local government to allow discrimination against a vulnerable group in that community. This is a giant step backwards for civil rights and for local control. Iowa becomes a less welcoming and less attractive state to live in.

02-06-2026

Michelle Lenkaitis

I strongly oppose this bill. It is contrary to the intent of the Iowa Civil Rights Act to protect the rights of ALL people as determined on a local level. This need to overreach to further an agenda meant to protect only certain individuals is wrong at the most basic level. Let local communities determine their needs as the Act intended.

02-06-2026

Allegra Hernandez

As a resident of Iowa in the city of Des Moines, this bill takes away local control from cities to better serve and protect citizens. The damage has already been done to transgender Iowans last year when we were removed from the Iowa civil Rights act. There is no need to further more damage and prevent cities from making autonomous decisions to serve needs of their community. This is also hypocritical to "Republican values" of local control and less government.

02-06-2026

Brenda Anderson

I oppose this bill. You want local governance, then you want to limit what they can actually do. The people who live there know better than someone in a different part of the state about what they need and want for their community.

02-06-2026

Sarah Bentley

OPPOSE. Cities should have the freedom to adopt stricter nondiscrimination for their community needs. Ironic that Republicans want smaller governments but want this to pass. Disgusting behavior. Remember the state motto "Our liberties we prize and our rights we maintain"? You can throw the motto right out the window. Limiting the municipal authority is a regression in equality. TLDR: This bill is a harmful overreach of state authority that strips local communities of their power to protect ALL of their residents. By limiting antidiscrimination ordinances to only statelevel protections, this bill directly threatens the rights of many Iowans and contradicts our state motto of maintaining rights. Our communities should have the freedom to be welcoming and inclusive, which is exactly what local antidiscrimination ordinances do.

02-06-2026

Paden Sheumaker

VOTE NO on this bill. Clearly this bill was only introduced because Kim Reynolds is mad that her reign as head tyrant of the Iowa Government, has only landed her with the LOWEST APPROVAL RATING OF ANY GOVERNER NATIONWIDE, and a state that is constantly fighting back against her tyrannical laws. Making a career out of finding every way possible to make life worse for transgender Iowans has clearly backfired, and she is trying to find some way to cling onto whatever she can that still makes her feel powerful. Falling back onto the only thing that she has ever been able to get done in this state, discriminating against people and stripping rights away from Iowans. Now she wants to take it a step further, and strip away the rights of local governments to act freely as well. Surely the party that claims to support small government and limited intervention, wouldn't support a bill that aims to slash local government's power in favor of statewide oversight and regulation would they?

02-06-2026

Laura Stefan

OPPOSE HSB664. Everyone should have civil rights. HSB664 removes local protections for transgender Iowans, who were already targeted in 2025 when they were removed from Civil Rights protections. Iowas laws need to reflect and protect all, and this bill further targets people who are already atrisk in countless ways.

02-06-2026

Marissa Jennings

I am in strong opposition to HSB 664. Iowans do not want greater restrictions on our civil rights. We want clean air, safe water, healthy food, and affordable housing. We want Iowa to be a place where everyone feels safe and welcome. You are supposed to work for the people, not against us.

02-06-2026

Michelle McKenna

I strongly oppose this bill. Progress is moving forward to protect and increase civil rights, not remove them. Communities are trying to make their people feel safe and supported. Letting communities keep local control over protecting civil rights improves the development of of happy and cohesive neighborhoods and social networks. Iowans want bills that protect their rights, their communities, and their neighbors. Please do not move forward with this bill.

02-06-2026

Adam McKenna

Big NO for me. Do not pass this TRASH. Has anyone read this bill out loud?? And by anyone, I mean the people with the authority to pass this?Paraphrasing the bill here a bit, but it goes something like:Hey, do you like having civil rights? Well, think again. It's now 2026 and we (the government) are tired of folks having civil rights, so we are not only going back to a time before 1965 by "striking" the "limitations" of the 1965 Iowa Civil Rights Act, BUT, we are actually PROHIBITING them!... Are you freaking kidding me!!! DO NOT PASS THIS CRAP.

02-06-2026

Andrew Coyle

HSB 664 is harmful because it strips local communities of the ability to protect their own residents. By blocking municipalities from expanding civil rights protections beyond the states minimum, the bill freezes progress and ignores the reality that discrimination doesnt look the same everywhere. Cities and counties are often closest to the people affected and best positioned to respond to local needs. Preventing them from acting means fewer safeguards for vulnerable groups and a onesizefitsall approach that favors inaction over inclusion. Civil rights should be a floor, not a ceiling.

02-07-2026

Laura Teske [- Select -]

I speak in opposition to this bill. The party of small government and local control has lost their way. It is not the state legislature's responsibility to mandate how cities, counties and local municipalities go about their daily business. Each has the responsibility and right to determine what is best for their own constituents. Vote no in subcommittee.

02-07-2026

Oliver Schoenborn

I strongly oppose this bill. The rights of LGBTQ+ Iowans have been stripped down to bare bones over the past several years, and this is just another way to harm one of Iowas vulnerable and marginalized groups. No one wants this and it is horrific that the attacks against queer people in Iowa continue when ACTUAL problems, like Iowa having the second highest cancer rate in the nation, exist. Vote NO!

02-07-2026

Susannah Crichton

I strongly oppose this bill. Our local governments should be able to make their own decisions regarding protecting their communities. No one knows better what a local community needs than those closest to and within the community itself. Vote NO.

02-07-2026

Rose Rollenhagen

Once again, state government extends its sticky fingers to sieze control from county and local government. This is yet another issue that is best dealt with by those who live in the local community. Vote NO on HSB 664.

02-07-2026

JoAnn Orthel

I urge you to resist furthering HSB 664, which removes the ability of cities and counties to pass ordinances to protect civil rights beyond what the state protects. As a United Methodist, I support our Social Principles, which state: Because all people are of sacred worth and certain basic human rights are due to everyone, we are committed to supporting the equal rights, liberties and protections of all people. When communities experience unjust treatment, they need the ability to strive for equity for their neighbors. Please discourage advancement of this bill.

02-08-2026

Amy Rutenberg

Please vote no on this bill. As with so many other things, the level of hypocrisy in it is astounding politicians who claim to believe in local control using the state legislature to destroy local control when jurisdictions democratically choose something other than what the state politicians actually wanted.

02-08-2026

Jane Robinette

Communities across Iowa vary widely. Some city ordinances have included gender identity as a protected class for many years. This onesizefitsall preemption bill undermines the freedom of local elected officials to protect their own community's residents, which they are far more likely to understand than the state legislature. This bill also damages the ability of city residents to freely secure housing and employment where they want, to obtain vital services, and more. It also inhibits their right to petition their local city council for civil rights policies that fit their unique community. Why force cities to carve out one group of residents from that protection? And which group will be next on the state legislature's chopping block? Please uphold the freedom of local officials to protect their residents from discrimination and to lift up and welcome all persons who live within their borders. Vote no.

02-08-2026

Karna Bosman

I oppose House Study Bill 664. This bill expands exclusion while stripping local communities of their ability to protect their own residents. For decades, Iowa has allowed local communities to adopt civilrights protections beyond the state minimum, reflecting home rule and local democracy.HSB 664 would prohibit cities from enacting or maintaining locally adopted civilrights protections beyond state law, regardless of community need or local voter support. This strips local residents of their right to govern their own communities through home rule.Civil rights should be a floor, not a ceiling. This bill undermines local control, weakens human dignity, and sends a message that valued Iowans are not welcome, driving away the doctors, teachers, health care workers, and first responders Iowa needs to function. I don't want to live in a state that tells its valued citizens that they are not welcome.Please vote NO on this misguided legislation.

02-08-2026

Joel Gilbertson

I strongly OPPOSE this meanspirited bill, designed to make it easier to mistreat people who need kindness and authenticity. It goes against empirical evidence, it goes against good healthcare, and it certainly goes against the ethics of love. Vote NO!

02-08-2026

Jeffrey Anderson [Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church]

The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church state that we are committed to supporting the equal rights, liberties, and protections of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Sexual and gender minorities are disproportionately impacted by social stigmas, discrimination, coercion and violence and we call on churches, governments, businesses , and civic organizations to do all in their power to combat such unjust treatment and to promote equal rights and protections for all. We opposed the removal of gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act last year and we oppose HSB 664 which would eliminate the ability of local governments to provide greater protections to historically marginalized groups than the state provides. We would ask that you not move this bill forward.

02-08-2026

Kim Flaa

I oppose this bill!! How do these representatives call themselves human being & say they are for the people! We all elected you! How can you discriminate against a whole class of people! Please rethink this bill and accept all the people in our state!!

02-08-2026

Emma Stoffer

This bill is an egregious overstep from the state. Local governments represent their people and understand the needs of their communities better than the legislators in the capital. Local leaders do their jobs with responsibility, efficiency, and put their citizens first. Our state legislators could learn something from their dedication to protecting the civil rights of Iowans.

02-08-2026

Betty VanWoert

Opposed! Our liberties we prize, Our rights we will maintain!! Remember that? Its not: Some peoples liberties we might choose to recognize, all others rights we will abolish. The Iowa legislature FAILED on this topic last year. Dont make Iowa any worse than you already have for those of us living here who work daily to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS! Please vote NO to HSB 664 and any similarly designed/worded and renumered versions attempting to remove local controls. Your constituents DONT want this. We want an healthy, vibrant state; not this oppressive nonsense. Iowa has not demonstrated itself to be a homogeneous state. Removing local control over constituents desires for their local communities sets a dangerous precedent of wresting local control over any/all additional topics. From local zoning decisions to the civil rights afforded local community members, these decisions are best left to those closest and responsible to local community constituents.

02-08-2026

Pam Fuchs

Protect the rights of Iowans and vote NO on this bill.it is contrary to the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Local governments have the right to address the unique needs of their communities. Do not ban cities from protecting their own citizens civil rights. Iowa state government should be ashamed to even introduce such a despicable bill..

02-08-2026

Barbara Oakland

I am appalled that Iowa last year eliminated the protection of civil rights for persons of varied Godgiven sexual orientation and gender identity. This bill would further remove protaections and civil rights by encroaching on the rights of cities and counties to protect their people. Please vote no on this bill.

02-08-2026

Rev. Kathleen Sides

I see zero comments supporting this bill. There is a very good reason for that. It has NO redeeming qualities, either on the basis of decency and morality OR on the basis of state overreach. Last year the Iowa Legislature stripped civil rights away from vulnerable people and had to audacity to call that good for Iowa. And they did it despite the overwhelming majority of Iowans begging them not to. Now you seek to make a bad decision worse by also stripping local governments from having the power to protect their own residents. There is a good reason that the current Civil Rights Act has the language: "The Civil Rights Act shall not be construed as limiting a city or local government from enacting any ordinance or other law which prohibits broader or different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices." It's because it's what SHOULD be in any state Civil Rights Act. Please retain that sane language by voting NO on advancing HSB 664.

02-08-2026

Nathaniel Wilson

I strongly oppose this bill. In what world is this the right move? The fact that last year, Iowa was the first state to remove civil rights protections is not a good look. Whatever happened to the state motto? "Our liberties we prize and our rights we maintain."

02-08-2026

Ian Schwarz

I strongly oppose this bill. Once again, state government over reaches to seize control from county and local government. This is yet another issue that is best dealt with by those who live in the local community. The party of small government sure does love to tell cities what they can and can't do.

02-08-2026

Ben Patzlaff

I am opposed to this bill. This bill Ames away power from local governments and puts it in the hands of those who do not have the best interest of those communities in mind. It is a power grab of a bill that is opposed to freedom.

02-08-2026

Brianna Stoever

I vehemently oppose this bill. How is a governing body this removed from its people supposed to know what is good for its people? Why should one rule apply across the entire state instead of being left up to the municipality. Are you even attempting to hide the blatant hatred and vitriol you possess by outlawing the ability to allow communities to protect against discrimination? I do not stand for a state that wants to allow the discrimination of its people. Vote no to this heinous and unamerican bill.

02-08-2026

Jim Rohrer

I am fully opposed to this bill. What happened to the concept of small government? Letting local governments determine what is best for their own community? How does it hurt anyone to allow local governments to ensure minority groups are not discriminated against? Is there nothing better the Iowa state government could be applying its time to than ensuring trans people are trampled on even more? How about the fact that Iowa has the second highest cancer rates in the country? Or that weve gone from one of the best states for education in the 90s to just middle of the pack? Perhaps we should focus on the fact that Iowa has had net negative domestic migration for the last 20 years? But no, evidently its far more important to keep that boot on the neck of minority groups.

02-08-2026

Monique Shore

Please vote no on this bill. As a citizen of Iowa I strongly believe that local governments should be able to respond to the unique needs of their community in order to ensure civil rights protections of their citizens. Further energy spent trying to weaken the civil rights protection of Iowans is energy that should be spent protecting or state against more important things.

02-08-2026

Anita Christensen [None]

I oppose HSB 664 and ask you to vote NO. What happened to local control? The state keeps taking away rights and centralizing power at the state level. ALL Iowans have rights and we should not be taking them away regardless of personal beliefs.

02-08-2026

Jean Swenson

If any city/county wishes to reinstate the civil rights taken away from people of all sexual orientations and gender identitie by the State of Iowa in 2025, they should be able to take their city/county back to pre2025. It is refreshing to know that some counties/cities truly care about their residents, and believe they should have the same rights as all other Iowa citizens.

02-08-2026

Karen Maass

I oppose this bill just like so many others have. Whatever happened to local government? Why are you trampling on people and introducing more hate? Instead you could be building Iowans up and making them more successful. There is so much to work on in this state like improving our healthcare system and decreasing the cost of healthcare. And how about improving Iowa's economy which is 49th in the nation or decreasing Iowa's cancer growth which is 1st in the nation. It is always easier to destroy than to build up. Was this bill written and proposed because you cannot put a bill together that Iowans truly want and would benefit from.

02-08-2026

Lydia Revier

I oppose this bill STRONGLY. This bill infringes on the rights of local governments to operate in their own jurisdiction. This bill flies in the face of any Iowan GOP member claiming to represent "the party of small government." This bill is an overreach, attempting to stop local government from exercising its due power.

02-08-2026

Emily Smith

I oppose HSB 664. Civil rights protections are important, meaningful, and necessary. This bill does active harm to our communities and is UnAmerican and UnIowan. Prohibiting cities from enacting local civil right ordinances to respond to discrimination in their own communities is an abuse of state power. Trans and nonbinary people deserve to be protected, they are our neighbors, they are at high risk of harm for simply existing. Iowans deserve to be protected, communitys have a right to support their people. This bill is unnecessary and harmful to our communities, and to Iowans.

02-08-2026

Amanda Gran

Why is the party of small government concerning itself with local laws? I oppose this bill. Focus on statelevel issues, like the pollution levels in our water, our public money being stolen for this school voucher program, or our ranking of No.2 for cancer rates in the country.

02-09-2026

Bianca Janssen

Do not let this bill pass. For the protection of loved ones and backing our rights, all of us, we are one united, if we don't try to slow them down, this is only the beginning of what will be a historic transition backwards into what is truly detrimental to every nation that has stood long before us, our families and communities and ourselves, us, we all deserve safety. We are sitting ducks to a war that will never end if we don't try to work to prevent changes like these. The civil rights act should not be contested by bills that discriminate and loosen the reigns on crimes against humanity.

02-09-2026

Bianca Janssen

02-09-2026

Sarah Chang

"The Civil Rights Act shall not be construed as limiting a city or local government from enacting any ordinance or other law which prohibits broader or different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices." The Iowa Civil Rights Act's intent to allow for additional local protections could hardly be clearer. It could also hardly be clearer that HSB 664 blatantly seeks to allow (and thus, essentially promotes) "unfair or discriminatory practices". Legislation like this is begging to have even more people discriminate against Iowa as a place to live and work, than already are. I urge you to get back on the right side of history by voting against advancement of this appalling bill.

02-09-2026

emma denney

Oppose HSB 664 and let this bill stop here. it is fundamentally antidemocratic.This bill is a naked attempt to enforce conservative ideology on every Iowan through the power of the state. Holt, Wheeler, and their party want trans people gone, and will take every opportunity they can to crush us, our rights, and our freedoms. They would go so far as to stand in the blatant hypocrisy and rank pettiness just to have another chance to attack out community. Efforts to protect trans iowans at the local level have been massively popular. Iowa City and Johnson County both passed ordinances to protect trans and lgtbq+ residents multiple times, and recent efforts didn't have a single piece of public opposition. these actions are what iowans want, and HSB 664 would deny those iowans say over their own government, their own lives, and the safety of their neighbors.Please, vote "No"

02-09-2026

Sheila Altman

Vote no to this despicable legislation. We should be taking care to keep civil rights at the forefront of our state's values. This is against what Iowa has stood for. Please let Iowa be a leader in granting people civil rights... we are taking back in so many of our values in this state. This echoes of a fascist move... if you don't want to rhyme with what the Nazis did... then stop doing what the Nazis did. This is an ugly look.

02-09-2026

Jenn Pedersen

I am completely opposed to this bill that seeks to further limit civil rights in our state. Local communities should have the right to protect their community members & enact provisions that reflect the values of their community.

02-09-2026

Lorraine Uehling

I'm super confused as to why members of the Iowa legislature are hell bent on reducing Iowans rights.You're supposed to work for us, not the heritage foundation. Do not pass this trash out of committee and waste more time on hate! Vote this down and move on to real Iowa concerns like CANCER, WATER, EDUCATION, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE!VOTE NO!

02-09-2026

Ann Klingensmith

NO!What is the purpose in restricting local issuance of identification materials for their residents? What works in Des Moines (or any other municipality) needs to be within their local control. This is just legislation to further erode the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965.

02-09-2026

Miranda Finn

This bill should NOT move forward. Local leaders need to be able to respond to the needs of their own communities, without this proposed extreme oversight from the state. Stop trying to take away control from Iowa communities.

02-09-2026

Laura Bergus

Vote against this bill. Allow local control. This is gross overreach. The Civil Rights Act must be the minimum. This bill would restrict rights and eliminate many protections against discrimination. The only benefactors of this bill are people who want your blessing to act on the hate in their hearts. This will make our communities less safe, less resilient, and less responsive to our constituents needs. Vote no.

02-09-2026

Nancy Fett

Let local control stand. You say you believe in smaller government but this is overreach. Let local government decide what is allowed in their own municipalities. It is shameful what Iowa is doing to human beings. A state that is REMOVING rights of humans in 2026. You will all be remembered and these will be looked at as dark days that will be rectified when kindness and civility resumes here.

02-09-2026

Emily Stagman

Please vote against HSB 664. This is a blatant overreach. Removing protections affects, and hurts, us all. Local governments should not be prohibited from protecting their residents how they see fit. No big government keep Iowa nice vote NO on HSB 664.

02-09-2026

Morgan Hockey

Vote NO on HSB 664. This bill is a blatant attempt to override the wishes of Iowa communities to for the governor's authoritarian agenda. Last year the legislature stripped civil rights protections from trans people, but that just wasn't enough it seems. The authoritarians running Iowa can't let ANY community offer discrimination protections either. This is a terrible bill and a massive waste of time and taxpayer money when y'all could be focusing fixing on Iowa's awful economic growth, water quality, and skyrocketing cancer rates.

02-09-2026

Nichelle Bunkofske

I strongly oppose this bill. Local officials should be able to protect their community. Since the state has failed to do so with the passing of so many hateful bills all in the name of bathroom safety and sports.Trans rights, LGBTQ rights are human rights. All people in Iowa should be protected for who they want to be without fear. This bill should not progress. Please vote no

02-09-2026

Leanne Williams

Please stop HSB664. Allow local government to decide what is best for its community. Keep Iowa a desirable destination for young, productive workers. Please focus your energy on real, actual concerns of Iowans, like water quality, astronomical cancer rates, access to healthcare, and more.

02-09-2026

Angelica Vannatta

This is yet another troubling example of state overreach that undermines local governance. City governments are closest to their communities and best positioned to respond to their unique needs. In a nation founded on freedom, this bill restricts rather than expands those principles by limiting municipalities' ability to protect residents from discrimination.

02-09-2026

Nathan Williams

I remember "the party of local control," which understood that problems were best solved at the level of government closest to the people involved. State civil rights protections should require a minimum level of protection, not prohibit any protections beyond a maximum. If a locality were to establish protections that conflict with state law, there is already a judicial process to review and repeal these. If a locality were simply to do something that their voters disagree with, they are subject to petition and election like any other official. All this legislation does is to restrict the rights available to categories of citizen who have been specifically excluded or removed from the state civil rights code.Reject HSB 664.

02-09-2026

Merissa Lewiston

Please do not support this bill. Allowing our cities to make their own decisions regarding certain laws is crucial, especially when it comes to adding protections for groups who's lives are already harder than average. "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain" counts for every citizen, not just the majority.

02-09-2026

Angela Tague [self]

Please oppose HSB 664!!State laws should be the minimums and local governments and citizens should have the right to strengthen their local laws according to the wished of local constituencies.This is nothing more than OVERREACH and taking protections away from groups of citizens. Not everyone is male, middleaged, white and straight. Human rights are for all!

02-09-2026

David Anderson

I would like to urge you vote No on HSB 664. Not only is this antiChristian bill morally reprehensible, it's bad for business. In the 21st century, we need to be attracting the best talent to this state. This bill will make it harder for cities to adjust to local conditions to retain people, and it will keep others from ever coming in the first place. I'm particularly concerned about the health care system, which is in severe trouble and already relies heavily on people who have moved to Iowa from elsewhere. We need brain drain to work in our favor by having people come here, not push them away. Otherwise we're going to end up with a state where everyone under 50 has moved out, and everyone over 50 is dying of cancer.

02-09-2026

Robert Andeweg

I am a local elected official. We are called to govern in ways that strengthen our communities, reduce harm, and help people fully participate in civic life. Many of us draw on longstanding valuesshared across faiths and philosophiesthat remind us good governance is not just about uniformity, but about justice, fairness, and repairing what is broken.When cities adopt local civil rights protections, the goal is not division, but stabilityhelping neighbors live, work, and contribute without unnecessary barriers. In that sense, local ordinances are about repairing the breach and making our communities stronger and more resilient.HF 664 would remove that local discretion and shift decisions away from the officials closest to the people affected. I respectfully ask the committee to consider whether preserving responsible local authority better reflects Iowas tradition of balanced governance and shared responsibility.Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.

02-09-2026

Joe Monahan

We saw that with their special rights, trans folks imposed their delusion on the rest of society. We have many documented cases of delusional trans people, suffering from their psychosis, abusing the special rights they had, which is why they lost those special rights. Now they have the same local, state and federal protections the rest of us have. Local govt's should not allow the mentally ill to negate the rights of others. Thank you for supporting this bill.

02-09-2026

Nancy Halls

The Iowa Civil Rights Act was codified in order to protect the rights of all Iowans. HSB664 seeks to undermine the ICRA and allow the state to dictate how Iowa cities and counties represent their constituencies. For Iowans, these aren't just words on the seal, a phrase on the flag: "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will defend."I strongly oppose HSB664 and urge you to vote no no to undermining our civil rights, no to usurping the authority of local governments.

02-09-2026

Ben Parker

Strong opposition to this bill and urge to vote no. With the removal of gender identity as a protected class in Iowa last year its clear that this bill would be used against trans individuals for protections from discrimination.

02-09-2026

Olivia Stoner

Vote no on this bill. Iowans deserve a locally controlled government that can respond to the needs of individual communities. The choice of our current administration to pass a law stripping the rights of an entire vulnerable and discriminated against class last session was a heartless and small minded decision, particularly when the first openly trans representative spoke about how she has faced real prejudice for her identity. Now, the same representatives are trying to take away local control to correct their despicable choice.

02-09-2026

Kaytlynn Schehl

Vote NO. We should not remove civil rights protections. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 is over 60 years old. It is the absolute bare minimum and it is not enough. Local governments should be able to choose whats best for its constituents.

02-09-2026

Jennifer Kelso

VOTE NO. Once again, Republicans are going out of their way to drive this state further into the ground than they already have. The bigots sponsoring this bill are so tremendously fragile, they're using their position to legislate racism. Here's an idea: do something that actually helps people for once. Instead, here you are continuing to give residents every reason to leave and discourage anyone else from moving here. Get a grip.

02-12-2026

Laurie Hoffman

HF2309 will place an unfair burden on libraries and librarians and limit access to books and educational materials. This is NOT in the best interest of our library staffs, who will bear the brunt of this action, or those who use our libraries. Please say "no" to HF2309.

02-14-2026

Judah Richardson

HSB664 would take away the ability for cities and counties to pass ordinances to protect civil rights above and beyond what the state is protecting. This is dangerous and contrary to the original intent of the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA). ICRA was initially envisioned as a floor to build off of so that local leaders could respond to the unique needs of their community. This is yet another attempt to curtail the civil rights of Iowans and remove local control from communities that want to offer more protection than the state. Vote NO on this bill.