Iowa SF335

The bill prohibits school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from establishing or expending money to establish, sustain, support, or staff a diversity, equity, and inclusion office. It also prohibits hiring or assigning an employee of the school, or contracting with a third party, to perform the duties of a diversity, equity, or inclusion office.

"Diversity, equity, and inclusion" includes all of the following: [...] Any effort to promote or promulgate trainings, programming, or activities designed or implemented with reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. [...] Any effort to promote, as the official position of the school district, a particular, widely contested opinion referencing [...] allyship, transgender ideology, [...] social justice, intersectionality, neopronouns, heteronormativity, disparate impact, gender theory, [...] or any related formulation of these concepts.

The bill allows parents or guardians of a student [...] or an employee of the school, to bring a civil action. [...] If the parent, guardian, or employee prevails in the civil action, the bill requires the court to award reasonable court costs and attorney fees to them and to assess a $50,000 civil penalty against the school.

The bill includes community colleges within the definition of “public institution of higher education” as outlined in 2024 Iowa Acts, Chapter 1152, ensuring that these restrictions also apply to community colleges. Additionally, the bill authorizes students or employees of a public institution of higher education to bring a civil action. [...] If the student or employee prevails in the civil action, the court is required to award reasonable court costs and attorney fees and impose a $100,000 civil penalty against the institution.