Legislation / HF 437

HOUSE FILE 437 Signed by Governor

Establishing a center for intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa

Sponsor   House Higher Education Committee Effective   07/01/2025 Formerly   HSB 52 Last action   Signed by Governor. H.J. 1226. — June 11, 2025 Full text   Iowa Legislature ↗

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Introduced

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Passed subcommittee

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Passed committee

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Passed one chamber

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Passed both chambers

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Signed by Governor

Lobbyist declarations

11 declarations filed on this bill

● 8 For ● 3 Against ● 0 Undecided

Related legislation

Part of a group of 4 related bills

HSB 52 Establishing a school of intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa.(See HF 437.)

Passed committee

SF 127 Establishing a school of intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa.(See SF 519.)

Passed committee

SF 519 Establishing a school of intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa

Passed committee

History

Date	Chamber	Action
Feb 17, 2025	House	Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 338.
Mar 4, 2025	House	Fiscal note.
Mar 13, 2025	House	Amendment H-1075 filed. H.J. 659.
Mar 17, 2025	House	Amendments H-1098 and H-1109 filed. H.J. 677.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Point of order raised on amendment H-1098 to amendment H-1075, ruled not germane. H.J. 707.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-1098 to amendment H-1075, yeas 32, nays 65. H.J. 707.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Motion to suspend rules failed. H.J. 708.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Amendment H-1109 to amendment H-1075, yeas 32, nays 65, lost. H.J. 709.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Point of order raised on amendment H-1075, ruled not germane. H.J. 709.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-1075. H.J. 710.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Motion to suspend rules prevailed. H.J. 710.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Amendment H-1075 adopted. H.J. 710.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Passed House, yeas 60, nays 37. H.J. 710.
Mar 18, 2025	House	Immediate message. H.J. 717.
Mar 19, 2025	Senate	Message from House. S.J. 570.
Mar 19, 2025	Senate	Read first time, attached to SF 519. S.J. 570.
Mar 19, 2025	Senate	Fiscal note.
Apr 3, 2025	Senate	Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 689.
Apr 15, 2025	Senate	Substituted for SF 519. S.J. 786.
Apr 15, 2025	Senate	Passed Senate, yeas 32, nays 15. S.J. 786.
Apr 15, 2025	Senate	Immediate message. S.J. 789.
Apr 16, 2025	House	Message from Senate. H.J. 947.
May 19, 2025	House	Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 1224.
Jun 11, 2025	House	Signed by Governor. H.J. 1226.
Jun 11, 2025	House	Fiscal note.

Votes

Vote summaries

Date	Chamber	Vote	Result	Yea	Nay	Not voting	Democrats	Republicans	Pattern
Mar 18, 2025	House	Amendment	Failed	32	65	2	32–0	0–65	Party Line
Mar 18, 2025	House	Floor Passage	Passed	60	37	2	0–33	60–4	Bipartisan Opposition
Mar 18, 2025	House	Rule Suspension	Failed	32	65	2	32–0	0–65	Party Line
Apr 15, 2025	Senate	Floor Passage	Passed	32	15	3	0–15	32–0	Party Line

Party columns count yea–nay. Committee votes are not shown.

Individual votes

House · Amendment · Mar 18, 2025

Shall amendment H–1109, to amendment H–1075, be adopted?

Failed 32 to 65 · Democrats 32 yea, 0 nay · Republicans 0 yea, 65 nay · 2 not voting

How each representative voted (99)

District	Legislator	Party	Vote
1	J.D. Scholten	Democrat	Yea
2	Robert Henderson	Republican	Nay
3	Thomas Jeneary	Republican	Nay
4	Skyler Wheeler	Republican	Nay
5	Zachary Dieken	Republican	Nay
6	Megan Hess Jones	Republican	Nay
7	Michael Sexton	Republican	Nay
8	Ann Meyer	Republican	Nay
9	Henry Stone	Republican	Nay
10	John Wills	Republican	Nay
11	Craig Williams	Republican	Nay
12	Steven Holt	Republican	Nay
13	Travis Sitzmann	Republican	Nay
14	Jacob Bossman	Republican	Nay
15	Matt Windschitl	Republican	Nay
16	David Sieck	Republican	Nay
17	Devon Wood	Republican	Nay
18	Tom Moore	Republican	Nay
19	Brent Siegrist	Republican	Absent
20	Josh Turek	Democrat	Yea
21	Brooke Boden	Republican	Nay
22	Samantha Fett	Republican	Nay
23	Ray Sorensen	Republican	Nay
24	Sam Wengryn	Republican	Nay
25	Hans Wilz	Republican	Nay
26	Austin Harris	Republican	Nay
27	Kenan Judge	Democrat	Yea
28	David Young	Republican	Nay
29	Brian Meyer	Democrat	Yea
30	Megan Srinivas	Democrat	Yea
31	Mary Madison	Democrat	Yea
32	Jennifer Konfrst	Democrat	Yea
33	Ruth Ann Gaines	Democrat	Yea
34	Rob Johnson	Democrat	Yea
35	Sean Bagniewski	Democrat	Yea
36	Austin Baeth	Democrat	Yea
37	Barb Kniff McCulla	Republican	Nay
38	Jon Dunwell	Republican	Nay
39	Rick Olson	Democrat	Yea
40	Bill Gustoff	Republican	Nay
41	Ryan Weldon	Republican	Nay
42	Heather Matson	Democrat	Yea
43	Eddie Andrews	Republican	Nay
44	Larry McBurney	Democrat	Yea
45	Brian Lohse	Republican	Nay
46	Dan Gehlbach	Republican	Nay
47	Carter Nordman	Republican	Nay
48	Chad Behn	Republican	Nay
49	Beth Wessel-Kroeschell	Democrat	Yea
50	Ross Wilburn	Democrat	Yea
51	Brett Barker	Republican	Nay
52	David Blom	Republican	Nay
53	Dean Fisher	Republican	Nay
54	Joshua Meggers	Republican	Nay
55	Shannon Latham	Republican	Nay
56	Mark Thompson	Republican	Nay
57	Pat Grassley	Republican	Nay
58	Charley Thomson	Republican	Nay
59	Christian Hermanson	Republican	Nay
60	Jane Bloomingdale	Republican	Nay
61	Timi Brown-powers	Democrat	Yea
62	Jerome Amos	Democrat	Yea
63	Michael Bergan	Republican	Nay
64	Jason Gearhart	Republican	Nay
65	Shannon Lundgren	Republican	Nay
66	Steven Bradley	Republican	Nay
67	Craig Johnson	Republican	Nay
68	Chad Ingels	Republican	Nay
69	Tom Determann	Republican	Nay
70	Norlin Mommsen	Republican	Nay
71	Lindsay James	Democrat	Yea
72	Jennifer Smith	Republican	Nay
73	Elizabeth Wilson	Democrat	Yea
74	Eric Gjerde	Democrat	Yea
75	Bob Kressig	Democrat	Yea
76	Derek Wulf	Republican	Nay
77	Jeff Cooling	Democrat	Yea
78	Sami Scheetz	Democrat	Yea
79	Tracy Ehlert	Democrat	Yea
80	Aime Wichtendahl	Democrat	Yea
81	Daniel Gosa	Democrat	Yea
82	Bobby Kaufmann	Republican	Nay
83	Cindy Golding	Republican	Nay
84	Thomas Gerhold	Republican	Nay
85	Amy Nielsen	Democrat	Yea
86	Dave Jacoby	Democrat	Yea
87	Jeff Shipley	Republican	Nay
88	Helena Hayes	Republican	Nay
89	Elinor Levin	Democrat	Yea
90	Adam Zabner	Democrat	Yea
91	Judd Lawler	Republican	Nay
92	Heather Hora	Republican	Nay
93	Gary Mohr	Republican	Nay
94	Mike Vondran	Republican	Nay
95	Taylor Collins	Republican	Nay
96	Mark Cisneros	Republican	Nay
97	Ken Croken	Democrat	Absent
98	Monica Kurth	Democrat	Yea
99	Matthew Rinker	Republican	Nay

House · Floor Passage · Mar 18, 2025

Shall the bill pass?

Passed 60 to 37 · Democrats 0 yea, 33 nay · Republicans 60 yea, 4 nay · 2 not voting

How each representative voted (99)

District	Legislator	Party	Vote
1	J.D. Scholten	Democrat	Nay
2	Robert Henderson	Republican	Yea
3	Thomas Jeneary	Republican	Yea
4	Skyler Wheeler	Republican	Yea
5	Zachary Dieken	Republican	Yea
6	Megan Hess Jones	Republican	Yea
7	Michael Sexton	Republican	Yea
8	Ann Meyer	Republican	Yea
9	Henry Stone	Republican	Yea
10	John Wills	Republican	Yea
11	Craig Williams	Republican	Yea
12	Steven Holt	Republican	Yea
13	Travis Sitzmann	Republican	Absent
14	Jacob Bossman	Republican	Yea
15	Matt Windschitl	Republican	Yea
16	David Sieck	Republican	Yea
17	Devon Wood	Republican	Yea
18	Tom Moore	Republican	Yea
19	Brent Siegrist	Republican	Absent
20	Josh Turek	Democrat	Nay
21	Brooke Boden	Republican	Yea
22	Samantha Fett	Republican	Yea
23	Ray Sorensen	Republican	Yea
24	Sam Wengryn	Republican	Yea
25	Hans Wilz	Republican	Yea
26	Austin Harris	Republican	Yea
27	Kenan Judge	Democrat	Nay
28	David Young	Republican	Yea
29	Brian Meyer	Democrat	Nay
30	Megan Srinivas	Democrat	Nay
31	Mary Madison	Democrat	Nay
32	Jennifer Konfrst	Democrat	Nay
33	Ruth Ann Gaines	Democrat	Nay
34	Rob Johnson	Democrat	Nay
35	Sean Bagniewski	Democrat	Nay
36	Austin Baeth	Democrat	Nay
37	Barb Kniff McCulla	Republican	Yea
38	Jon Dunwell	Republican	Yea
39	Rick Olson	Democrat	Nay
40	Bill Gustoff	Republican	Yea
41	Ryan Weldon	Republican	Yea
42	Heather Matson	Democrat	Nay
43	Eddie Andrews	Republican	Yea
44	Larry McBurney	Democrat	Nay
45	Brian Lohse	Republican	Nay
46	Dan Gehlbach	Republican	Yea
47	Carter Nordman	Republican	Yea
48	Chad Behn	Republican	Yea
49	Beth Wessel-Kroeschell	Democrat	Nay
50	Ross Wilburn	Democrat	Nay
51	Brett Barker	Republican	Yea
52	David Blom	Republican	Yea
53	Dean Fisher	Republican	Yea
54	Joshua Meggers	Republican	Yea
55	Shannon Latham	Republican	Nay
56	Mark Thompson	Republican	Yea
57	Pat Grassley	Republican	Yea
58	Charley Thomson	Republican	Yea
59	Christian Hermanson	Republican	Yea
60	Jane Bloomingdale	Republican	Yea
61	Timi Brown-powers	Democrat	Nay
62	Jerome Amos	Democrat	Nay
63	Michael Bergan	Republican	Yea
64	Jason Gearhart	Republican	Yea
65	Shannon Lundgren	Republican	Yea
66	Steven Bradley	Republican	Yea
67	Craig Johnson	Republican	Yea
68	Chad Ingels	Republican	Nay
69	Tom Determann	Republican	Yea
70	Norlin Mommsen	Republican	Yea
71	Lindsay James	Democrat	Nay
72	Jennifer Smith	Republican	Yea
73	Elizabeth Wilson	Democrat	Nay
74	Eric Gjerde	Democrat	Nay
75	Bob Kressig	Democrat	Nay
76	Derek Wulf	Republican	Yea
77	Jeff Cooling	Democrat	Nay
78	Sami Scheetz	Democrat	Nay
79	Tracy Ehlert	Democrat	Nay
80	Aime Wichtendahl	Democrat	Nay
81	Daniel Gosa	Democrat	Nay
82	Bobby Kaufmann	Republican	Yea
83	Cindy Golding	Republican	Yea
84	Thomas Gerhold	Republican	Yea
85	Amy Nielsen	Democrat	Nay
86	Dave Jacoby	Democrat	Nay
87	Jeff Shipley	Republican	Yea
88	Helena Hayes	Republican	Yea
89	Elinor Levin	Democrat	Nay
90	Adam Zabner	Democrat	Nay
91	Judd Lawler	Republican	Yea
92	Heather Hora	Republican	Yea
93	Gary Mohr	Republican	Yea
94	Mike Vondran	Republican	Yea
95	Taylor Collins	Republican	Yea
96	Mark Cisneros	Republican	Yea
97	Ken Croken	Democrat	Nay
98	Monica Kurth	Democrat	Nay
99	Matthew Rinker	Republican	Nay

House · Rule Suspension · Mar 18, 2025

Shall the rules be suspended to consider amendment H–1098, to amendment H–1075?

Failed 32 to 65 · Democrats 32 yea, 0 nay · Republicans 0 yea, 65 nay · 2 not voting

How each representative voted (99)

District	Legislator	Party	Vote
1	J.D. Scholten	Democrat	Yea
2	Robert Henderson	Republican	Nay
3	Thomas Jeneary	Republican	Nay
4	Skyler Wheeler	Republican	Nay
5	Zachary Dieken	Republican	Nay
6	Megan Hess Jones	Republican	Nay
7	Michael Sexton	Republican	Nay
8	Ann Meyer	Republican	Nay
9	Henry Stone	Republican	Nay
10	John Wills	Republican	Nay
11	Craig Williams	Republican	Nay
12	Steven Holt	Republican	Nay
13	Travis Sitzmann	Republican	Nay
14	Jacob Bossman	Republican	Nay
15	Matt Windschitl	Republican	Nay
16	David Sieck	Republican	Nay
17	Devon Wood	Republican	Nay
18	Tom Moore	Republican	Nay
19	Brent Siegrist	Republican	Absent
20	Josh Turek	Democrat	Yea
21	Brooke Boden	Republican	Nay
22	Samantha Fett	Republican	Nay
23	Ray Sorensen	Republican	Nay
24	Sam Wengryn	Republican	Nay
25	Hans Wilz	Republican	Nay
26	Austin Harris	Republican	Nay
27	Kenan Judge	Democrat	Yea
28	David Young	Republican	Nay
29	Brian Meyer	Democrat	Yea
30	Megan Srinivas	Democrat	Yea
31	Mary Madison	Democrat	Yea
32	Jennifer Konfrst	Democrat	Yea
33	Ruth Ann Gaines	Democrat	Yea
34	Rob Johnson	Democrat	Yea
35	Sean Bagniewski	Democrat	Yea
36	Austin Baeth	Democrat	Yea
37	Barb Kniff McCulla	Republican	Nay
38	Jon Dunwell	Republican	Nay
39	Rick Olson	Democrat	Yea
40	Bill Gustoff	Republican	Nay
41	Ryan Weldon	Republican	Nay
42	Heather Matson	Democrat	Yea
43	Eddie Andrews	Republican	Nay
44	Larry McBurney	Democrat	Yea
45	Brian Lohse	Republican	Nay
46	Dan Gehlbach	Republican	Nay
47	Carter Nordman	Republican	Nay
48	Chad Behn	Republican	Nay
49	Beth Wessel-Kroeschell	Democrat	Yea
50	Ross Wilburn	Democrat	Yea
51	Brett Barker	Republican	Nay
52	David Blom	Republican	Nay
53	Dean Fisher	Republican	Nay
54	Joshua Meggers	Republican	Nay
55	Shannon Latham	Republican	Nay
56	Mark Thompson	Republican	Nay
57	Pat Grassley	Republican	Nay
58	Charley Thomson	Republican	Nay
59	Christian Hermanson	Republican	Nay
60	Jane Bloomingdale	Republican	Nay
61	Timi Brown-powers	Democrat	Yea
62	Jerome Amos	Democrat	Yea
63	Michael Bergan	Republican	Nay
64	Jason Gearhart	Republican	Nay
65	Shannon Lundgren	Republican	Nay
66	Steven Bradley	Republican	Nay
67	Craig Johnson	Republican	Nay
68	Chad Ingels	Republican	Nay
69	Tom Determann	Republican	Nay
70	Norlin Mommsen	Republican	Nay
71	Lindsay James	Democrat	Yea
72	Jennifer Smith	Republican	Nay
73	Elizabeth Wilson	Democrat	Yea
74	Eric Gjerde	Democrat	Yea
75	Bob Kressig	Democrat	Yea
76	Derek Wulf	Republican	Nay
77	Jeff Cooling	Democrat	Yea
78	Sami Scheetz	Democrat	Yea
79	Tracy Ehlert	Democrat	Yea
80	Aime Wichtendahl	Democrat	Yea
81	Daniel Gosa	Democrat	Yea
82	Bobby Kaufmann	Republican	Nay
83	Cindy Golding	Republican	Nay
84	Thomas Gerhold	Republican	Nay
85	Amy Nielsen	Democrat	Yea
86	Dave Jacoby	Democrat	Yea
87	Jeff Shipley	Republican	Nay
88	Helena Hayes	Republican	Nay
89	Elinor Levin	Democrat	Yea
90	Adam Zabner	Democrat	Yea
91	Judd Lawler	Republican	Nay
92	Heather Hora	Republican	Nay
93	Gary Mohr	Republican	Nay
94	Mike Vondran	Republican	Nay
95	Taylor Collins	Republican	Nay
96	Mark Cisneros	Republican	Nay
97	Ken Croken	Democrat	Absent
98	Monica Kurth	Democrat	Yea
99	Matthew Rinker	Republican	Nay

Senate · Floor Passage · Apr 15, 2025

Shall the bill pass?

Passed 32 to 15 · Democrats 0 yea, 15 nay · Republicans 32 yea, 0 nay · 3 not voting

How each senator voted (50)

District	Legislator	Party	Vote
1	Rocky De Witt	Republican	Yea
2	Jeff Taylor	Republican	Yea
3	Lynn Evans	Republican	Yea
4	Tim Kraayenbrink	Republican	Yea
5	Dave Rowley	Republican	Yea
6	Jason Schultz	Republican	Yea
7	Kevin Alons	Republican	Yea
8	Mark Costello	Republican	Yea
9	Tom Shipley	Republican	Yea
10	Dan Dawson	Republican	Yea
11	Julian Garrett	Republican	Absent
12	Amy Sinclair	Republican	Yea
13	Cherielynn Westrich	Republican	Yea
14	Sarah Trone Garriott	Democrat	Nay
15	Tony Bisignano	Democrat	Nay
16	Claire Celsi	Democrat	Absent
17	Izaah Knox	Democrat	Nay
18	Janet Petersen	Democrat	Nay
19	Ken Rozenboom	Republican	Yea
20	Mike Pike	Republican	Yea
21	Mike Bousselot	Republican	Yea
22	Matt Blake	Democrat	Nay
23	Jack Whitver	Republican	Yea
24	Jesse Green	Republican	Yea
25	Herman Quirmbach	Democrat	Nay
26	Kara Warme	Republican	Yea
27	Annette Sweeney	Republican	Yea
28	Dennis Guth	Republican	Yea
29	Sandy Salmon	Republican	Yea
30	Doug Campbell	Republican	Yea
31	William Dotzler	Democrat	Nay
32	Mike Klimesh	Republican	Yea
33	Carrie Koelker	Republican	Yea
34	Daniel Zumbach	Republican	Absent
35	Mike Zimmer	Democrat	Nay
36	Thomas Townsend	Democrat	Nay
37	Molly Donahue	Democrat	Nay
38	Dave Sires	Republican	Yea
39	Liz Bennett	Democrat	Nay
40	Art Staed	Democrat	Nay
41	Kerry Gruenhagen	Republican	Yea
42	Charlie McClintock	Republican	Yea
43	Zach Wahls	Democrat	Nay
44	Adrian Dickey	Republican	Yea
45	Janice Weiner	Democrat	Nay
46	Dawn Driscoll	Republican	Yea
47	Scott Webster	Republican	Yea
48	Mark Lofgren	Republican	Yea
49	Cindy Winckler	Democrat	Nay
50	Jeff Reichman	Republican	Yea

Lobbyist declarations

Client	Declaration	Last updated
Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers	Against	Feb 17, 2025
Iowa Insurance Associates	Against	Feb 17, 2025
Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council	Against	Feb 18, 2025
Cicero Action	For	Feb 17, 2025
Foundation for Government Accountability Action	For	Feb 17, 2025
Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values	For	Feb 18, 2025
Iowa Board of Regents	For	Mar 13, 2025
Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition	For	Feb 18, 2025
The Family Leader	For	Feb 18, 2025
The Family Leader Foundation	For	Feb 18, 2025
VALOR Iowa	For	Feb 18, 2025

Calendar items

No hearings or meetings scheduled for this bill.