March 23, 2025 Story by: Editor
DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa House Republicans approved three bills that further limit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the state.
The legislation includes House File 269, which prohibits Iowa’s public universities from mandating courses that cover DEI-related topics or critical race theory. House File 401 restricts required courses from including content on identity politics, systemic racism, oppression, or historical distortions. Meanwhile, House File 856 eliminates DEI offices at all community and private colleges receiving Iowa Tuition Grant funding and prevents local governments and state agencies from allocating funds to DEI offices or personnel.
State Representative Henry Stone (R-District 9, Forest City) defended the bills, citing concerns over DEI’s impact on education. “Almost half of surveyed college students agree that some speech can be so offensive in certain cases that it merits such harsh penalties or punishment, like the death penalty,” Stone said. “DEI ideology that is being taught to our kids and it is destroying, in my opinion, our country.”
In response to the passage of these bills, the Iowa House Black Caucus held a press conference Wednesday morning to address remarks made during the debate and express their concerns over the legislation.
State Representative Ross Wilburn (D-District 50, Ames) emphasized that diversity has played a crucial role in ensuring inclusivity. “The fact that diversity is the reason that there are accessible elevators in this building. It’s the reason that we take the act of including and being inclusive of people. It’s the reason why the Republicans put forward the bill in support of service animals. That’s inclusion,” Wilburn stated. “They chose to talk about race.”
State Representative Rob Johnson (D-District 34, Des Moines) highlighted Iowa’s historical efforts toward racial equality, referencing the 55th General Assembly, where over 90 House Republicans voted to end school segregation before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. “It didn’t just happen. It came about because this was a solution to an issue and a problem that was facing, not just Iowa, but an issue that was facing us here in America, and so, dismantling that dismantle the progress Iowa has pushed for,” Johnson said.
Addressing claims that Black Caucus members had not engaged with House Republicans during the legislative process, State Representative Jerome Amos Jr. (D-District 62, Waterloo) refuted the assertion. “I feel like there were comments made yesterday about the Black Legislative Caucus and how we are not reaching out to individuals on the other side of the aisle,” Amos said. “That is not correct. I call it political fodder, is what I call it. And for me, we reach out, we talk to folks. You have to understand that we are not communicating as much as we probably could. But also the other side was not reaching out to us. And I firmly believe that we have to, as a body, start communicating with each other.”
Members of the Black Caucus urged Iowans to contact their legislators—regardless of party affiliation—to oppose the three bills. They also called on the governor to veto the legislation if it passes the Iowa Senate this session.
Source: WHO 13
