Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.(See HF 2488.)

Subcommittee members: Holt-CH, Brown-Powers, Wheeler

Date: Monday, February 9, 2026

Time: 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Location: RM 102

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

Comments Submitted:

02-08-2026

Rev. Kathleen Sides

Everything I believe as a United Methodist Christian makes me STRONGLY opposed to this bill. In effect, it is an effort to punish private colleges for seeking to remain faithful to their deeply held convictions, often rooted in their Christian faith, as is the case for our three United Methodist colleges is Iowa. The idea that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are somehow bad or evil principals that need rooted out is deeply disturbing and offensive to me as a Christian who believes Jesus calls us to stand for justice, equality and valuing all persons. In addition, it makes no sense that the same people who have argued that public funds should be used for private K12 schools because Iowans should have a choice to send their children to schools that reflect their religious values, are now seeking to take that right away from parents of college students. This effort was WRONG when tried a year ago and removed from a larger bill, and it is STILL wrong!

02-08-2026

Monique Shore

I strongly oppose this bill. If passed, this would force colleges to choose between their commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and their fiscal survival, which is very coercive. I believe passage would lead to the erosion of the quality of education at the college in our state and would do long term damage to the economy. Please vote no.

02-08-2026

Laura Blaser

I am opposed to this bill. The folks who take such umbrage to the mere concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion have some serious selfreflection to do. Bills like this are setting us back and harming our reputation as a state. Vote NO.

02-09-2026

Paul Frederiksen

Opposed! I came to Iowa over 50 years ago to attend one of Iowa's private colleges. I am a first generation college graduate of my family. Financial circumstances did not allow my family to be particularly helpful on the costs. An ITG would have been greatly appreciated!! I, of course, was not eligible for an Iowa Tuition Grant but I thought then how great it was for not only the student but the community in which the institution was located. NOTE: IF the goal is to further reduce Iowa as an attractive place for 22 to 40 yearolds to live, create a career and raise a family, then go ahead; do the Project 2025 thing and start running private colleges from your perch in the Statehouse.

02-09-2026

N B

N BVote NO: Let private higher education institutions decide on their focus and inclusion. Quit controlling every aspect of higher education. Folks will decide to attend a particular instiution on how welcomed they feel.

02-05-2026

Kim Rago

I am against this legislation. DEI programs do no harm. Students will not want to attend our universities with policies like this. Iowa already has an extremely high average age because these policies are pushing out the youth.

02-06-2026

Cole Cecil

Strongly opposed. Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts should be required, not banned. These kinds of laws and attitudes are sending us backward. They are just promoting and legalizing discrimination which we already had too much of to begin with.

02-07-2026

Katherine Nelson

Do not support HSB 537. Why are some so afraid of those with intelligence from persons who do not mimic them in skin color, ethnic, voice and gender? Thinkers like this push forward the mediocre, lower ability persons who cannot compete with knowledge, persistence, study and energy. Iowa deserves the BEST minds to be rewarded with scholarships and higher education opportunities. No need to note the whiteness of their skin and only rewarding those of the male gender. Rise above the nonsense, do better for Iowa and let great minds lead us into the future!

02-08-2026

Jane Robinette

Private colleges should decide for themselves whether they want to support diversity, equity, and inclusion with their staff and money. The fact that their students benefit from state tuition grants should not be used as a cudgel to enforce the latest attempts to weaken the ability of a college to create a community that values and supports diversity of all kinds. Vote no on HSB537.

02-08-2026

Jeffrey Anderson [Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church]

The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church strongly support the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion and we advocate for polices in support of them as acts of restorative justice. Informed by these principles we have opposed all antiDEI bills, but HSB 537 is especially concerning. Many of Iowas private colleges are affiliated with various denominations, including our three United Methodist affiliated colleges. This bill would withhold the Iowa Tuition Grant from students unless the colleges they attend disavow their strongly held religious and moral beliefs and end DEI programs. It is not a zero sum game, where providing particular supports for one student or group of students comes at the expense of others. These schools have not have not implemented programs in support of DEI because they were required to, but because doing so aligned with their strongly held beliefs and supported their goal of having ALL their students succeed. Please don't support HSB 537.

02-09-2026

Phil Webb

The proposed HSB 537 is yet another example of dismantling freedom of choice for education by big government overreach, hardly an Iowan or an American value. To deny students financial aid from the State due to their choice of a private college or university due to such institution's values and educational goals is demeaning to all Iowans. It limits the Godgiven freedom of speech, conscience, choice, and religion. It will 1) bring financial chaos to those communities in which these institutions operate, or 2) it will limit freedom for people to choose their education. Which of these two does this bill seek to accomplish? Either one is unthinkable in a free society, for it restricts someone from pursuing their goals that are aligned with their ethics, morals, and faith. I stand against HSB 537 in the strongest possible terms.

02-09-2026

David Anderson

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a DIVERSE collection of thirteen colonies signed on to a document declaring that all men are created EQUAL, with the result all were INCLUDED in the new nation that resulted. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are the principles that our great nation was founded on, and a major contributor to our greatness. Interfering in the workings of educational institutions to prevent these values from being implemented will only make our state poorer. Schools wouldn't have these programs if they didn't help. 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.