Iowa Gov. touts new law banning local trans rights protections as "the right thing to do" - LGBTQ Nation

"A city or local government shall not enact any ordinance or other law which is broader or has different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices than those provided in the state civil rights code. The law also bans nearly 20 local governments with existing trans protections in their civil rights laws from enforcing them."

"We just believe that the locals should follow the state laws, especially when it comes to civil rights, otherwise we have a mismatch of rights out there. Reynolds told reporters Wednesday that signing the bill was the right thing to do."

"Last year, Reynolds signed a law repealing civil rights protections for transgender people from the state's civil rights law, making Iowa the first state in the U.S. to repeal anti-discrimination protections for a previously protected class of people."

Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 579, which prohibits Iowa cities and counties from establishing civil rights protections that exceed those in the state civil rights code. The law prevents local governments from adding categories of discrimination protections not included at the state level and eliminates enforcement of existing trans protections in nearly 20 local jurisdictions. Reynolds justified the measure by stating locals should follow state laws to prevent mismatched rights. This action follows her 2024 signature on legislation repealing state-level civil rights protections for transgender people, making Iowa the first state to repeal anti-discrimination protections for a previously protected class. Republican lawmakers indicated the repeal supports enforcement of anti-trans bathroom, sports, and gender-affirming care restrictions.

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