Meeting Public Comments

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SF 2172

A bill for an act relating to marriage, including the grounds for dissolution of marriage.

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Green-CH, Bisignano, Webster

Date: Monday, February 9, 2026

Time: 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Location: Room G15

Comments Submitted:

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

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

02-05-2026

Rebekah Jacobs

Please vote Opposed to SF2172. The government has no business trying to prevent people from dissolving their marriage; that's between them and their God. The governments only involvement is through a tax discount. Iowans do not want government subsidized abuse for marriages who cannot prove the abuse in court. This is gross government overreach that will hurt Iowans.

02-05-2026

Tracy Hilton

Vote no on this bill. This bill takes away protections from women and children and will make it more difficult for them to leave abusive marriages. The government needs to stay out of people's personal business and religious beliefs.

02-07-2026

Jennifer Kirkman

Oppose this bill. I practice family law and quite frankly this proposal is ridiculous and not broadly supported by Iowans. This overly restrictive approach will further disadvantage the less powerful or financially secure spouse. It will also create one more additional barrier to victims of abuse who already struggle to leave their marriages and/or protect their children from abuse. This seeks to return us to the dark ages. Iowa already has a 90 day waiting period for divorce and a mechanism for conciliation if the goal is to preserve marriages.

02-07-2026

Stacy Volmer

I strongly oppose Senate File 2172. This bill fundamentally undermines protections for women by allowing a waiver to bypass nofault divorce, forcing spouses, disproportionately women, to prove serious wrongdoing such as adultery, abuse, or abandonment to dissolve a marriage. Many women, especially those in economically or socially vulnerable positions, may be coerced or pressured into signing waivers they do not fully understand, effectively trapping them in unsafe or unhealthy marriages. By creating unnecessary legal hurdles, SF 2172 jeopardizes womens autonomy, safety, and financial security, while reinforcing inequitable power dynamics in marriage. This is a step backward for womens rights and must be opposed.

02-07-2026

Laura Blaser

Vote NO.Why add an option to make a difficult time even more difficult? Who could this possibly be benefiting? Furthermore, even though it is just an "option," I foresee coercion being a very real possibility leading to at least one of the parties feeling pressured to sign this new waiver, to their detriment. (Which, can be very hard to prove in court).

02-08-2026

Jonathan Danker

I opposed this bill because it will destroy lives. People need No Fault Divorce because they are too scared to face their abusive partner or they want keep their reason to themselves. Please protect and save lives by OPPOSING SF 2172.

02-08-2026

Laura Brunsen

Vote NO on SF2172. Often times people in abusive situations are not able to speak out against the abuser. This bill would be detrimental to women and children who live with an abuser and make it harder for them to get out of the situation.

02-08-2026

Larissa Boeck

I vehemently oppose this bill. SF 2172 would trap people in abusive or dangerous marriages. Iowa has had nofault divorce since the 1970s, which was a major reform to reduce conflict, stigma, and court burden. Allowing couples to opt out of these protections could revive fault based battles, increase litigation costs, and make divorce more adversarial and expensive, especially harmful for lower income families. Please represent the will of your constituents who overwhelmingly do not want this bill. Vote NO!

02-08-2026

Maralyn Schulze

Vote NO on this bill. This only hurts women. People (women) should have free choice In deciding their future. This bill would cost women their lives, it has been proven through data that no fault divorce saved lives.This bill is a direct link to christian nationalist ideology and propaganda. Stop trying to impose your religious beliefs on our entire state. Vote no on this bill.

02-08-2026

Melody Carroll

Vote no on this bill. Why would any elected official support such a dangerous bill that puts women(constituents)and children at such a disadvantage and into the domestic abuse line of fire.Start representing the people instead of pedophiles.

02-08-2026

Mary Rish

This bill is a bad idea and will push us back to a time where women were beaten and could not do anything about it. This is not what the people of Iowa want and we have more important problems to worry about like water quality, cancer rates, and our budget. You are increasingly choosing to become involved personally in your constituents personal life instead focusing on what is good for the entire state and everyone that lives here.

02-08-2026

Robin West

As someone who has left an abusive marriage (financial, emotional, intentionally put in unsafe situations as a means of intimidation, isolation) and had my divorce finalized in Iowa, I can say that it was difficult enough in our current system. I had absolutely no evidence and struggled to convince family of the abuse, as well as give myself permission to leave. We don't need any more barriers to divorce. Please support vulnerable people by opposing this bill.

02-08-2026

Jody Benz

Please do NOT support this bill. If this were the case when I divorced in 1990, I would have been forced to stay in an emotionally abusive marriage. Children do not belong in that kind of environment. Stop making things even more difficult for women and those living with domestic abuse.

02-08-2026

Daniel Stratman

I urge you to oppose SF 2172. This bill introduces a dangerous mechanism to effectively eliminate nofault divorce for many Iowans. While framed as a "voluntary waiver," it opens the door to coercion, where one partner creates pressure to sign the waiver as a "test of commitment" before a marriage even begins. Reintroducing faultbased divorce forces couples into expensive, adversarial legal battles to prove specific grounds like adultery or imprisonment. This is particularly dangerous for victims of domestic abuse. While the bill lists abuse as a ground, proving it in court is legally difficult, expensive, and dangerous. Many victims currently rely on nofault divorce to escape volatile situations quickly and safely without having to face their abuser in a trial to "prove" the violence. This bill will clog Iowa courts with litigation, increase costs for families, and harm children by mandating conflict rather than amicable separation. Please vote NO.

02-08-2026

Kelly Ashworth

Vote no on this bill. Couples have the right to choose to be together or not be together. For the wellbeing of children, women, and men there should ALWAYS be the option to dissolve a marriage even if the outside community does not see a reason.

02-08-2026

Jane Housewright

Please do not support this bill. Isn't the Republican Party supposed to support less government interference? Why does the party feel the need to get so involved in people's personal lives? Allow people to make their own decisions.

02-08-2026

Jane Housewright

02-08-2026

Karen Martin

I'm not sure if the reasoning of this bill but by making it harder for people to get divorced, you'll not attract people to get married. Maybe that's what you want. No one should have to air dirty laundry in public. Too many reps with nothing to do in Iowa but try to go back to the 1950's on social issues.

02-08-2026

Karen Martin

02-08-2026

Cassie Meurer

I urge you to vote against this bill. Iowans should have the right to end their marriage if they want to, no questions asked. Each relationship has parts that are private and no one should have to share them if they don't want to. This is moving backward, not forward.

02-08-2026

Gail Gonyaw

An absolute NO on this one.as a person who worked placing temporary workers I have personally known too many women that were trapped and came to us looking for work in order to be able to support themselves and their children. You need to support the over 50% of the population

02-08-2026

Lisa Martincik

Please withdraw this bill. No number of exceptions will realistically protect married people from domestic abuse should this pass, and it moreover sends a signal that the Iowa government tacitly accepts domestic abuse and coercion. Whom is this meant to help or serve? It will only lead to harm; please abandon this bill.

02-08-2026

Karen Maass

I strongly oppose SF2172. This is gross overreach by the government. Iowans do not want government in their divorces and substidizing abuse. Instead of writing bills to benefit Iowans, legislators are wasting their time messing in Iowans personal affairs and tryig to control our lives. Why are there so many bills being proposed to control our personal lives but yet bills that would help Iowans get ahead such as having access to healthcare in a adequate amount of time and at a cost that is affordable, or affordable housing, jobs that paid a living wage, improving public schools instead of tearing them down, decreasing the high rate of cancer or improving IOwa's econonmy from being 49th in the nation. When are they going to actually help us? None of this benefits Iowans.

02-08-2026

Deborah Barrett

I am trying to understand why this bill would even be considered! Who do you think it benefits? What benefit is there by having to blame someone for a failed marriage? The ending of a marriage is painful enough without having to drag the ugly details through the courts. Or sometimes people just change. Who are we to tell them they cant go their separate ways. You cover physical abuse but what about emotional abuse. Its difficult to prove as it often doesnt have witnesses. There is financial infidelity. All kinds of reasons. You are thinking it will help the kids? My daughter shared with me she was really thankful I divorced her father when she was a kid. Living in a home with parents that do not get along is not a healthy environment. This is another example of MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! There is absolutely NOTHING good that can come from passing this bill. I am absolutely sure if this were put to the voters, it would fail miserably. It should fail miserably here too. Vote NO SF2172!

02-08-2026

Amy Belice

Vote NO. This legislation puts women at a disadvantage, especially in DV situations. It adds cost and time for both parties involved in a divorce. Iowans have long preferred to make their own decisions, this will discourage marriage.

02-08-2026

Madelyn Adams

VOTE NO SF2172.Why are we riding of no fault divorce? The government has no place behind closed home doors, if two people are getting divorced, the judges and juries dont live in those homes and have no business telling people to tough it out. The person making that judgement doesnt have to deal with the pain and suffering caused by a bad marriage.

02-08-2026

Alisa Meggitt

Members of the Committee,My name is Alisa Meggitt, and I am an Iowa resident. I respectfully oppose SF 2172.Iowas nofault divorce law protects survivors of domestic abuse by allowing them to leave unsafe marriages without proving wrongdoing in court. Making dissolution harder risks trapping vulnerable spouses and children in dangerous situations and increasing conflict during already painful transitions.Children thrive when caregivers can prioritize safety and stability. Access to divorce is also a womens rights issue tied to autonomy and legal protection.Many Iowa lawmakers support limited government and personal freedom. This bill represents unnecessary government intrusion into private family decisions.Please protect Iowa families by maintaining the current dissolution framework.Thank you,Alisa Meggitt

02-08-2026

Carrie Kayser

I oppose this bill and ask the committee to VOTE NO. This bill restricts individual freedom. The potential harm of this bill to people in abusive relationships far outweighs any benefits identified. This bill would also make divorce proceedings take longer, draining court resources.

02-09-2026

Sheila Wagner

You must not pass this bill. Vote NO. This is just another attack on women. It's getting to the point where one must wonder why these frivolous bills are being created. The government needs to stay out of our personal lives and get back to more important business of helping Iowans, rather than hurting them.

02-09-2026

Heather Staton

Please do not pass this bill.If this bill had been in existence when I was divorced, I would have spent 6 additional years in a very abusive marriage, and possibly more. This bill requires PROOF of abuse or infidelity. Do you know how difficult it is to PROVE either of those things? The adoption of NoFault divorce lead to a 30% reduction in domestic violence and a 16% decline in female suicide rates. This bill is an attack on women, much like many others that have been introduced recently. I implore you not to pass this.

02-09-2026

Wendy Tjelmeland

Please oppose bill SF 2172. Seems like more government overreach and more money for the lawyers and courts. It also extends the danger of staying in an abusive relationship and makes the escape even more difficult and expensive. Please do not take Iowa backwards even further.

02-09-2026

Linda Snavely [- Select -]

Vote against this bill. It will further endanger women and children caught up in domestic abuse situations. Specifically, how will such a bill contribute to the wellbeing of Iowans? This bill is nothing more than a mechanism for control of women.

02-09-2026

Caitlyn Kupka

Please vote NO on this bill! Why make it harder for daily Iowans the dissolution of a marriage should be between the two people and not the government forcing an opinion. The government should not be forcing people to stay in unhealthy or abusive marriages. Clearly from what we are seeing released in national news, the government tends to not believe survivors even with proof. Youre making it harder for survivors.

02-09-2026

Tammy Erickson

Please voye NO on this bill. It puts women and children at risk! Forcing women to stay in an abusive situation puts themselves and their children at a high risk of further complications. Children will fail in school, suicides will rise, and courts will be backed up. I think we have more important things you should be working on such as our water situation here in Iowa.

02-09-2026

Teresa Wellman

Please vote NO on this bill. It does absolutely nothing to help clean our water, boost our schools, or grow our economy. Married people may have innumerable reasons that they wish to part and our state legislators have no standing here to get in the way of a nofault resolution. And dont even start with it being about the children when other horrendous bills are put forward that cause them so much harm.

02-09-2026

Jeanne Wiebke

No fault divorce is essential for women in domestic violence situations. The fact that you are even considering this bill is antifamily values. A family should be SAFE and be able to get out of a marriage without having to be beaten near death to "prove" their case. Read your history, how many women and children were beaten or killed before nofault divorce was available to them. This is a blatant antifamily, antiwomen bill. VOTE NO.

02-09-2026

Grace Rogers

AGAINST. Please vote NO on SF 2172. It traps people, especially women, in unsafe and abusive marriages and the children involved are harmed as well. It unnecessarily makes divorce slower and more expensive. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PASS THIS??

02-09-2026

Stacey Schnuckel

This bill will only create more animosity if a marriage fails and give an already weaponized family law process more ammunition. Why does it truly matter "why" a marriage fails? By the time most people get to the point of pulling the trigger to file for divorce, they have already attempted to stick it out and fix it and divorce is the last resort. It takes TWO people to make a marriage work... No one can predict the future and no one can control another human being. This is an overreach. Get a premarital agreement in place instead... at least that allows all parties to be equally represented. I'm certain some will weaponize this waiver, especially if there are already children involved, financial dependency, or any other entanglement ahead of the marriage.

02-09-2026

Katrina Brown

There is no reason to add another level to divorce in Iowa. If the marriage fails either party should be able to walk away. Abuse is often hard to prove; especially as abusers turn to emotional/mental/financial means beyond physical. Victims are already traumatized; they shouldnt have an extra layer of governmental trauma. Abuse doesnt start after marriage. Abusers will coerce victims to sign a waiver prior to marriage. Making divorce more difficult will not make stronger families; it will damage more lives.

02-09-2026

Angela Tague [self]

VOTE NO on bill SF 2172Once again government is trying to micromanage our lives. This forcibly puts certain individuals at a disadvantage potential risking economic, physical and mental health and wellbeing.This is archaic at best and pushes our general Iowa society back by hundreds of years.

02-09-2026

Sarah McKeever

I oppose SF 2172. Who is asking for this?! Why does the party of "small government" insist on controlling the most intimate decisions of their constituents? This would benefit absolutely no one except for abusive husbands and divorce attorneys. It will harm women and children. Do better. Do not advance this trash.

02-09-2026

Melissa Even

Vote NO on this bill.What women in Iowa are asking for this legislation?If a woman doesn't want to be married to you, why do you want to be married to her? The best partnerships are made when both partners want to be there, but neither are forced or coerced to be there by circumstance. Why would you force people to settle for less than that?

02-09-2026

Maggie D

The government has no business deciding if a couple can get divorced or not. This is going to trap so many women and children in abusive situations. Abusers are sneaky, theres not usually proof of the abuse taking place. This is yet another bill that puts men in power over women who have no choice. Anyone in favor of this bill is an abuser themselves or an abuser sympathizer.

02-09-2026

N B

I see this as a slippery slope to the cancellation of no fault divorce.Marriage is hard. So is divorce, even if it is a no fault divorce.This "waiver" could be easily forced upon , yet hard to prove of course.Also, it is hard enough to prove assault, abuse, let alone try and use it in court as a way to get out of a bad situation.This will typically be the woman who loses. I hope that is NOT your intent.

02-09-2026

Bethany Melendy

Strongly oppose. This bill does nothing but harm womens rights. All it will do, is encourage women to not marry, ever. Do everyone a favor and fix Iowas atrocious economy and deal with our cancer epidemic instead of stupid stuff like this that no one wants.

02-09-2026

Nancy Halls

Another attack on Iowa women and children? I urge my state legislators to vote NO on SF 2172, a bill that would undermine the rights of Iowa women and endanger Iowa children. Choose to ignore Iowans and we will choose to elect representatives who listen to us!

02-09-2026

Lisbeth Peirce

Im writing to urge you to vote against changes to the no fault divorce law. I am a mental health clinician who works with many people who benefit from the nofault divorce protections. Overriding a persons personal liberty and autonomy in choosing when to end a marriage forces people to remain in broken and abusive marriages. Forcing a two year waiting period or requiring proof of abuse makes it very difficult for individuals in unsafe situations to leave. In many cases, there is no proof of abuse when it is emotional abuse, which can be even more damaging longterm. The burden of the changes will mainly fall on women and children. Additionally litigation heavy fault based divorce does not typically fall in favor of women.

02-09-2026

Delly Delly

OPPOSE. This bill puts women at a disadvantage in an already expensive and difficult process, making it harder for them to leave abusive situations. Marriage doesnt make women property and they deserve the ability to leave.

02-09-2026

David Anderson

Making people's lives worse by making it more difficult to get out of a failed marriage is not going to address the actual problems our state is having: failing economy, bad water, and high cancer rates. All it is going to do is drive people out of this state, and make at least the first of these problems worse.

02-09-2026

Sarah Nuss

This bill is a terrible idea and was clearly designed to force women into staying in terrible marriages. It is shocking to me that this has even come up for discussion in the year 2026. Everybody wants to thinks their marriage will last forever Unfortunately, it doesnt always work that way for a variety of legitimate reasons that extend well beyond abuse or infidelity. Some people will agree to this as a way to further show their dedication to each other. Or, more troubling, and more likely, there will be young women who are coerced into agreeing to this. In either case, many people will regret it, but not have a meaningful way out. Its just so weird and gross. Iowa, we can do better than this.

02-09-2026

Sarah Chang

Absolute NO to SF 2172. Divorce is a private matter where no one else needs to know the reasons. This bill invites abuse and endangers women and children, especially as there is no way to make sure one is not being coerced into waiving that right.