Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act prohibiting courses and content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory in general education requirements and core curricula at regents institutions.(See HF 2487.)

Subcommittee members: Holt-CH, Wheeler, Wilburn

Date: Monday, February 9, 2026

Time: 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: RM 102

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

Comments Submitted:

02-08-2026

Daniel Stratman

I strongly oppose HSB 542. This bill constitutes severe government overreach, replacing academic expertise with political censorship. By banning essential concepts like "cultural competence" and "implicit bias" from core curricula, the state handicaps Iowa students. Employers demand graduates who can navigate diverse workplaces; this bill ensures Iowa graduates are less competitive in the global market. Furthermore, prohibiting "cultural competence" threatens the accreditation of vital programs like nursing and social work, potentially invalidating degrees and worsening workforce shortages. Universities exist to foster critical thinking, not to legally prohibit adults from encountering specific viewpoints. Please vote NO.

02-08-2026

Jeffrey Anderson

To think we live in a racially neutral/colorblind society, as this bill suggests we do, defies reality. The topics this bill would expressly prohibit are challenging, but being exposed to challenging concepts and ideas and thinking about them in a critical way results in learning. It is not "indoctrination" as supporters of this bill contend. Hopefully our college students are not so fragile they can't handle being exposed to topics as "threatening" as social justice, implicit bias, etc. We want to develop students with "big brains", not small minds. Please oppose this bill.

02-08-2026

Laura Blaser

Strongly opposed here. What are we doing? Banning content is not a good look, Iowa! Back in my school days it was considered a GOOD thing to be wellrounded in one's education, and to posses critical thinking skills and digest a variety of subjects. This forceful squashing of our learning institutions will not do. Go find a real problem to solve. The existence of content relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory should be upheld. There is no pretty answer for why someone might view these topics as a threat. Vote NO.

02-08-2026

Lisa Martincik

Very much opposed. Lacking credible, experience or research based reasons for interfering in educational provision and outcomes, by a legislative body not versed in the practice of higher education, this bill can only be viewed as an effort to enforce minority will or, worse, legislate religious ideology. I sincerely entreat you to turn your efforts towards enriching the health and lives of all Iowans by addressing Iowa's serious economic and safety issues, perhaps collaborating with the many experts in our state, before they are forced to depart for a more rewarding existence elsewhere.

02-08-2026

Karen Maass

I strongly oppose HSB 542. This country and state is diverse and by enacting such political censorship it handicaps Iowan students in the current workforce. Employers need a workforce that can navigate the "day to day" interactions. How can a teacher, all various healthcare professionals or any person who works with the public be successful in the Nation or the World without a knowledge of diversity and what it entails. Universities exist to foster critical thinking, not to legally prohibit adults from encountering specific viewpoints. Vote "NO" Iowans want more from their education.

02-08-2026

Carrie Kayser

Strongly oppose this bill and ask the committee to vote NO. The purpose of education is to prepare people for life. Race, diversity, equity, inclusion are, and will continue to be, part of every Iowan's life. Institutions and educational professionals should be able to create curriculum that will prepare college students without racist state mandates.

02-09-2026

Teresa Wellman

Please vote NO on this bill. When most of Iowans cant even define DEI and think any study of anything other than whitewashed history is critical race theory, its important that young Iowans that make it to our colleges are exposed to every aspect of society so they can be successful when they leave this state. And thats what theyre going to continue to do until this legislative body gets its act back together.

02-09-2026

Grace Rogers

AGAINST. Please vote NO on HSB 542. Lacking credible, experience or research based reasons for interfering in educational provision and outcomes, by a legislative body not versed in the practice of higher education, this bill can only be viewed as an effort to enforce minority will or, worse, legislate religious ideology. This country and state is diverse and by enacting such political censorship it handicaps Iowan students in the current workforce. Employers need a workforce that can navigate the "day to day" interactions. It is incredibly important that we raise future generations with critical thinking skills and that comes through studying history and sharing diverse opinions and stories and experiences.

02-09-2026

N B

Vote NO: Where will you stop?? What will the next mandate be?? How about relacing classes discovering and discussing world religions with a state run ideology course like the Taliban has instituted. Higher education implys "higher" education. This is the time to discuss different opinions, cultures, ideologies with out fear of death. Do not wait to talk about these differences until you are on the House floor.

02-09-2026

N B

Vote NO: Where will you stop?? What will the next mandate be?? How about replacing classes discovering and discussing world religions with a state run ideology course like the Taliban has instituted. Higher education implys "higher" education. This is the time to discuss different opinions, cultures, ideologies with out fear of death. Do not wait to talk about these differences until you are on the House floor.

02-06-2026

Cole Cecil

Strongly opposed. We as a society need more, not less, education on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We're making fools of ourselves by choosing to be uneducated and by choosing to ignore the truth. It's a position of fear, weakness, cruelty, and selfcenteredness.

02-07-2026

Jennifer Kirkman

Oppose this bill. Adult students of colleges and universities do not need the state government micromanaging their education. The state of Iowa used to be in the very top tier of the nation for our public education system, which included a wellrounded education on diversity. This proposal does nothing to help improve our educational systems or improve our national draw of students and professionals.

02-07-2026

Casey Reints

Let educators use the best available research to inform their teaching. Let prospective students and their families determine what type of general education they want to pursue. This bill would hinder academic freedom and limit consumer choice. Vote no.

02-07-2026

Stacy volmer

I strongly oppose House Study Bill 542, the socalled Stop Woke Act. This bill is an alarming attempt to censor education, banishing essential courses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and critical race theory from Iowas public universities. It undermines academic freedom, deprives students of critical thinking skills, and silences important conversations about race, gender, and systemic inequality. Higher education must prepare students to understand the real world, not shield them from it. Removing these courses is not neutral; it is harmful, regressive, and shortsighted. I urge the legislature to reject this dangerous attack on learning, inclusion, and intellectual growth. VOTE NO!

02-08-2026

Laura Brunsen

Clearly it is my fellow white privileged Iowans who are supporting this bill. Do not be afraid, my fellow white privileged Iowans! People of other races are humans too! All humans(men and women brown people and white people) have hearts, are intelligent, and should be given the same opportunities of white men. Let us support these humans and continue to support them with education regarding DEI. VOTE NO TO HSB 542!

02-08-2026

Jane Robinette

I oppose banning general education or core curricula from including certain content, especially crucial content such as racism and sexism. This is more legislative overreaching and more dumbing down of curricula. Efforts like this prevent our colleges from being institutions of learning and debating and growing as they were meant to be (and were when I attended). I wonder how political science, social science, or government classes will cover the U.S. president's posting of racist memes or making racist comments without being able to relate "racebased privilege" or "institutional racism" or any of the other blacklisted (so to speak) topics listed in the bill to "contemporary American society"? College students are not snowflakes. These topics deserve to be taught and debated. Vote no on HSB542.

02-09-2026

Sarah McKeever

I strongly oppose HSB 542. I attended ISU and personally benefited from the undergrad diversity requirement. Public education should exist for the benefit of the public ALL of the public. Introducing students to the beautiful diversity of humanity should remain core to our state universities. The fact that our legislators are trying to outlaw this learning makes it clear how cowardly and bigoted they are.Clean up our water, lower our cancer rates, and make Iowa a decent place for ALL to live instead of wasting more time on this garbage. Do not advance this bill.

02-09-2026

Angela Tague [self]

I strongly oppose HSB 542 vote NOThis represents SEVERE overreach at a minimum and at maximum it sanctions mistreatment of individuals who are "different from the norm" through lack of education or chance of education which is therefore essentially dictating what each individual "believes" or holds as truths.

02-09-2026

Aileen J Osborn

This is a dangerous bill and I demand you vote no on it.We need all the diversity and equity we can summon. It is messing with something that has worked well for Iowa. It allows diversity to be legislated, rather than leaving it to the wisdom of the institutions who govern policy. .

02-09-2026

Norma Ewinger

I was raised to believe that the purpose of education was to prepare you for life after your schooling. In real life, race, diversity, equity and inclusion are very real. When I went to school, we were encouraged to think about these things without being censored by racist laws. I believe our professors can teach these things so our young people are able to think for themselves as they must do in real life. I can't stress how strongly I feel you should vote NO on this bill for the good of our students and our state.

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.