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Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:
HSB 142
A bill for an act relating to public safety including prohibited acts on fully controlled-access facilities and disorderly conduct, and providing penalties.(See HF 430.)
Subcommittee members: Worthan-CH, Kressig, Westrich
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: Law Library
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.
Comments Submitted:

01-28-2021
Connie Ryan [lnterfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund]
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund has grave concerns about HSB142 and its overreach by the government to take away the rights of citizens to peaceably assemble and protest. HSB142 is a thinly veiled attempt to target and control protestors, particularly Black Lives Matter protestors, and hinder their constitutional rights.There are several nonviolent actions listed in the legislation that are traditionally used in social justice movements and are means to assemble and protest for people who feel their rights have been or are being violated by the government. Limiting the rights of Iowans is wrong and not in keeping with the US Constitution and the First Amendment. In addition, the penalties listed are egregious and simply over the top. Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund strongly urges you to oppose HSB142 and stand up for the constitutional rights of the people to assemble and protest.
01-28-2021
Brian Carter [Iowa annual conference of the United Methodist Church]
The Iowa of the United Methodist Church holds governments responsible for the protection of the right of the people to free and fair elections and to the freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, communication media and petition for redress of grievance without fear of reprisal. . We also strongly reject domestic surveillance and intimidation of political opponents by government in power and all other misuses of elective or appointive offices. The use of detention and imprisonment for the harassment and elimination of political opponents or other dissidents violates fundamental human rights. . . The church should continually exert a strong ethical influence upon the state, supporting policies and programs deemed to be just and opposing policies and programs that are unjust.We must oppose this bill as it is detrimental to the freedom of speech and dissent, and adds new crimes to seek to intimidate those freedoms.
01-28-2021
Keenan Crow [One Iowa]
One Iowa is against HSB 142 and its several attempts to increase penalties on nonviolent protestors. Constantly increasing penalties and creating additional crimes is how we got to mass incarceration in the first place. This will further fill our already overcrowded jails and prisons, cost taxpayers additional dollars, and fail to solve the stated problem.