S.F. _____ H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 216.19, subsection 1, unnumbered 1 paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 2 All cities shall, to the extent possible, protect the rights 3 of the citizens of this state secured by the Iowa civil rights 4 Act. A city or local government shall not enact any ordinance 5 or other law which is broader or has different categories of 6 unfair or discriminatory practices than those provided in 7 this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as 8 indicating any of the following: 9 Sec. 2. Section 216.19, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 10 2026, is amended by striking the paragraph. 11 EXPLANATION 12 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 13 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 14 This bill relates to local laws implementing the Iowa civil 15 rights Act of 1965 (civil rights Act). 16 The civil rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment, 17 wages, public accommodations, housing, education, and credit 18 practices based upon certain characteristics of a person. 19 Current law requires cities, to the extent possible, to protect 20 the rights of the citizens of this state under the civil rights 21 Act, and provides that the civil rights Act shall not be 22 construed as limiting a city or local government from enacting 23 any ordinance or other law which prohibits broader or different 24 categories of unfair or discriminatory practices. The bill 25 strikes this limitation and instead prohibits cities and local 26 governments from enacting any ordinance or other law which is 27 broader or has different categories of unfair or discriminatory 28 practices than those provided in the civil rights Act. 29 -1- LSB 5691XL (4) 91 lh/jh 1/ 1