Iowa Senate approves change to bar people in the country illegally from receiving public assistance, amid protests about refugees and disabled Iowans

The Iowa Senate adopted Senate File 2422 as amended after approving a strike‑all amendment that, according to its sponsor, ‘‘makes it clear that illegal aliens should never be eligible to receive public assistance using taxpayer dollars’’ and adds integrity measures for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Supporters, led on the floor by Senator Webster, framed the change as a necessary step to protect program integrity and to avoid federal penalties. ‘‘We need to follow federal law or we’re gonna put everybody on these programs in danger,’’ Senator Webster said in final remarks, urging colleagues to secure programs for ‘‘needy people within our state.’’

Opponents said the amendment and parts of the bill would remove protections and benefits for people with legal status and vulnerable groups. Senator Donahue said she was ‘‘very disappointed’’ that a provision called ‘‘work without worry’’ had been stripped from the bill and warned that the change would harm Iowans with disabilities and families already facing rising costs and job uncertainty. ‘‘That promise has been stripped from this bill,’’ Donahue said.

Senator Trungaria told the chamber Division 2 of the legislation would effectively codify a federal provision that could remove food assistance from people who have legal immigration status in the United States, listing refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking and survivors of domestic violence among those affected. ‘‘These are the people who are losing food assistance under this legislation,’’ he said, and concluded, ‘‘I can’t support this legislation.’’

After debate, the Senate moved to final passage. The secretary opened the roll-call voting system and several votes were recorded in the chamber record; examples listed during the roll call include Senator Donoghue (nay), Senator Dawson (aye), Senator Bennett (nay), Senator Blake (nay), Senator Townsend (nay), Senator Kelker (aye), Senator Whitver (aye) and Senator Dickey (aye). The presiding officer announced the bill had received a constitutional majority and declared it passed the Senate.

A senator from Wenatchee requested — and the chamber granted — unanimous consent to immediately message Senate File 2422 to the governor. The Senate then recessed and Republican members were directed to caucus.

The legislation as read by the secretary describes changes to public systems and programs under the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid-related health and wellness plans. The bill text and related federal references were not specified on the floor record provided.