DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa House lawmakers advanced House File 856 in a vote along party lines on Tuesday morning. The bill would expand diversity, equity and inclusion measures passed last year.

The bill restricts state, county and city government entities from spending money on DEI offices or employees. The bill was just amended in the Iowa Senate last week to take out the language of private colleges and universities as part of the restrictions.

Republicans in both chambers held the belief that this will help return state agencies and universities to a merit-based system. House Republicans did take issue with the Iowa Senate removing the private college language.

“…private colleges from the original bill. And it also changes the wording, clarifying that this is not about encouraging preferential treatment or special benefits,” said State Representative Henry Stone (R), District 9 from Forest City.

Meanwhile, both Senate and House Democrats urged this expansion not be passed. One representative argued that this is how the state remains competitive.

“This is how we compete. Going into the future by holding down diversity, equity and inclusion in our state,” said State Representative Rob Johnson (D), District 34 from Des Moines. “This isn’t about checking boxes, this is about building bridges.”

The bill, if signed into law, will take effect on July 1, 2025, meaning that cities and counties need to be looking at this change before passing a budget for the next fiscal year.

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