SF 2435: Iowa Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Having DEI Offices
Summary
Senate File 2435 was enacted in May 2024 and prohibits public higher education institutions in the state from establishing or maintaining a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office, hiring employees to perform DEI duties, or requiring or soliciting DEI statements. The law also prohibits public higher education institutions from spending money from any source to establish or sustain a DEI office. Institutions are required under this law to annually report to the general assembly and governor that they are in compliance with these provisions, and potential violations may be reported by any person to the attorney general to then bring an action against the institution to bring them into compliance.
The law defines diversity, equity, and inclusion to encompass a broad list of conduct, including efforts to "manipulate or otherwise influence" faculty or student body composition based on race, sex, color, or ethnicity; efforts to promote differential treatment to individuals based on race, color, or ethnicity; efforts to promote trainings or activities with reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation; and efforts to promote institutional opinions that reference concepts like implicit bias, privilege, gender theory, antiracism, cultural appropriation and more.
