Current Version
| Region | Iowa |
| Issue | Censorship of LGBT issues |
| Status | State-enforced |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | SF 496 forbids LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 along with book bans. There is only one condition in the ruling that all LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 contain neutral language. As of April 2026, the ban was allowed to go back into effect. |
| Sources | https://translegislation.com/bills/2023/IA/SF496 https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/05/16/court-again-blocks-key-elements-of-iowas-school-book-ban/ https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/iowa-lgbtq-restrictions-appeals-court |
Revision History (4)
edited by mineszilla. court allowed law to go into effect in April
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | No censorship | State-enforced |
| Description | SF 496 was blocked by a federal judge. The law forbids LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 along with book bans. There is only one condition in the ruling that all LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 contain neutral language. | SF 496 forbids LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 along with book bans. There is only one condition in the ruling that all LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 contain neutral language. As of April 2026, the ban was allowed to go back into effect. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://translegislation.com/bills/2023/IA/SF496 https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/05/16/court-again-blocks-key-elements-of-iowas-school-book-ban/ | https://translegislation.com/bills/2023/IA/SF496 https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/05/16/court-again-blocks-key-elements-of-iowas-school-book-ban/ https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/iowa-lgbtq-restrictions-appeals-court |
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edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Removing unnecessary start date.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Jul 1, 2023 | (unknown) |
edited by mineszilla. SF 496 blocked by federal judge
Helpful?
0 | Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | State-enforced | No censorship |
| Description | Prohibits talks of LGBT topics in school up to grade 6. | SF 496 was blocked by a federal judge. The law forbids LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 along with book bans. There is only one condition in the ruling that all LGBTQ+ instructions in grades K-6 contain neutral language. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://translegislation.com/bills/2023/IA/SF496 | https://translegislation.com/bills/2023/IA/SF496 https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/05/16/court-again-blocks-key-elements-of-iowas-school-book-ban/ |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (1)
- Newer law has been passed "https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/22/iowa-dont-say-gay-bill-lgbtq-education/88282285007/ "Iowa's 2023 law, Senate File 496, is being challenged as unconstitutional in a federal lawsuit. A federal judge initially granted an injunction blocking parts of the law, including the ban on teaching about gender orientation and sexual identity, while the lawsuit is decided.
But the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed his decision, allowing the law to take effect. Attorneys argued the law's constitutionality in federal court last week." SF 496 was reversed by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, making it functional again, prohibiting education on LGBTQ+ topics in K-6 education. There's also another bill advancing that will worsen the situation."
created by Notdog1996
Helpful?
0 | Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | State-enforced |
| Start Date | Jul 1, 2023 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Prohibits talks of LGBT topics in school up to grade 6. |
| Sources | https://translegislation.com/bills/2023/IA/SF496 |