With one week in the books at our beloved State Capitol, The Iowa Standard wanted to highlight some of the “interesting” bills that were filed during Week 1. Among them, House Joint Resolution 2001 was sponsored by a dozen House Democrats. Representative Dave Jacoby is sponsoring the resolution, along with Democrat Representatives Charlie McConkey, Bob Kressig, Steven Hansen, Monica Kurth, Dave Williams, Ross Wilburn, Tracy Ehlert, Sharon Steckman, Rick Olson, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell and Amy Nielsen.
The proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution prohibits the legislature from making any law that restricts the books or other written materials used to instruct students in elementary schools, secondary schools, universities or any other educational institution. It also prohibits the legislature from making any law that restricts the books or other written materials available to students in the libraries of any elementary school, secondary school, university or any other educational institution.
This issue has come to a head due to sexually explicit, vulgar, inappropriate books being in school libraries across Iowa.
The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
The Iowa Library Association has registered in support of the resolution while the Iowa Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has registered against.
