Iowa Republican lawmakers have voted to eliminate affirmative action, which will affect minorities, education, and law enforcement mandates

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Iowa Republican lawmakers proposed a bill to eliminate affirmative action, which will particularly affect minorities, women, and law enforcement mandates at both the state and educational levels if passed.

According to KWWL, House Study Bill 668 aims to remove affirmative action requirements from state and educational entities, including the Board of Regents and school districts. The bill proposes alterations to provisions that limit services based on race, gender, and citizenship. Additionally, several existing programs focused on recruiting or supporting minorities and women would be eliminated.

The new bill is meeting strong criticism. Citizens and lawmakers who oppose it call it a continuation of efforts in previous legislative sessions to repeal civil rights protections in Iowa law, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Adam Bessman, a Drake University student and program director of the Iowa Queer Student Alliance, questioned the proposed changes. He stated, “Ask yourselves: if all that affirmative action and the similar policies that this bill seeks to eliminate are doing is ensuring that the values of our constitution are being upheld for everybody — for women, for people of color, for everybody — why are you seeking to eliminate them?”

According to Rep. Megan Srinivas, D-Des Moines, the bill “legalizes” discrimination. Whereas, Rep. Samantha Fett, R-Carlisle, said with the policies lawmakers passed on restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, known as DEI, during the 2025 session, “this bill is necessary to update code, Iowa Capital Dispatch.”

If passed, the bill will also repeal mandatory police bias training and eliminate certain state scholarship programs based on race or gender. One portion of the bill that drew significant pushback was proposals to remove the requirements unanimously approved in 2020, requiring the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to adopt rules on racial and cultural awareness training, and for law enforcement agencies to provide annual training related to de-escalation techniques and preventing bias, as reported by Iowa Capital Dispatch.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch also stated that “The academic incentives for minorities, the minority and women educators enhancement, and College-Bound programs encouraging higher education institutions to make plans and provide assistance for students and staff from underrepresented groups would be eliminated under the bill. It would also strike current requirements related to prioritization and consideration of how health care institutions and practitioners are addressing the needs of underserved racial and ethnic minority populations.”

Iowa's House Speaker Pat Grassley said Republicans look to implement a “merit-based system.”

throughout the state, regarding the new bill proposal.

Iowa is predominantly white, with about 86 percent of its population identifying as such. Various minority groups make up the remaining percentage. Iowa lacks major economic growth, particularly for minority communities, and it has the second-highest cancer rates in the nation.

This story will be updated.

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