Comment on Iowa House free speech bill drops ban on certain diversity training

A House committee Thursday advanced an altered version of a senate free speech bill aimed at enshrining into law new Board of Regents First Amendment initiatives that would — among other things — ban administrators from making public statements on policy issues without Board of Regents sign off. The new version drops language from the initial senate bill that, among other things, bars campus diversity training promoting “divisive concepts” — like race or sex “stereotyping” or “scapegoating” and the idea that “Iowa is fundamentally racist or sexist.” Lobbyists — including those representing One Iowa Action, the Iowa Association of School Boards, and the Board of Regents — all voiced appreciation for the removed “divisive concepts” language, which was a direct reference to a controversial White House executive order in the fall.“I agree,” Rep.