Liz Bennett

HF 437 directs the University of Iowa to create a Center for Intellectual Freedom, which will offer courses in the “historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society.” CPAC believes that students should be exposed to the intellectual foundations of the American tradition, so it supports this bill. HF 437 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 32-15 vote on April 15, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

SF 657 overhauls Iowa’s existing tax credit programs, adding new tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and film projects. CPAC believes these costly programs yield dubious benefits and that taxpayer dollars should not go towards picking winners and losers. Therefore, CPAC opposes this bill. SF 657 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 44-1 vote on May 13, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

SF 473 prohibits discrimination against prospective adoptive parents for having religious beliefs opposed to gender ideology. CPAC believes that this legislation is a sound defense of religious liberty, and it supports this bill. SF 473 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 35-14 vote on March 25, 2025, but the House did not vote on the bill before the end of the legislative session.

HF 954 provides the Secretary of State with additional mechanisms to verify the citizenship status of voters on the voter rolls. CPAC believes that every reasonable effort should be made to stop non-citizens from voting, so it supports this bill. HF 954 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 32-15 vote on April 7, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 189 permits students at nonpublic schools to enroll in athletics at public schools if their school does not offer a particular sport. CPAC believes that these programs should be available to every student and supports this bill. HF 189 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 31-13 vote on May 14, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

SF 175 directs schools in Iowa to include imagery depicting the humanity of unborn babies during health classes, and it bans schools from using materials created by pro-abortion advocates in classroom instruction. CPAC believes in protecting the lives of the unborn and supports this bill. SF 175 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 33-16 vote April 28, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 440 directs state colleges to improve college affordability in the following ways: directing schools to implement a work-study program to help offset tuition costs, directing schools to offer at least one baccalaureate program that can be completed in three years, and conducting studies into freezing tuition at the first year of a student’s education. CPAC believes that these are sound efforts to address the pressing issue of college affordability, and it supports this bill. HF 440 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 48-0 vote on April 23, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

SF 607 reduces the tax employers must pay into the state’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. Iowa already has an excess of reserves in the fund, making this a financially feasible option. CPAC believes in unleashing the free market by lowering taxes, and it supports this bill. SF 607 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 32-16 vote on May 14, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

SF 615 implements work requirements for those seeking Medicaid benefits. The bill requires beneficiaries to work at least 80 hours a month. CPAC believes that every able-bodied individual should enjoy the dignity that comes with employment, so it supports this bill. SF 615 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 33-13 vote on May 13, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

SF 418 removes protections for gender ideology from Iowa’s Civil Rights Act and prohibits changing a sex designation on a birth certificate after transition. CPAC believes that state laws should reflect biological reality, and it supports this bill. SF 418 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 33-15 vote on February 27, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 856 prohibits any state institution from expending money operating or staffing D.E.I. offices. CPAC believes that no taxpayer money should be going to poisonous D.E.I. programs, and it supports this bill. HF 856 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 34-16 vote on May 9, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 295 prohibits accrediting bodies from penalizing Iowa colleges for abiding by state law, and it provides legal recourse for schools harmed by accrediting bodies that fail to comply with this statute. CPAC believes that schools should not be harmed for following directives to remove D.E.I. programs and supports this bill. HF 295 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 32-15 vote on April 17, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 785 requires a majority of board members of a charter school to be residents of the geographic area served by the charter school. The bill also requires all board members to be citizens of the United States. CPAC believes that these requirements will improve oversight of charter schools and supports this bill. HF 785 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 32-15 vote on April 9, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 924 lowers the minimum age an individual can purchase or carry a handgun to 18 years old, bringing Iowa into line with federal standards. CPAC believes in vigorously protecting the 2nd Amendment and supports this bill. HF 924 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 33-14 vote on April 7, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 928 brings Iowa’s election recount process into line with other states, establishing a thorough process overseen by representatives of both parties. CPAC believes in protecting the integrity of elections and supports this bill. HF 928 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 31-14 vote on April 14, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 870 protects the right of parents to send their children to religious classes during the school day. CPAC believes this is a matter of religious freedom and parental rights, and it supports this bill. HF 870 was passed by the Iowa Senate in a 47-0 vote on April 15, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

HF 299 requires schools to publicize the requirements to receive a vaccine exemption. CPAC believes it is appropriate to provide parents with this information and supports this bill. HF 299 passed the Iowa Senate in a 32-16 vote on April 29, 2025, and it was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.