Reynolds Signs Gender-Balance Repeal, 'Religious Freedom' Bills

Iowa state boards and commissions will no longer be required to have equal numbers of men and women as members.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2096 into law on Wednesday, ending the gender balance rule that was first implemented in 1987. At the bill-signing event, Reynolds said she voted as a state senator against a measure extending the gender balance requirement to local boards.

“I opposed it at that time because I felt that it was unnecessary. And I believed then, as I still do now, that our focus should always be on appointing the most qualified people.”

During subcommittee meetings on the legislation, supporters of the measure said the existing rule prevents boards and commissions from seeking the most qualified candidates — many of whom are women — and that the rule makes finding members for some panels, like licensing boards of industries dominated by a single gender, more difficult.

The requirement was also declared unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge in January in a lawsuit filed by Family Leader Vice President Chuck Hurley over the gender balance requirements for the State Judicial Nominating Commission.

But opponents argued that repealing the requirement would lead to a drop in women’s participation in government through serving on boards and progress made in Iowa toward equitable gender representation. The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women found that after the gender balance requirement was extended to cities and counties, the percentage of gender-balanced boards grew from 13% to 61% for municipalities and 12% to 62% for counties.

The fact that one-third of local boards and commissions are still not gender balanced shows the need for the law to remain in place, advocates said.

Sen. Chris Cournoyer, R-LeClaire, said she heard at subcommittee meetings that women often have to be repeatedly asked before they choose to serve. She asked Iowa women to find a board and commission they are interested in and apply to serve.

Cournoyer said she was honored to see the gender-balance requirement repealed, and that she is confident that qualified women will continue to be a part of these government panels, regardless of gender requirements.

“Our foremothers who fought hard over many, many years to get us a seat at the table — whether it was the right to vote, Title IX or countless other ways — are smiling today,” Cournoyer said. “They got us to the table and it has been up to us to show that we belong there. And we have.”

Reynolds named changes to Iowa’s system of boards and commissions as one of her goals earlier in the year, following a larger state government realignment law passed in the 2023 legislative session. The 2023 law established a state Boards and Commissions Review Committee, which met and made recommendations to the governor and Legislature on the state’s panels. In addition to recommending the repeal of the gender balance requirement, the board also recommended the consolidation and elimination of 111 of the state’s 256 boards and commissions.

Differing bills on cuts and merges to the panels were advanced by legislative committees in both chambers, but have not seen action since February. Senate File 2385 and House File 2574 were placed on the unfinished business calendars in March, and are eligible for consideration.

Reynolds told reporters that she was still interested in getting the legislation “across the finish line,” and that conversations with lawmakers are ongoing about the bills.

Reynolds signs ‘religious freedom’ legislation
The governor also signed another high-profile bill into law Tuesday — the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The law, modeled after the federal RFRA signed by former President Bill Clinton, sets a higher legal standard for cases involving claims of government actions infringing on an individual’s ability to freely practice their religion.

Democrats criticized the measure during floor debate, saying it could be used to discriminate against LGBT individuals and other marginalized populations on the basis of religious liberties. Mazie Stilwell with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa said in a news release that the law signals that Reynolds and GOP lawmakers believe “it’s OK to discriminate against our neighbors” under the guise of protecting religious freedom.

“Let me be clear — this is not about protecting religious freedom,” Stilwell said in a statement. “But, rather, it’s part of a larger, harmful campaign to push a political agenda against the rights of LGBTQ+ people, women and other marginalized communities and should be seen as just that — not a protection but an attack.”

Reynolds signed the RFRA measure into law at an event hosted by the Family Leader, a conservative Christian organization. Speaking about the bill Wednesday, the governor emphasized that the federal RFRA law was originally enacted and supported by Democrats.

“Since then, religious liberties have increasingly been under attack,” Reynolds said. “And so this is our opportunity in Iowa to join 26 other states — both led by Republicans and Democrats — that have signed this into law. It mirrors federal legislation, and most importantly, it makes sure that government doesn’t step in and try to erode really important rights that are guaranteed to individuals with the First Amendment.”

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