Senate approves bill stripping references to affirmative action from Iowa law

by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch
April 29, 2026

Controversial legislation stripping numerous references to affirmative action from state law and eliminating training requirements related to racial and culture awareness for police is headed to the governor’s desk.

The Iowa Senate approved House File 2711 Wednesday on a 31-15 vote.

The term affirmative action is broadly applied to policies or programs aimed at eliminating unlawful discrimination, remedying the effects of past discrimination and improving opportunities for underrepresented groups, including racial minorities, women and people with disabilities.

Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, floor manager of the bill, called affirmative action part of a “malicious ideology.”

“I sum it up as a soft racism of low expectations. This is a toxic belief that not all people are equal,” he said.

“Those who hold this belief often think they’re benevolent, even generous. Often others are less altruistic and simply want advantages for some at the expense of others, for reasons such as social engineering,” Schultz said. “Either is a toxic mindset that should be rejected and certainly does not belong in Iowa code …”

Democrats disputed Schultz’s characterization.

“Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. Even after this bill, Iowa will still be an equal opportunity employer,” Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, said. “Our plan to enforce equal opportunity is our affirmative action plan. No one in this state, no one here, has been enforcing racial quotas for the last 10 years. Affirmative action is simply our promise that we will look everywhere for the best candidate for the job.”

She said repealing affirmative action won’t promote merit. “It returns us to the nepotism and corruption of the old system when employers just look for their friends to hire  … the folks who look like them, the folks they were used to hanging out with.”

Weiner also said the state may see a financial hit. “Further, we have no idea how much this may cost the state and federal funding if it turns out we are no longer in compliance with federal affirmative action standards,” she said.

Weiner and other Democrats also argued that eliminating the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy’s training requirements related to racial and cultural awareness could endanger officers. “Yes, departments could still choose to train, but then it’s on their dime, and it will put officers in greater danger in unfamiliar circumstances,” Weiner said.

The bill, which passed the House on March 4, heads to the governor’s desk.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.