Meeting Public Comments

Jeff Jutting

I am writing to express my opposition to HF 2296. I believe this legislation is unnecessary, it is a solution in search of a problem. Please do not pass this legislation out of the subcommittee.

Haitham Osman

Community ID programs help strengthen trust and communication between residents and local institutions. In Johnson County, this program has been operating for more than a decade and has helped residents safely interact with schools, libraries, utilities, and other services. The ID is limited in scopeit cannot be used to vote, access federal benefits, or replace a drivers license. It simply helps people identify themselves when interacting with local services. Programs like this encourage residents to participate in community life and interact safely with local agencies. In more than ten years of operation, there have been no documented problems caused by the program. HF 2296 would remove a tool communities have used successfully and would override local decisions. I respectfully ask that you oppose this bill.

Afa K

Please oppose HF 2296. Community ID programs fulfill a fundamental need by providing residents with basic identification, which is essential for interacting with local institutions.

Rebecca Entel

I am writing to express how important community IDs are. Like student IDs, they provide many necessary functions without causing any issues whatsoever. They cannot be used in any way that would be inappropriate or unlawful. Instead, they offer identification in certain situations where no identification would create unknowns for health care providers, law enforcement, etc. In addition, local governments should be able to determine common sense measures that work in their communities without interference by the state government. Please leave community IDs, which have been successful, alone. And leave local decision making alone.

Morgan Trask

I am concerned about HF 2296 and its harmful impacts on those who are vulnerable in our community. Community IDs offer a way for everyone to safely interact with law enforcement, schools, banks, and agencies. Removing the community IDs will leave people without legitimate ways of interacting with these institutions. We should be protecting and including our community members, not excluding them. This bill sends the message that we do not prioritize all of our community. Please oppose this bill and keep our community strong

Kathy Kessler

HF 2296 is unnecessary and raises the fundamental question about whether local communities should retain the ability to adopt policies that address local needs. Johnson County's program has operated for over a decade without documented harm. Please focus on areas of statewide concern and let communities address their own needs.

Megan Alter

I want to register my strong opposition to this bill. It has helped our community for 10 years, enabling residents without the ability to get a driver's license (this includes plenty of senior citizens) to have identification to help with local interactions. These community identification cards do not work to attain state or federal benefits; they help with local public safety and stability. There is no reason now, after 10 years, to end this program. It is simply fear mongering, what aboutism, and frankly, is looking for a way to make life harder for those people who may already be facing certain hardships. In doing so, it makes local public safety concerns more difficult, not easier. People are less likely to come forward as witnesses or as victims if they do not have identification cards, and there are plenty of people who do not have driver's licenses or passports. Please focus on more important matters, like why Iowa's cancer rate is skyhigh and its water quality so abysmal

Sarah Chang

Please OPPOSE HF 2296. Community IDs are important tools, and there's absolutely no reason to restrict them.