Iowa Catholic Conference Newsletter, Feb. 27, 2026

Thanks to the many of you who have contacted your legislator on our key issues this week through the ICC Action Center. If you haven’t had time we encourage you to review our current action alerts with sample messages to legislators:

Regulation of black market abortion pills

Taking away WIC from some mothers

Oppose 20-year mandatory minimum sentence

Support a new community solar program

Several bills passed a chamber and moved to the other side of the Statehouse last week.

In the Senate, the ICC was pleased that SF 2417 passed with a unanimous vote. The bill prohibits designing chatbots that encourage users to commit suicide or perform acts of violence and requires protocols for the chatbot to respond to discussion of self-harm. It also requires chatbots to frequently disclose during a chat that they are not human. The House has a similar bill, HF 2715.

In the Iowa House:

HF 2565 passed the House unanimously with the support of the ICC. The bill provides that a task force to combat human trafficking is established within the department of public safety to oversee and coordinate efforts to combat human trafficking.

A bill to prohibit city or county IDs passed. The ICC opposes HF 2296, as community IDs can be useful for law enforcement to help identify people and accessing some community services such as health care and the library. They cannot be used for voting. Advocates for the bill say it will enhance public safety.

HF 2584 was advanced by the House. It would label all areas where unhoused (homeless) people receive services as Drug Free Homeless Service Zones. The bill imposes additional criminal penalties on shelter residents if they use drugs, and criminal penalties for shelter staff if they knowingly allow drug violations to occur. The ICC opposes the bill.

HF 2253 was approved with the support of the ICC. In a section of law that provides for additional penalties for violence against a pregnant mother, the bill changes the phrase “pregnant person” with “pregnant female.” This change more accurately describes the people involved.

Finally, last Thursday was “Refugee Day on the Hill.” It was an opportunity for agency staff that support refugees to meet with legislators.