Meeting Public Comments

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SF 335

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to trainings and curricula provided by school districts and prohibited sexual orientation and gender identity instruction, and implementing prohibitions related to the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents, community colleges, and public schools.

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Salmon-CH, Pike, Quirmbach

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Time: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: Senate Lounge

Comments Submitted:

The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

02-24-2025

Courtney Collier

I support SF 335. This bill provides a way for parents and school district stakeholders to hold the defiant schools accountable for the laws we passed to prevent them from teaching our children gender identity and sexual orientation, divisive concepts including anti American teachings and reverse racism. We also need to stop funding harmful and dangerous DEI offices at our schools and colleges with our tax dollars. We are a color blind country that is based on merit and character. Our tax dollar funded schools should be teaching that to our children.

02-24-2025

Pam Gronau

I very much support this bill. This bill will finally give parents a way to hold schools accountable for breaking CRT and gender ideology teachings in school which is against state law. It also removes DEI offices/positions from our public schools. These positions main role is to push DEI into our schools which I believe creates unnecessary division. Thank you for bringing this bill forward.

02-24-2025

Sara Richmond

Please REJECT this bill. This is yet another attempt to legislate hate, discriminate against certain groups of people, and make minorities feel less than. Diversity should be celebrated. Equity shouldn't have to be fought for. Inclusion should be the thing we all strive to protect. We need to fund and protect public education, not provide continuous threats.

02-25-2025

Grace Rogers

I OPPOSE THIS BILL. This bill expands DEI BANS in public schools, allows people to sue districts/individual schools for violating active DEI bans, and encourages discipline of teachers/administrators who violate said bans. This bill prohibits public school districts, charter schools, and innovation school zones from establishing/supporting DEI offices or designating/hiring an employee to initiate DEIrelated practices. It allows any parent/guardian of a student or school employee to bring civil action against any public school district, charter school, or school innovation zone that violates current DEI bans. It calls for investigation of teacher/administrator that violates DEI bans, which could result in disciplinary action such as loss of ones teaching/administration license. It allows for a parent/guardian or employee to report a teacher/administrator to the Iowa Board of Education, Attorney General, or the Director of the Department of Education for further investigation. It allows a student or employee to bring civil action against any public institution of higher education that violates DEI bans and it calls for the immediate termination of any employee who violates a DEI ban.

02-25-2025

Allison Pin

I am strongly against this bill. It is ridiculous that we're spending time deliberating on school content (especially at the higher learning level) instead of focusing efforts on bettering the lives of all Iowans. The language in this bill is also super vague and could bring a lot of uncertainty to teachers and schools about how they can teach certain content. I understand that school content and how our money feeds into public schools is important, but also this is the same state government that is allowing tax payers' dollars to be sent to PRIVATE schools instead of PUBLIC. The term "DEI" has been demonized for absolutely no reason at all. What is so wrong with having people from different upbringings come together to share and exchange discourse and ideas? So sorry to those who don't care to open up a history book and actually open their eyes to the literal biases they have been taught to believe. Yet you want to further bury yourself in that hole of ignorance solely because of FEAR. You fear a lot of your constituents and God forbid that people have STATE MANDATED education on topics that shouldn't need any questioning at all. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

02-25-2025

Tracie Kennedy

I strongly support SF 335 as it prioritizes academic excellence by keeping education focused on core subjects rather than social or political ideologies. This bill upholds parental rights, ensuring families have a say in their children's education on sensitive topics. By restricting certain DEI initiatives, it ensures school resources are dedicated to preparing students for success rather than divisive agendas. Passing SF 335 aligns with the values of many Iowa families and strengthens trust between educators and communities.