DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa legislature is closer to passing a bill to ban certain types of diversity and inclusion training.
The House spent four hours debating the bill that would bar training that suggest the U.S. or Iowa is fundamentally racist or sexist.
The bill passed on party lines (59-36) with support from all Republicans and opposition from all Democrats.
It’s similar to an executive order signed by President Trump that was later overturned by President Biden.
Democrats say it will prevent lessons on systemic racism in America, while Republicans say it simply prevents systemic racism from being presented as fact.
The bill bans the training or teaching of what it refers to as "divisive concepts" in 10 categories:
- That one race or sex is inherently superior to another
- T hat the United States of America and the state of Iowa are fundamentally or systemically racist or sexist
- That an individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.
- That an individual should be discriminated against or receive a diverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race or sex
- That members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex
- That an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by the individual’s race or sex
- That an individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex
- That any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of that individual’s race or sex
- That meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race
- Any other form of race or sex scapegoating or any other form of race or sex stereotyping
The bill does not ban discussion of divisive concepts as part of a larger course of academic instruction.
It originally was meant to apply to public schools and colleges, but was amended to include all governmental agencies and political subdivisions that provide mandatory staff or student training.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
The House passed another bill in the same session Tuesday night to require regents’ universities to protect First Amendment rights.
It would call on the Board of Regents to develop free speech training for faculty members and any individuals with student oversight.
A college or university could discipline or fire a faculty member who “knowingly and intentionally” impedes a student’s right to free speech.
The bill would also require universities to train students, faculty and staff on the First Amendment and would create a complaints process for K-12 students in Iowa.
It passed almost unanimously 97-1, and will now move to the Senate, which had already passed a different version of the measure.