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Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:
HSB 516
A bill for an act relating to the zoning of maternity group homes.(See HF 2276.)
Subcommittee members: Kniff McCulla-CH, Bloomingdale, Nielsen
Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: RM 19
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.
Comments Submitted:

01-17-2024
Sandy Wilson [Citizen Engagement]
Citizen Engagement declares IN FAVOR of HSB 516. Republicans are the party of LIFE. This helps support those efforts
01-18-2024
Arthur Gilloon [GILLOON LAW PLC]
I am one of the lawyers who represented Marys in maternity home in Dubuque regarding a Fall 2023 zoning application in a residential neighborhood. Mary's Inn is the only maternity home in Eastern Iowa. It has provided dozens of women facing unintended pregnancies a place to live both before and after their child was born. Although a majority of neighbors had no objection to Mary's Inn maternity home, the zoning application for a conditional use permit was stymied by an unelected zoning board of adjustment which voted down the conditional use permanent application without ever explaining why and in spite of uncontradicted testimony that Mary's Inn had operated in another Dubuque residential neighborhood for eight years without complaint.Even the unanimous vote of the Dubuque City Council could not save the application. This should not stand. Iowa needs to protect maternity homes just like it protects the eldery, veterans, and the disabled.Please support HSB 516. Thank you very much.