Hunter
05/12/25
The Iowa Senate has passed a House-backed bill that clamps down on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts.
The Des Moines Register reports the vote went on party lines Friday, and extends restrictions on DEI initiatives already passed last session on the three state-run universities. The new legislation imposes DEI restrictions on state agencies, cities, counties and other political subdivisions, barring them from spending any money appropriated by the state or from any other sources to establish or support a DEI office or DEI employee.
House and Senate Republicans say the initiatives are intended to redirect their energies on workforce training and restoring a merit-based system, but Democrats say they’re attacking institutions that are perceived as left-leaning and warned it would drive people out of the state.