Meeting Public Comments

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

Comments Submitted:

02-16-2026

Charity Tyler

Vote no on HSB720. Language on what is or is not appropriate for minors is too vague and open to personal interpretation. This leaves libraries and municipalities open to frivolous lawsuits. This bill also removes local control, which is an overreach of state government. Local communities are the users of their public libraries. City Councils are elected bodies that do not have training, expertise or understanding of how to properly oversee a public library. Protect our public libraries by voting no on HSB720.

02-16-2026

Judy Janssen

This is another attempt to take control of our public libraries out of the hands of professionals and give it to people who do not have the training, expertise, or time to run libraries fairly and effectively. And, once again, librarians are NOT providing pornography to anyone, least of all minors! The people who continue to push this type of legislation and smear librarians, are trying to force their preference on everyone and intimidate public servants. VOTE NO!

02-16-2026

Sarah Smith

HSB270 is a reckless consolidation of multiple harmful proposals that would severely damage Iowa's public libraries. It relies on an undefined standard of what is "inappropriate for minors," inviting arbitrary enforcement and censorship. The bill strips libraries of professional autonomy, removes local policy control, and hands authority to city councils with no expertise in library governance.It also threatens to withhold local library levy funding from libraries that do not comply, effectively coercing censorship. It removes privacy protections from minors, redirects library gifts and bequests to city government control, and creates conditions that could force libraries to restrict youth access or shut down entirely. This is not child protection, this is government overreach. HSB270 undermines education, local decisionmaking, and intellectual freedom. Vote no.

02-16-2026

Virginia Armstrong

Vote no on this bill! The language is too vague and would make it nearly impossible for the actual professionals to do their jobs. If parents want to monitor the children's reading habits then they should take that responsibility. Libraries are a vital part of communities and should be able to serve their local patrons without rules put forth by people without expertise in how to operate a library or knowledge of the needs of the community they serve.

02-16-2026

Mark Swanson

Please vote NO on HSB 720. This seems like an overreach that would create additional expense to already strapped public libraries. It feels like these actions, which would come into existence if this bill passes, would only harm libraries on the whole and address problems that are outliers at best. I care about our libraries and have children who have utilized the libraries' and found them to be safe, efficient, and wonderful settings and this bill feels like it would jeopardize this public asset. Again, please vote NO on HSB 720

02-16-2026

Dorothy Knight

The language in this bill is way too vague, how is inappropriate for minors even going to be interpreted? You could argue that a lot of stuff in the bible is inappropriate for minors, so how exactly is this even going to be regulated? Libraries are for everyone, and if parents dont want their kids to have access to certain materials or information then they can be good stewards of knowledge and talk with their children or monitor what they do in the library.

02-16-2026

Jess Netolicky

This bill does not fix libraries it creates new risks for city governments and taxpayers. The ageappropriate standard is vague and unenforceable. It invites lawsuits and inconsistent enforcement, especially in small and rural communities that lack the resources to comply. Tying funding to content restrictions creates financial instability and puts cities at risk of losing state and local support over minor disputes. This is not fiscal responsibility. Libraries already have policies for collection development and parental oversight. Librarians are already making decisions about collections based on ageappropriateness. This bill would replace professional knowledge with political oversight. This erodes local control and gives oversight to city officials, not library professionals. This bill should be rejected.

02-16-2026

Danielle Benford

Voicing public opposition to HSB720 in that libraries do not own or provide access to legally obscene material. "Inappropriate for Minors" is not defined and varies from person to person on interpretation. If we're going to pretend "parent choice" is important then parents should be able to choose if our kids check out certain things from the library not the State deciding what those things should be. States/Governments should not be regulating what is available to read nor should they decide what should be read.

02-16-2026

MELISSA O'ROURKE

STOP the HARM to our PUBLIC libraries! Parents should supervise their own children! The BIBLE includes multiple references to sex acts. Do you really have nothing else to do, no other problems to solve in Iowa? The OUTLANDER series by author Diana Gabaldon have been read by millions all over the world who have they harmed? Books by the historical fiction author Larry McMurtry (like Lonesome Dove won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) these describe sex acts. So what? Just BAN all under18s from the Library? Iowa has polluted water, eroding soils, unaffordable housing, high cancer rates, terrible roads; and we're sending millions of our dollars to unaccountable nonpublic schools which our public schools are underfunded but the legislature wastes time worrying about materials in our marvelous public libraries. Just STOP. Try to accomplish something that will actually benefit Iowans.

02-16-2026

Timothy Jenkins

Dear Representatives, Thank you for your continued leadership and dedicated service to our state. As you prepare to vote on HF2309, I urge you to critically consider the potential outcomes of this bill. While I know you all have the best interests of our children at heart, I believe that passing this bill could lead to unintended, counterproductive consequences.Restricting access to certain sections of the library for individuals under 18, even with parental permission, may not be the most effective way to communicate and instill values. Evidence suggests that such restrictions do not achieve the desired results. Instead, we should explore alternative methods that are more constructive and supportive.I hope you will vote against HF2309 and seek other ways to uphold and communicate our shared values without imposing restrictive measures. Your thoughtful consideration in this historic decision is greatly appreciated. My thoughts and prayers are with you all as you deliberate this.

02-16-2026

Aryn Henning Nichols

Vote no on HSB 720. It would make library operation extremely difficult and expensive, for one, and I believe parents can monitor their kids' reading levels at home just as they monitor their online viewing. Creating more red tape for places of learning and education that are open and accessible for all, I might add is not the answer.

02-16-2026

Kate Narveson

Please vote no. HSB720 represents poorly considered legislative overreach. (A) City councils don't have the bandwidth and are happy to leave governance to library boards. (B) The language is vague, and as many others have pointed out, will invite illconceived lawsuits and huge staffing logistics, both of which waste library budgets. (C) Libraries already reject "adult" material (i.e. porn, soft or hard). And most important, (D) The responsibility lies with parents to oversee their children's library use.

02-16-2026

Bruce Nesmith

I write in opposition to HSB 720. It seems to be a solution in search of a problem, which is never a good sign for state legislatures that have real problems to address. The importance of public libraries to communities cannot be overstated, yet it is difficult to see how adding a layer of supervision to library boards will improve any library's performance. Is what we're worried about that some people in Iowa City are reading immoral books? Rushing in with mandates and threats of funding cutoffs statewide in hopes of straightening out the Iowa City people is going to create more costs than benefits.The main thing this bill would do is add more state mandates to localities that are capable in most cases of governing themselves.

02-16-2026

Carol Gilbertson

Please vote no on this legislation. The state should not be directing libraries in this way. We need library boards, accountable to the populace and users, to work with library staff on developing policies like this locally, rather than statewide.city councils have enough to do. And the way the bill specifies such a punitive monetary punishment further makes me oppose the bill. Please vote no and keep our state a more reasonable and welcoming place.

02-16-2026

Jeanene Gilmore

Has the world (or state) gone insane? Libraries are important and always have been! I would have never guessed that in my lifetime I would have to contact anyone to protect the public library. As a child if a single parent in 1960, the public library was a gift! I could earn prizes for reading, had access to the world through books and could be anything I wanted through books. How dare you try to stifle that from our future!

02-16-2026

John Lepse

I have to wonder if the supporters of this bill remember the thrill of getting their first library card. I do, and it was like a new world opened up. Please don't say that you are protecting children. Public libraries already have policies in place to protect children, teens, and adults. Professional librarians are far more qualified to implement them than locally elected politicians. Vote no.

02-16-2026

Barb Phillips

Local control means trusting communities to manage their own institutions through the structures they've established not mandating a onesizefitsall mandate from Des Moines. HSB 720 removes flexibility, weakens communitybased governance, and disrupts a system that has long worked for Iowa towns. For generations, Iowa's public libraries have been governed by locally appointed library boards made up of community members who understand their towns unique needs. VOTE NO.

02-16-2026

Jeffrey Getchell

I am strongly opposed to HF 720. Not only is it a blatant overreach of state government into the affairs of cities and town but also a thinly veiled attempt at book banning. Allvolunteer (meaning nonpoliticized) library boards already have a close working relationship with local schools and city councils. Keep state mandates out of city operations. And I have yet to read comments from anyone supporting this legislation.

02-16-2026

Christi Olson

Please vote no on this bill. Public libraries do not have pornography and obscene materials in their collections and to assert that they do is irresposible and an obvious ploy to feed the public disinformation and to incite fear. As a parent, I believe it is MY responsibility to monitor my kids' use of the library and I do not want the government dictating which materials my kids can read. Also, placing the library's operation and budget under a city council's authority makes the public library a political entity, which directly contradicts the library's mission to serve all of its community members and to remain neutral. Libraries led by a nonpartisan board of trustees who live and work in the community allows the library to function as a neutral entity and prevents it from being subject to the political winds of change. Vote no on HSB720.

02-16-2026

Wendy Tillgren

VOTE NO! This is another attempt to take control of our public libraries out of the hands of professionals and give it to people who do not have the training, expertise, or time to run libraries fairly and effectively. And, once again, librarians are NOT providing pornography to anyone, least of all minors! The people who continue to push this type of legislation and smear librarians, are trying to force their preference on everyone and intimidate public servants. VOTE NO!

02-16-2026

Peggy Gordon

Vote no on HSB720. Public libraries are a positive, important institution in our communities and they deserve the respect due a critical service. Allow the library professionals to manage the collection and let the parents guide their childrens reading habits.

02-16-2026

Katherine Nelson

Vote NO on HSB 720. This clearly takes away LOCAL Library boards control who know their communities! They are dedicated, wellread, mature and knowledgable about library materials to be enjoyed by all. Many are parents and grandparents. Stop with the mean spirited attacks on our public libraries who have served we patrons for decades without all this nonsense. Your attacks of intentional harm to we the people and our public libraries are not welcome and this needs to stop. Our local public libraries, library boards AND librarians have our strong support!

02-16-2026

Elizabeth Estling

Vote NO!This is simply a way to open libraries to any silly lawsuit. This is another attempt of legislators in Des Moines trying to take away local control because most Iowans support libraries so they are trying to go around Iowans

02-16-2026

Adam Cole

Vote no on HSB720. Language on what is or is not appropriate for minors is too vague and open to personal interpretation. This leaves libraries and municipalities open to frivolous lawsuits. This bill also removes local control, which is an overreach of state government. Local communities are the users of their public libraries. Leave these decisions to those who have been highly educated to make these decisions rather than a governing body cotowing to their base, drumming up drama where there isn't any.Protect our public libraries by voting no on HSB720

02-16-2026

Jodi Kremer

Vote NO, please. The language in this bill is an overreach and far too vague to allow librarians to do their job. As a reminder, Librarians have their degrees in Library Science, thus, providing them with the knowledge to appropriately do their jobs in a safe manner.

02-16-2026

Rebekah Hosford

Vote NO. This is such an overreach. 1. Let Library Boards govern the library and keep libraries away from politics. 2. Libraries dont own legally obscene materials and librarians already use professional resources to determine age appropriateness. The language in this is so vague and just opens up the library for expensive litigation 3. Let parents parent. They can supervise their children while at the library, and monitor what they checkout. 4. In a time where reading scores and critical thinking skills are trending down, the last thing we need to do is take away access to books from children. There are so many studies that show why books and libraries are important. Again, please vote NO.

02-16-2026

Deborah Jacobi

Please vote no to HSB 720. Librarians and staff of local libraries are attuned and accountable to their communities. City councils approve nominees to serve on library boards based on their knowledge and expertise. In this way, the board is appropriately focused and the city council is able to take on other matters. Changing this is neither necessary nor sensible.

02-16-2026

Jay Kruse

Vote No! Increased Administrative Burden and Costs Annual reporting to prove compliance, plus the advisory boards mandated review of all materials and a formal citizen challenge process (with hearings and city council votes), would require significant staff time and resources. Small libraries with limited staff might struggle most, diverting funds from core services to bureaucracy.Erosion of Library Independence and Professional Expertise Transferring full administrative, financial, oversight, and policy authority to city councils ends the traditional independent library boards of trustees. Advisory boards (now nonbinding) would handle material reviews, but final decisions rest with elected city officialswho may prioritize politics over library best practices.

02-16-2026

Jay Kruse

Vote No!Erosion of Library Independence and Professional ExpertiseTransferring full administrative, financial, oversight, and policy authority to city councils ends the traditional independent library boards of trustees.Advisory boards (now nonbinding) would handle material reviews, but final decisions rest with elected city officialswho may prioritize politics over library best practices.Increased Administrative Burden and CostsAnnual reporting to prove compliance, plus the advisory boards mandated review of all materials and a formal citizen challenge process (with hearings and city council votes), would require significant staff time and resources.Small libraries with limited staff might struggle most, diverting funds from core services to bureaucracy.

02-16-2026

Kayleigh Septer

Vote NO. This bill will open up public libraries to frivolous lawsuits and will waste tax payer dollars. Cities do not have time to run libraries, so please leave it to the library boards and the directors they have hired! Please listen to us when we tell you that this bill is not a good idea! Mayberead a book for once?

02-16-2026

Jan Netolicky

When, as a child, I was being unreasonable, I often tried to defend my stance to my father using any argument I could concoct. After listening to me rant on, he invariably would end my diatribe with this line: So, what youre telling me is Dont confuse me with the facts; my mind is made up. His satiric observation was on point. I wish he were here now. A staunch Republican, he believed we should be fiscally conservative, responsible for our decisions and the actions those decisions informed, and above all our government should remain small. In considering HSB720, Republican legislators are ignoring those core principles that used to define the GOP. Small government proponents should recoil at this intrusion upon library autonomy. Listen to your constituents. VOTE NO, or is your mind made up?

02-16-2026

Catherine Shook

Please vote no on this bill. Language on what is or is not appropriate for minors is too vague and open to personal interpretation. It is so exhausting the amount of distrust this bill assumes of local institutions, its trained workers, and the community members themselves. Libraries have systems in place that engage in dialogue with those they serve.

02-16-2026

Martha McClurg

I strongly oppose HSB 720. Having libraries be run by city councils not only politicizes a nonpolitical entity, it also creates an enormous additional workload for city council members. I am also concerned about the language in this bill related to ageappropriate materials. As a parent, I want to determine what is age appropriate for my children, not the government. This bill seems to create unnecessary problems and work for a system that is already run by trained professionals and working well.

02-16-2026

Janene Krug

I strongly oppose HB 720. it is not the government's job to restrict access to public library resources. Parents, not the government, should guide their children's decisions on what to read. Public libraries strengthen their communities by providing literacy development and educational programs. Trained professionals work hard to create collections that meet the needs of their communities. There are already policies and procedures in place to address collection development and to address material reconsiderations. Please don't let the negative experience of a few change how libraries are governed for all. Library boards are already approved and appointed by the city council and mayor. They are highly trained and are seeking to work together with library staff to provide the best library services they can in their communities.

02-16-2026

Lisa Reid

Vote no. Language is too vague. Libraries already have boards and educated professionals to guide and help the public with reading choices. It should not be up to politicians to make those decisions. Libraries area gift to the community!

02-16-2026

Jonatha Basye

Once again, our legislature has introduced a bill that will cripple the public library system in Iowa. If this trend continues, many of our small, rural libraries will be forced to close because they will not have the funds nor the support to comply with new, restrictive laws. Please vote no on HSB 720.

02-16-2026

Emma Stoffer

HSB 720 is a bill that serves no purpose other than to do harm. City and county leaders already collaborate extensively with their Library Boards and Library Directors. Library Boards are composed of local individuals, appointed by the city, who receive unique training and expertise related to library functions and services. These are individuals who have passion for their public libraries and who demonstrate dedication to their communities through the continued advocacy for these libraries. Parents already have the ability to guide their own childrens reading. What this bill does is extend that authority outward, transforming personal preference into statewide policy. Libraries absolutely value partnership with families. But partnership is voluntary and individualized. This bill replaces partnership with surveillance, mandates, and structural barriers that affect every patron, including adults.

02-16-2026

Linda Schneider

Please vote NO. This is not what most Iowans want or need for their libraries. This extremism in the Iowa Legislature is so wrong for Iowa. What happened to the party of small government & local control? Leave our libraries & librarians alone. Children & adults need & love our libraries. Please OPPOSE this bill.

02-16-2026

Julie Zaugg [Friends of the Library]

If you look through the comments you will note the complete lack of support for this bill. For all the reasons listed by others, the vagueness of the crucial term "age appropriate", and the fact that city councils are already busy and need to leave the operation of libraries to their own board. This bill is a solution in search of a problem.

02-16-2026

Sophia Nall

Oppose HSB 720. In a state with the motto freedom to flourish, our lawmakers sure seem bent on eliminating freedoms, in this case taking away the voter and taxpayers freedom to vote on decisions regarding their library, freedom for parents to determine what is and is not appropriate for their child, and freedom for library professionals to make educated determinations about the books in their collections. Once again appalled by the brazen attempts to assert control over libraries at the request of a small but vocal minority of antiintellectual political operatives, when the majority of iowans are perfectly fine with how their libraries are run. Stop the crusade against libraries and please do something to improve our lives.

02-16-2026

Lynette Iles MD

LIBRARIES DO NOT OWN OR PROVIDE ACCESS TO LEGALLY OBSCENE MATERIAL.They do however provide valuable information to people of all ages. Librarians are never the villains. Please stop trying to wrestle control from one place to another as though you trust no one anywhere. Vote NO. Our librarians and libraries have been fine for decades. Let them be. Let parents parent.

02-16-2026

Mark Faldet

I strongly oppose this bill. It will place unfunded burden on libraries. Most any student has access to the internet at home or other public spaces and can be exposed to the information this bill is trying to accomplish. City councils already have enough to manage without this burden being placed on them.

02-17-2026

Kolleen Hosford

Please vote NO. I firmly believe that parents should be the ones who govern what their children see at the library. We have freedom of information in this country, or so I thought. Did I trust my children when I sent them to the library? Yes. Do I trust my grandchildren? Yes. Is there information in the library that is educational but a little bit 'more' than what I would have wanted them to see at certain ages? Yes, but then it is on me to have that conversation with them. If people are worried, start with your own, and have conversations with other people, but don't limit this at the state level. This is for local boards to decide.

02-17-2026

Fran Henderson

I oppose this bill. It is an overreach of government. Oversight of what a child is reading should be left to the parent not state government. Cutting off funding of libraries is wrong. Library boards should remain independent of city councils. Vote no.

02-17-2026

Michelle Kruse

I oppose this bill. Iowas libraries do not provide obscene materials. They are governed by library boards as well as selection and reconsideration policies. Please do not remove the ability for all parents to choose for their children.

02-17-2026

Norma Ewinger

Please vote NO on this bill as it is a complete overreach of the legisture's authority. First, our libraries do not have any obscene books. Our city council already has control of what goes on in our library. We need our young people to read more, not less. I don't know what happened to the concert of less government but it seems to want to regulate everything about our lives, often by the religious beliefs of someone in a position of power not shared by the general public.

02-17-2026

Shawna Riggins

I strongly OPPOSE HSB 720. This is needless government overreach. I am not sure what is more concerning though, this proposed harmful legislation or the complete disregard that state legislators will demonstrate when they refuse to act upon the feedback shared by Iowans. Please listen to your constituents and spend your time on legislation to protect the health of Iowans.

02-17-2026

Jane Housewright

Please oppose this bill. Public libraries aren't causing any problems. The libraries are typically a vital part of the community, offering a welcoming environment and variety of activities and services. Let the professional librarians do their jobs.

02-17-2026

Jane Housewright

02-17-2026

Nancy Chaffee

Vote NO on this bill. City councils already have enough responsibility for our public libraries. They approve library boards that already do an amazing job. Libraries already do have rules about age appropriate materials. This bill would require the elimination of all adult content. Anyone who has internet access can access adult material that is already not available in the library. This bill is trying to solve a problem that doesnt exist but will create a greater problem and most likely cause many libraries to close their doors. Libraries are a valuable resource for our towns. Vote NO.

02-17-2026

Donna Byers

Srongly opposed. Once again, the GOP is focused on culture wars that no one, but a handful of fanatics wants. Work on the real problems facing Iowa, instead of trying to distract us from the real harm the GOP has done to this state. When I left Iowa 40 years ago, the state was first in education. What happened? And know the GOP wants to kill public libraries.

02-17-2026

Ashley Fox

Im incredibly disappointed that this is even up for debate right now. Please vote NO. As a mother of school children and a former ELA teacher, I find this bill entirely unacceptable. The government of Iowa is trying desperately to insert themselves into every family, every classroom, and now every library, and its truly going to do more harm than good, especially as this bill is so vague and parents alone should be in charge of overseeing what their children read and what books they have access to NOT local or state government. We should not be seeking to obliterate libraries (which is what this bill will do in many communities across our state) during a time when much higher priorities lie before us, such as fully funding and supporting public schools, students, educators, and support staff; the state of our water conditions; and our rising cancer rates, just to name a few. Please, turn your focus to issues that actually exist and stop with these senseless witch hunts.

02-17-2026

Carin Bringelson

Vote NO on HSB 720. It's unnecessary and unwanted.Libraries have all the necessary policies for collection development and parental oversight already. This bill would replace professional knowledge with political oversight. Why erode local control?!

02-17-2026

Erin Horst

There is so much good you could be doing for Iowa but you keep choosing to do harm to our libraries. This is government overreach. City councils dont want this added responsibility, the bill is a waste of everyones time. Vote no.

02-17-2026

Debbie Jones

I am a retired 1st grade teacher. What would be the purpose of this bill??? There is none. Leave libraries alone. Allow communities to have access to libraries for children and adults. We should be supporting the libraries with more resources, not taking away!!

02-17-2026

Andrea Springmeier

Vote NO on HSB 720. This does not serve the public interest, it only serves to support political censorship. We love our libraries and trust our librarians and local boards to determine what is appropriate for our own communities.

02-17-2026

Matt Kray

I oppose HSB720. There is no point to this bill, it is strictly government overreach. Rather surprising to be supported by so many representatives in the party of "less government". It is a parents job to monitor what their children are reading. Libraries are not day care centers, parents should be monitoring their children in public, not librarians.

02-17-2026

Matti Smith

Vote NO on HSB 720 it is a slap in the face of those you represent that this meeting was scheduled before the subcommittee had even met. Over 300 comments all of them opposed thank google gemini for the summary and those in that meeting did not bother to read any of them before their decision was made. The people DO NOT WANT THIS. Legislators need to stop criminalizing the Library and face the realities of where the danger to youth and undereducation of America comes from hint: not the Library! Stop creating barriers to the last physical, curated, free source of information in communities. I was at the library yesterday a child came because it was his birthday and the library is so magical for him it was his choice to spend it at the library. I saw students use meetings rooms for a quiet place to have a study group. There was a family reading picture books and playing with STEM toys. Why do you want to destroy what is already well built?

02-17-2026

Aileen J Osborn

I strongly oppose this bill, and ask you to vote no. You are taking away our rights to use libraries as we see fit. And libraries do not have legally pornographic material. Someone is trying to force their views on all of us. I question if this bill is even Constitutionally legal. Spend your efforts in lowering the things that are breaking our budgets.

02-17-2026

Kevin Delecki

Over the past three years, it has become obvious that 1. Iowans deeply support their local public libraries and do not want them undercut and irrevocably damaged by the state legislature, and 2. Our "representatives" in Des Moines do not care what their constituents want. I strongly oppose HSB720, and urge you to do the same.

02-17-2026

Amy Stevenson

Please remember that library collections have been curated by professional librarians. Budget dollars are carefully allocated to ensure that library materials meet the needs of the community. Collection development is best left to library professionals. Book selection is best left to the reader. Government oversight of local libraries is best left to dystopian fiction.

02-17-2026

Kara Humphreys

Vote NO! What Iowan would support this? This is government overreach and not in the favor of the majority of Iowans. This bill will kill our small community libraries that already struggle with funding for their programs, new books, and general operation. I can't imagine my life without my local library. It helped to grow my love of reading and shaped my writing skills that successfully led me through college in writing term papers, essays, and more. I now support another small town Iowa library by visiting weekly and sometimes biweekly with my two small children. It is one of their favorite activities each week and they look forward to it. My youngest this past week excitedly exclaiming, "Oooh Mommy! I love this book!! Can we buy it?!". We would be heartbroken if this bill were to pass and our library would no longer be able to operate in our small town due to all of these restrictions and added redtape. Libraries are run by professionals with experience already, leave them be.

02-17-2026

Tina McCullough

Please vote no! This isn't true to the libraries I have ever been in or worked in. I don't believe anyone should be restricting books from anyone. If a book or other material is available that isn't your thing, why do you make it your place to tell me what I (or any person's children) can or can't read. I grew up going to libraries and exploring curiousity in books or other materials is normal. Ask questions and learn about other things! Freedom of information and choices in Iowa

02-17-2026

Shana Hickey

There's no justified reason to punish librarians for the choices other people make!! It isn't their job to police people's choices, nor should it be. If parents are worried about the books their children check out, maybe they should go to the library with their children!

02-17-2026

Natalie Hall

OPPOSE HSB 720. Look at the THOUSANDS of comments in opposition on the individual bill and yet you still pushed it through subcommittee and put it on the docket for this afternoon. LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. You represent US, and WE want the attacks on libraries to STOP. Especially for those of us who live in areas with high poverty and marginalized communities, we understand the importance of libraries and we're prepared to fight for them. So stop NOW and vote NO, because you are entering a losing battle and it is a WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND TIME.

02-17-2026

Elijah Ingwersen

A bill seeking to restrict libraries only harms the education of children. Small / poor public schools rely on public libraries for their students, and sometimes the things we must learn contain themes that are not pretty. The point is that we learn about these things in order to remember to never let history repeat itself (or in the case of fiction, simply to not be that way) and withholding materials not deemed appropriate only allows people to continue to live in ignorance. The bill proposes required parental consent for these materials, but without this bill, what a minor is reading still falls to the parent's discretion. Not to mention the strain this puts on libraries to be forced to uphold this rule. Most libraries would need to majorly reorganize or even remodel in order to create this "adult material" section. This bill seems to me to be making a public problem out of a private parenting one, and that's to say it's a problem at all. Vote NO

02-17-2026

Jillian Aschliman

At this morning's subcommittee hearing for HSB720, there was not ONE person in support of the bill moving forward, and the public comments included thus far are overwhelmingly in opposition of its passage. Yet we see it listed here at full committee this afternoon. I implore the Local Government Committee to listen to their constituents and vote NO on HSB 720. If there are a handful of communities that want control over their public libraries, that is an issue that should be handled at the local level, not statewide. Most elected officials in this state do not want the responsibility of managing library operations and collections, and the separation of library governing power ensures that NO political party or elected officials can abuse their power by dictating what information taxpayers can/cannot access.

02-17-2026

Ruth Smith

This is absolutely ridiculous!!! Leave the libraries alone! Let the parents parent!!! As an American, I should be able to choose what I want to read without fear of getting myself or anyone else on trouble. If you don't want to read something, Don't. It's pretty simple. We dont need the government to tell us that. I can think of a hundred other things that could use their attention!

02-17-2026

Cary Siegfried

Oppose HSB 720! These are my priorities for the Iowa legislative session1. Make property taxes make senseboth for property owners AND for local governments trying to provide services to their communities; 2. Enact economic development policies that grow Iowas economy instead of making us lag further and further behind; 3. Enact policies that keep Iowans from dying of cancer at a higher rate than most of the rest of the country (and maybe figure out WHY this is so?); 4. Fix funding for PUBLIC schoolsStop wasting time on all this other nonsensical meddling in issues that should be left up to local communities and to individuals and families. Our public libraries are NOT broken. Public libraries serve communities and each community has the power to change how their library is operating if a majority of the community wants them to change.

02-17-2026

Victoria Aden

I urge you to vote no on HSB 720. This bill is unnecessary, poorly written legislative overreach. The majority of your constituents want the legislature to concentrate on real problems of Iowans, not meddle in their cherished public libraries. Leave the libraries to their local residents and the professional, expert librarians that have made them the heart of their communities.

02-17-2026

Judson Lee

Vote no on this bill. This serves no purpose other than to deprive individuals of all ages access to materials that serve an educational and recreational purpose. Restrictions to books will continue to contribute to the decline of a wellread, eloquent and educated populace that will eventually replace us. This bill effectively sets our future up for failure over petty feelings by individuals who haven't taken the time to check the materials themselves, and in turn is restricting the very freedoms we spend so much time preaching about. Vote no.

02-17-2026

R. Lee Phillips [Guardians of Pella]

Please pass HSB720. Protecting children from obscene material in public libraries these days is akin to confronting the spirit of Jeffery Epstein running the library system. This is not about censorship, free speech violations or overburdening librarians with extra responsibilities without extra funding. This is about making public libraries intellectually safe for young impressionable minds. Its about protecting their young emotions. Its not about appeasing adults with a child fetish. All things porn and with a sexual theme can be obtained online or at adult bookstores, but the public library should remain a sanctum of safety for young minds. According to some activist comments by adults, it almost seems like they dont care about the children by letting this evil continue. Its the role of this committee to protect children and do them justice. Pass HSB720.

02-17-2026

Martha Norbeck [- Select -]

I oppose this bill. This is a family issue, not legislative. What is considered age appropriate is a private family decision based on personal values that may vary even between children within the same family. It is impractical and inappropriate to shift this burden to librarians. The addition of a financial punishment for libraries and librarians is the opposite of small government.

02-17-2026

Martha Norbeck [- Select -]

02-17-2026

Harry Ehrlich

I support this bill as a change to bring guidance, oversight and direction back to elected officials instead of appointed persons not accountable to the citizens or voters paying the taxes that fund the libraries! This is a step to bring about more accountability and transparency to local decisionmaking, not to undo operations of the libraries! Please Support this bill!

02-17-2026

Isabella Santoro [Washington Public Library Board of Trustees]

Vote no on this bill. Nothing good can come from transferring decisionmaking from a board of trustees to city council. They will only use any excuse they can find to defund the library. Plus, they have enough on their plate with other city matters.

02-17-2026

Sharon Moss

Please vote NO on this egregious bill. There is a slogan about freedom in Iowa. This bill is the complete opposite. Republicans used to believe in local control Any government that politicizes books doesn't promote freedom. City councils already have a fulltime job. Libraries already have substantial policies about age appropriate materials and parental rights. Children in rural areas often don't have a lot of options. Public schools are underfunded. The public library is their best chance to learn about their place in the world. Please don't take away their right to make their mark and succeed. Public libraries have been around since Benjamin Franklin founded one of the first lending libraries in 1731.

02-17-2026

Kathy Buzza

Please vote NO on HSB 720. Is it not enough that library boards in Iowa are approved by city councils, with councils providing oversight that way? HSB 720 would add a significant burden to city councils workloads, without any clear benefit to taxpayers or library users. This bill also requires anyone under 18 be prevented from accessing ageinappropriate materials (similar to requirements in HF 2309.) For the Decorah Public Library, my home library, this would require them to do one of the following:Remove the entire adult collection and only serve people under 18.Remove the entire childrens collection and prevent anyone under the age of 18 from entering the building.Spend over $100,000 to enclose the historic side of the library building and spend over $70,000 annually to pay staff to act as bouncers to prevent anyone under 18 from entering the historic side of the building where the collections for adults are shelved. The hidden ramifications of this bill are appalling.

02-17-2026

Lisa Johnson

Opposed. It is important to recognize that public libraries are institutions subject to ongoing public & professional oversight. There are checks and balances in place. Concerns about individual materials are addressed through established review procedures that involve librarians, and community representatives, and are generally resolved satisfactorily given that model. Families hold values and beliefs that differ, even within Sioux County. They rely on the flexibility of our current library systems to make choices aligned with their own household standards. Parental involvement, designated collections, and guided assistance together support families and individuals in these needs. Public libraries continue to provide the same trusted, supportive and safe learning environments they historically have. The difference of experience arises not in library collections, nor librarians, but from influences outside the library, such as peers, the broader culture, and the online environment.

02-17-2026

Steve Clarke

Vote NO on HSB720. The ageappropriate standard is vague, illdefined, and will lead to numerous frivolous actions costing tax payers. Allow library boards to continue their work. Each library has policies to allow patrons to challenge specific works in the collection.