House
File
2694
-
Reprinted
HOUSE
FILE
2694
BY
COMMITTEE
ON
JUDICIARY
(SUCCESSOR
TO
HF
2145)
(As
Amended
and
Passed
by
the
House
March
10,
2026
)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
the
regulation
of
certain
places
and
1
activities
by
the
governor.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
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Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
7.19
Regulation
of
places
and
1
practices
of
worship
——
limitation.
2
Notwithstanding
any
provision
of
law
to
the
contrary,
the
3
governor
shall
not
close,
place
a
mandate
on,
or
otherwise
4
regulate
a
place
or
practice
of
worship
for
any
reason,
5
including
through
the
proclamation
of
a
disaster
emergency
6
pursuant
to
chapter
29C
or
public
health
disaster
pursuant
to
7
section
135.144.
For
the
purposes
of
this
section,
“place
of
8
worship”
means
a
building
in
which
an
active
congregation
is
9
devoted
to
worship.
10
Sec.
2.
Section
29C.6,
subsection
1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
11
to
read
as
follows:
12
1.
a.
After
finding
a
disaster
exists
or
is
threatened,
13
proclaim
a
state
of
disaster
emergency.
This
proclamation
14
shall
be
in
writing,
indicate
the
area
affected
and
the
facts
15
upon
which
it
is
based,
be
signed
by
the
governor,
and
be
16
filed
with
the
secretary
of
state.
If
the
state
of
disaster
17
emergency
specifically
constitutes
a
public
health
disaster
18
as
defined
in
section
135.140
,
the
written
proclamation
shall
19
include
a
statement
to
that
effect.
A
state
of
disaster
20
emergency
shall
continue
for
thirty
days,
unless
sooner
21
terminated
or
extended
in
writing
by
the
governor.
The
22
general
assembly
may,
by
concurrent
resolution,
rescind
this
23
proclamation.
If
the
general
assembly
is
not
in
session,
24
the
legislative
council
may,
by
majority
vote,
rescind
this
25
proclamation.
Rescission
shall
be
effective
upon
filing
of
the
26
concurrent
resolution
or
resolution
of
the
legislative
council
27
with
the
secretary
of
state.
A
proclamation
of
disaster
28
emergency
shall
activate
the
disaster
response
and
recovery
29
aspect
of
the
state,
local,
and
interjurisdictional
disaster
30
emergency
plans
applicable
to
the
political
subdivision
or
area
31
in
question
and
be
authority
for
the
deployment
and
use
of
any
32
forces
to
which
the
plan
applies,
and
for
use
or
distribution
33
of
any
supplies,
equipment,
and
materials
and
facilities
34
assembled,
stockpiled,
or
arranged
to
be
made
available.
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b.
A
measure
dictated
in
a
state
of
disaster
emergency
shall
1
not
do
any
of
the
following:
2
(1)
Authorize
a
change
to
established
laws,
policies,
or
3
regulations
governing
a
local,
county,
or
state
election
for
4
public
office
absent
prior
approval
of
the
general
assembly.
5
(2)
Regulate
conduct
within
a
private
residence.
6
(3)
Require
a
vaccination.
7
c.
A
measure
dictated
in
a
state
of
disaster
emergency
that
8
constitutes
a
public
health
disaster,
as
defined
in
section
9
135.140,
shall
not
require
but
may
recommend
that
a
private
10
business
operating
within
this
state
cease
the
business’s
11
lawful
operations.
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