On June 14, 2022, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF2298, a powerful bill that prohibits COVID-19 vaccination mandates by child-care centers, elementary or secondary schools, or colleges and universities until 2029. Combined with three prior Right to Refuse bills, HF2298 provides a broad range of protection for Iowans.

Students

HF2298 prohibits COVID-19 vaccination mandates, stating that, “Notwithstanding whether a person’s attendance is in person or virtual, immunization against COVID 19 shall not be required for a person to be enrolled in any licensed child-care center, elementary or secondary school, or postsecondary school in Iowa prior to July 1, 2029.” Under this law students are protected from preschool through graduate school. The 2029 sunset clause allows time for the science of COVID-19 vaccines to be better understood before any Iowans are mandated to receive one. Informed Choice Iowa worked hard to help pass this bill, and we salute them!  

Business Patrons and Government Services

May 20, 2021, Iowa passed HF889. Under this bill, government vaccine ID cards are banned, and businesses and government entities may not require folks to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition for entering a business or government office. And no government grants or contacts may be awarded to any entity that violates these provisions.

Masking

Also on May 20, 2021, Iowa’s governor signed HF847. Under this wide-ranging education bill, facial coverings shall not be required by the board of directors of a school district, the superintendent or chief administering officer of a school or school district, and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school. Also, counties or cities may not impose a mask mandate that is more stringent than any state-wide mandates.

Employees

On October 29, 2021, HF902 was signed into law. Under this statute, employers shall waive COVID-19 vaccine mandates when employees provide a statement that receiving the vaccine would be injurious to the health and well-being of the employee or an individual residing with the employee or a statement that receiving the vaccine would conflict with the tenets and practices of a religion of which the employee is an adherent or member.

With these four bills, Iowans have strong Right to Refuse laws that both protect folks’ rights and help inspire other states to pass similar laws!