Iowa Governor Signs Bathroom Bill & Bill To Ban Gender-Affirming Care For Minors Into Law

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed 10 new bills into law on Wednesday. Among those 10, two bills she signed include the "Bathroom Bill" and a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors in the state of Iowa by healthcare professionals.

Both of the bills came with strong criticism from Iowa Democrats, LGBTQ+ organizations in Iowa, and medical professionals.

The Bathroom Bill

SF 482, also known as the "Bathroom Bill", prohibits persons from entering single and multiple occupancy restrooms or changing areas and other facilities in elementary and secondary schools that do not correspond with the person’s biological sex.

The new law allows someone to file a complaint if they believe a school is allowing people to use facilities that do not align with their birth sex. Section 2, pp 6(1) says the school has three days to respond to the complaint.

Parents or legal guardians of a student who desires greater privacy when using a single or multiple occupancy restroom or changing area, maybe submit a written request for the student to have access to alternative facilities.

Banning Gender-Affirming Care For Minors

Governor Reynolds also signed into law SF 538. The new law prohibits activities regarding gender transition procedures relative to minors.

This law says a health care professional shall not knowingly engage in or cause any surgeries or prescribe any medications to minors to attempt to alter the appearance of or affirm the minor's perception of the minor's gender or sex if that appearance is inconsistent with the minor's biological sex.

Several medical professionals and LGBTQ+ organizations throughout the state responded to the signing of both bills, according to KCRG. You can read those responses and the criticism here.

Both bills went into law immediately after being signed by Governor Reynolds.