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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
February 28, 2025
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 418, an Act relating to sex and gender, including those and related terms for
purposes of statutory construction, indications of a person's sex on certain vital records,
gender identity under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, and school curricula related to gender
theory.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinc-rely,
4V
K' , t ° , olds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 FAX 515.725.3527 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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Senate File 418
AN ACT
RELATING TO SEX AND GENDER, INCLUDING THOSE AND RELATED TERMS
FOR PURPOSES OF STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION, INDICATIONS OF A
PERSON'S SEX ON CERTAIN VITAL RECORDS, GENDER IDENTITY UNDER
THE IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, AND SCHOOL CURRICULA RELATED TO
GENDER THEORY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. NEW SECTION. 4.1A Statutory construction — sex
and related terms.
1. In the construction of statutes, the following rules
shall be observed with regard to a person's biological sex:
a. " Sex - , when used to classify or describe a natural
person, means the state of being either male or female as
observed or clinically verified at birth.
b. When used in reference to a natural person, a " female
means an individual who has, had, will have through the course
of normal development, or would have but for a developmental
anomaly, genetic anomaly, or accident, a reproductive system
that at some point produces ova, and a ' finale - means an
individual who has, had, will have through the course of normal
development, or would have but for a developmental anomaly,
genetic anomaly, or accident, a reproductive system that at
some point produces sperm.
c. The term - woman - or - girl - refers to a female and the
term ' man - or boy - refers to a male.
Senate File 418, p. 2
d. The term - mother - means a parent who is female and the
term " father - means a parent who is male.
e. - Gender - , when used alone in reference to males, females,
or the natural differences between males and females shall
be considered a synonym for sex and shall not be considered
a synonym or shorthand expression for gender identity,
experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role.
f. The term - equal - does not mean - same - or - identical
g. Separate accommodations are not inherently unequal.
h, A person born with a medically verifiable diagnosis of
disorder or difference of sex development shall be provided the
legal protections and accommodations afforded under the federal
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and applicable state
law.
2. Any state law, policy, or program that prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex shall be construed to forbid
unfair or discriminatory practices against females or males in
relation to similarly situated members of the opposite sex.
3. Notwithstanding any provision of state law to the
contrary, distinctions based on sex, including but not limited
to in prisons or other detention facilities, domestic violence
shelters, rape crisis centers, locker rooms, restrooms, and in
other contexts where health, safety, or privacy are implicated
resulting in separate accommodations, are substantially related
to the important government objectives of protecting the
health, safety, and privacy of the persons in these contexts.
4. Any state department or subunit of a department, or any
political subdivision of the state including a city, county,
township, or school district that collects vital statistics for
the purpose of complying with state antidiscrimination laws,
or for the purpose of gathering accurate state public health,
crime, economic, or other data, shall identify the sex of each
person included in the collected data as either male or female.
5. For the purposes of this section, " state law - includes
any state statute or rule.
Sec. 2. Section 84A.6, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code 2025,
is amended to read as follows:
a. The department of workforce development, in consultation
with the department of education, shall establish a system that
Senate File 418, p. 3
allows the department of education, school districts, charter
schools, area education agencies, and accredited nonpublic
schools to post job openings on an internet site. The system
must include a mechanism for the electronic submission of job
openings for posting on the internet site. The system and
each job posting on the internet site must include a statement
that an employer submitting a job opening for posting on the
internet site will not discriminate in hiring on the basis
of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical
disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion,
marital status, or status as a veteran.
Sec. 3. Section 144.13, Code 2025, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 5. A certificate of birth filed under this
section shall include a designation of the sex of the person.
" Sex - for purposes of this chapter means the same as defined in
section 4.1A. If the sex of the child cannot be determined at
birth, the time period for filing a certificate of birth shall
be extended for a period of no more than six months to allow the
parents to obtain any diagnosis or testing from a health care
provider as defined in section 144.29A, subsection 7, paragraph
" a - , that is necessary to determine the child's sex.
Sec. 4. Section 144.23, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
144.23 State registrar to i33uc establish new certificate of
birth.
1. The state registrar shall establish a new certificate of
birth for a person born in this state, when the state registrar
receives the following:
a. An adoption report as provided in section 144.19, or
a certified copy of the decree of adoption together with the
information necessary to identify the original certificate of
birth and to establish a new certificate of birth.
-2-. b. A request that a new certificate be established and
evidence proving that the person for whom the new certificate
is requested has been legitimated, or that a court of competent
jurisdiction has determined the paternity of the person.
3. A notarised affidavit by a licen3cd phy3ician and surgeon
Senate File 418, p. 4
surgery er ether treatment by the iieensee, the sex designat
of the person h gistrar may make a
to dete-r-minc whethcr a sex change ha3 occurred.
2. Pursuant to section 4.1A, a new certificate of birth
established under subsection 1 shall include a designation of
sex of the person at birth.
Sec. 5. Section 144.24, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2025, are
amended to read as follows:
1. If a new certificate of birth is established, the actual
place and date of birth shall be shown on the certificate and
shall include a designation of the person " s sex pursuant to
section 144.23. The certificate shall be substituted for the
original certificate of birth.
2. Following substitution of the original certificate of
birth with a new certificate of birth, the original certificate
and the evidence of adoption, paternity, or legitimation, or
ocx change shall not be subject to inspection except under
order of a court of competent jurisdiction, including but
not limited to an order issued pursuant to section 2612.2
or 600.16A, as provided in section 144.23A or 144.24A,
or as provided by administrative rule for statistical or
administrative purposes only.
Sec. 6. Section 144.31B, subsection 5, paragraph b,
subparagraph ( 2), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
( 2 ) The name and g- e- n - de- sex, if known. If the name is not
furnished by the patient, the department shall complete the
certificate with the name " baby boy" or " baby girl" and the
last name of the patient. If the gender sex is unknown, the
department shall complete the certificate with the name " baby"
and the last name of the patient.
Sec. 7. Section 216.2, subsection 12, Code 2025, is amended
by striking the subsection.
Sec. 8. Section 216.6, subsection 1, paragraphs a, b, and c,
Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
a. Person to refuse to hire, accept, register, classify,
or refer for employment, to discharge any employee, or to
otherwise discriminate in employment against any applicant
for employment or any employee because of the age, race,
Senate File 418, p. 5
creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr idcntity,
national origin, religion, or disability of such applicant or
employee, unless based upon the nature of the occupation. If a
person with a disability is qualified to perform a particular
occupation, by reason of training or experience, the nature
of that occupation shall not be the basis for exception to
the unfair or discriminatory practices prohibited by this
subsection.
b. Labor organization or the employees, agents, or members
thereof to refuse to admit to membership any applicant, to
expel any member, or to otherwise discriminate against any
applicant for membership or any member in the privileges,
rights, or benefits of such membership because of the age,
race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gcnder idcntity,
national origin, religion, or disability of such applicant or
member.
c. Employer, employment agency, labor organization, or the
employees, agents, or members thereof to directly or indirectly
advertise or in any other manner indicate or publicize that
individuals of any particular age, race, creed, color, sex,
sexual orientation, gcndcr idcntity, national origin, religion,
or disability are unwelcome, objectionable, not acceptable, or
not solicited for employment or membership unless based on the
nature of the occupation.
( 1) If a person with a disability is qualified to perform a
particular occupation by reason of training or experience, the
nature of that occupation shall not be the basis for exception
to the unfair or discriminatory practices prohibited by this
subsection.
( 2) An employer, employment agency, or their employees,
servants, or agents may offer employment or advertise for
employment to only persons with disabilities, when other
applicants have available to them other employment compatible
with their ability which would not be available to persons
with disabilities because of their disabilities. Any such
employment or offer of employment shall not discriminate among
persons with disabilities on the basis of race, color, creed,
sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr idcntity, or national origin.
Sec. 9. Section 216.6, subsection 6, paragraph d, Code 2025,
Senate File 418, p. 6
is amended to read as follows:
d. Any bona fide religious institution or its educational
facility, association, corporation, or society with respect
to any qualifications for employment based on religion—, or
sexual orientation, or gender identity when such qualifications
are related to a bona fide religious purpose. A religious
qualification for instructional personnel or an administrative
officer, serving in a supervisory capacity of a bona fide
religious educational facility or religious institution, shall
be presumed to be a bona fide occupational qualification.
Sec. 10. Section 216.6A, subsection 1, paragraph a,
unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
The general assembly finds that the practice of
discriminating against any employee because of the age,
race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, religion, or disability of such employee by
paying wages to such employee at a rate less than the rate paid
to other employees does all of the following:
Sec. 11. Section 216.6A, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
b. The general assembly declares that it is the policy
of this state to correct and, as rapidly as possible, to
eliminate, discriminatory wage practices based on age, race,
creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, religion, and disability.
Sec. 12. Section 216.6A, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
a. It shall be an unfair or discriminatory practice for any
employer or agent of any employer to discriminate against any
employee because of the age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, or
disability of such employee by paying wages to such employee
at a rate less than the rate paid to other employees who are
employed within the same establishment for equal work on jobs,
the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and
responsibility, and which are performed under similar working
conditions. An employer or agent of an employer who is paying
wages to an employee at a rate less than the rate paid to other
Senate File 418, p. 7
employees in violation of this section shall not remedy the
violation by reducing the wage rate of any employee.
Sec. 13. Section 216.6A, subsection 3, paragraph d, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
d. Pay differential is based on any other factor other than
the age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, ge-ndcr
identity, national origin, religion, or disability of such
employee.
Sec. 14. Section 216.7, subsection 1, paragraphs a and b,
Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
a. To refuse or deny to any person because of race,
creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gcnder identity,
national origin, religion, or disability the accommodations,
advantages, facilities, services, or privileges thereof,
or otherwise to discriminate against any person because of
race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gcnder idcntity,
national origin, religion, or disability in the furnishing
of such accommodations, advantages, facilities, services, or
privileges.
b. To directly or indirectly advertise or in any other
manner indicate or publicize that the patronage of persons of
any particular race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation,
gcnder idcntity, national origin, religion, or disability is
unwelcome, objectionable, not acceptable, or not solicited.
Sec. 15. Section 216.7, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
a. Any bona fide religious institution with respect to any
qualifications the institution may impose based on religion= or
sexual orientation, or gender idcntity when such qualifications
are related to a bona fide religious purpose.
Sec. 16. Section 216.8, subsection 1, paragraphs a, b, c,
and d, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
a. To refuse to sell, rent, lease, assign, sublease, refuse
to negotiate, or to otherwise make unavailable, or deny any
real property or housing accommodation or part, portion, or
interest therein, to any person because of the race, color,
creed, sex, sexual orientation, gcnder idcntity, religion,
national origin, disability, or familial status of such person.
b. To discriminate against any person because of the
Senate File 418, p. 8
person's race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, religion, national origin, disability, or familial
status, in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale,
rental, lease assignment, or sublease of any real property or
housing accommodation or any part, portion, or interest in the
real property or housing accommodation or in the provision of
services or facilities in connection with the real property or
housing accommodation.
c. To directly or indirectly advertise, or in any other
manner indicate or publicize that the purchase, rental,
lease, assignment, or sublease of any real property or housing
accommodation or any part, portion, or interest therein, by
persons of any particular race, color, creed, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin,
disability, or familial status is unwelcome, objectionable, not
acceptable, or not solicited.
d. To discriminate against the lessee or purchaser of any
real property or housing accommodation or part, portion, or
interest of the real property or housing accommodation, or
against any prospective lessee or purchaser of the property or
accommodation, because of the race, color, creed, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr identity, disability, age, or
national origin of persons who may from time to time be present
in or on the lessee's or owner's premises for lawful purposes
at the invitation of the lessee or owner as friends, guests,
visitors, relatives, or in any similar capacity.
Sec. 17. Section 216.8A, subsections 1, 2, and 5, Code 2025,
are amended to read as follows:
1. A person shall not induce or attempt to induce another
person to sell or rent a dwelling by representations regarding
the entry or prospective entry into a neighborhood of a person
of a particular race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, or
familial status.
2. A person shall not represent to a person of a particular
race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr identity,
religion, national origin, disability, or familial status that
a dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental
when the dwelling is available for inspection, sale, or rental.
Senate File 418, p. 9
5. A person shall not deny another person access to,
or membership
service, real
organization,
or participation in, a multiple- listing
estate brokers' organization or other service,
or facility relating to the business of selling
or renting dwellings, or discriminate against a person in
terms or conditions of access, membership, or participation in
such organization because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual
orientation, gcndcr identity, religion, national origin,
disability, or familial status.
Sec. 18. Section 216.8A, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
a. A person whose business includes engaging in residential
real estate related transactions shall not discriminate
against a person in making a residential real estate
related transaction available or in terms or conditions of
a residential real estate related transaction because of
race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr identity,
religion, national origin, disability, or familial status.
Sec. 19. Section 216.9, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph
1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any
educational institution to discriminate on the basis of
race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr identity,
national origin, religion, or disability in any program or
activity. Such discriminatory practices shall include but not
be
to
limited to the following practices:
Sec. 20. Section 216.9, subsection 2, Code 2025,
read as follows:
2. For the purpose of this section, " educational
institution includes any preschool, elementary
is amended
or secondary
school, community college, area education agency, or
postsecondary college or university and their governing boards.
This section does not prohibit an educational institution
from maintaining separate toilet facilities, locker rooms, or
living facilities for the different sexes so long as comparable
facilities are provided. Nothing in this section shall be
construed as prohibiting any bona fide religious institution
from imposing qualifications based on religion—, or sexual
orientation, or gcndcr identity when such qualifications are
Senate File 418, p. 10
related to a bona fide religious purpose or any institution
from admitting students of only one sex.
Sec. 21. Section 216.10, subsection 1, paragraphs a, b, and
c, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
a. Creditor to refuse to enter into a consumer credit
transaction or impose finance charges or other terms or
conditions more onerous than those regularly extended by that
creditor to consumers of similar economic backgrounds because
of age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital
status, sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr idcntity, physical
disability, or familial status.
b. Person authorized or licensed to do business in this
state pursuant to chapter 524, 533, 536, or 536A to refuse
to loan or extend credit or to impose terms or conditions
more onerous than those regularly extended to persons of
similar economic backgrounds because of age, color, creed,
national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual
orientation, gcndcr idcntity, physical disability, or familial
status.
c. Creditor to refuse to offer credit life or health and
accident insurance because of color, creed, national origin,
race, religion, marital status, age, physical disability,
sex, sexual orientation, gcndcr idcntity, or familial status.
Refusal by a creditor to offer credit life or health and
accident insurance based upon the age or physical disability of
the consumer shall not be an unfair or discriminatory practice
if such denial is based solely upon bona fide underwriting
considerations not prohibited by Title XIII, subtitle 1.
Sec. 22. Section 216.12, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
a. Any bona fide religious institution with respect to
any qualifications it may impose based on religion—, or sexual
orientation, or gcndcr idcntity, when the qualifications are
related to a bona fide religious purpose, unless the religious
institution owns or operates property for a commercial purpose
or membership in the religion is restricted on account of race,
color, or national origin.
Sec. 23. Section 216.12A, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
Senate File 418, p. 11
216.12A Additional housing exception.
Sections 216.8 and 216.8A do not prohibit a person engaged
in the business of furnishing appraisals of real estate from
taking into consideration factors other than race, color,
creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion,
national origin, disability, or familial status in appraising
real estate.
Sec. 24. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraphs a and p,
Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
a. Meet all applicable federal, state, and local health and
safety requirements and laws prohibiting discrimination on the
basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, or disability.
If approved under section 256E.4, the charter school shall be
subject to any court- ordered desegregation in effect for the
school district at the time the charter school application is
approved, unless otherwise specifically provided for in the
desegregation order.
p. Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section
279.80 relating to sexual orientation and gender identity
theory instruction in kindergarten through grade six in the
same manner as a school district.
Sec. 25. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, paragraphs a and n,
Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
a. Meet all applicable federal, state, and local health and
safety requirements and laws prohibiting discrimination on the
basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, or disability.
A charter school or innovation zone school located within
the boundaries of a school district subject to court- ordered
desegregation at the time the charter school or innovation
zone school application is approved shall be subject to the
desegregation order unless otherwise specifically provided for
in the desegregation order.
n. Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section
279.80 relating to sexual orientation and gender identity
theory instruction in kindergarten through grade six in the
same manner as a school district.
Sec. 26. Section 261I.1, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended
Senate File 418, p. 12
to read as follows:
3. " Sex - means a person's biological scx a3 either female or
malt the same as defined in section 4.1A. The sex listed on a
student's official birth certificate or certificate issued upon
adoption may be relied upon shall be considered presumptively
correct if the certificate was issued at or near the time of
the student's birth.
Sec. 27. Section 279.78, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
a. Gender Identity - means the 3amc a3 dcfincd in section
216.2 an individual's subjective identification as male,
female, or neither male nor female. Gender identity shall not
be considered a synonym or substitute for sex or gender.
Sec. 28. Section 279.80, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows:
279.80 Sexual orientation and gender identity theory
prohibited instruction.
1. As used in this section:
a. " Ccndcr identity - - Gender theory - means the aamc as
dcfincd in section 216.2 concept that an individual may
properly be described in terms of an internal sense of gender
that is incongruent with the individual's sex as either
male or female. Gender theory - includes the concept that
an individual who experiences distress or discomfort with
the individual's sex should identify as and live consistent
with the individual's internal sense of gender, and that
an individual can delay natural puberty and develop sex
characteristics of the opposite sex through the use of puberty
blockers, cross - sex hormones, and surgical procedures.
b. " Sexual orientation" means the same as defined in section
216.2.
2. A school district shall not provide any program,
curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or
instruction relating to gender identity theory or sexual
orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six.
Sec. 29. Section 280.33, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
e. " Sex" means a person's biological scx as female or male,
a$ the same as defined in section 4.1A. The sex listed on
Senate File 418, p. 13
a person's official birth certificate or certificate issued
upon adoption shall be considered presumptively correct if the
certificate was issued at or near the time of the person's
birth.
Sec. 30. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Act is
held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions
or applications of this Act which can be given effect without
the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this Act are severable as provided in section
4.12.
-" e' -« ek
AMY SINC IR
President of the Senate
PAT GRASSLEY
P S eaker of he House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 418, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved46ftjMW 2025
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secietary of the Senate
KIMWYNOLDS r
Governor
t,o45