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(Des Moines, IA) -- A proposal that would establish a "Center for Intellectual Freedom" at the University of Iowa is crossing the finish line in the Iowa Legislature. House File 437 passed the Iowa Senate on Tuesday, and State Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen (R-Walcott) says it would align the state's flagship university with the other two.
"This bill adds to the mission of universities upholding the freedom of speech by codifying a center for research on the historical ideas shaping society," Gruenhagen says.
He says the new center would act as a "hub" for civics education across all three state universities. Some opponents, like State Sen. Matt Blake (D-Urbandale), call the action an unnecessary mandate.
"To me, what this is doing is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist," Blake says. "And what we're doing is adding more bureaucracy and more duplicity and potentially increasing costs to our universities in unfunded mandates when they are already struggling,New Research Center for Civics Education Awaits Governor’s Decision and we have rising costs to our students."
Gruenhagen says he's taken the financial concerns into account.
"Funding was an initial concern. However, in December of 2024, the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts proposed creating a school of social and cultural analysis," Gruenhagen says. "If they can propose a new school on their own, then they must have the funds and the will to create a new center."
The bill now advances to Governor Kim Reynolds' desk.