Committee advances bill to remove religious exclusions from multiple state programs, including preschool funding
Senate File 2,060 would eliminate language in Iowa Code that excludes religious organizations from generally available public benefits and explicitly allow religious providers to participate in preschool foundation aid; the committee approved an amendment clarifying that safety and core program requirements still apply but members warned about oversight and nondiscrimination implications.
The full story
Senate File 2,060, introduced by Senator Sinclair, is a multi-part bill meant to align Iowa law with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the First Amendment (Kennedy v. Bremerton; Trinity v. Comer; Espinosa v. Montana Department of Revenue; Carson v. Makin). The bill strikes exclusions and limitations that bar religious organizations from otherwise generally available public benefits across several program areas — including access to property for higher education, concurrent enrollment with community colleges, textbook purchasing, appropriations, certain tax credits, and the early childhood program structure.
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