Capitol Notebook: Iowa House Republicans advance bill that would ban local ID cards

DES MOINES — The Iowa House Public Safety Committee on Tuesday advanced legislation that would bar cities and counties from issuing local identification cards, sending the bill to the House floor for debate on a party-line vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.

Democrats argued the measure would eliminate programs that help residents who lack access to state-issued IDs, while Republicans said the proposal stemmed from concerns raised by law enforcement.

State Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, said community IDs cannot be used to get a driver’s license, board a plane, buy alcohol or tobacco, or vote, but can help residents confirm their identity when interacting with schools, local governments and police, obtain library cards, and access discounts from participating businesses. Levin described a situation in which a parent used community IDs to demonstrate custody of an adopted child during a mall security incident, calling it an unanticipated but “vital” use of the cards.

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Levin and other Democrats characterized the bill as an “anti-local control bill in search of a problem,” noting that no lobbyists or members of the public spoke in favor of it during a subcommittee hearing.

Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, said community IDs can be a first step for people experiencing homelessness who lack documents such as birth certificates. Rep. Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls, questioned how the legislation originated.

Committee Chair Mike Vondran, R-Davenport, said the bill arose after concerns were shared by law enforcement and noted support registrations from the Iowa State Police Association, Iowa Police Chiefs Association, Iowa Fraternal Order of Police, and the Iowa State Sheriffs' & Deputies' Association. Levin countered that local officers in Johnson County told her the community ID program has been a benefit and raised no issues.

The bill, House Study Bill 552, would prohibit local ID programs such as those operating in Johnson County and Central Iowa, which supporters say help immigrants, domestic violence survivors and others access services. With committee approval, the measure is now eligible for full House debate.

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Iowa AG, domestic violence coalition, Ring team to support survivors

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird on Tuesday announced a new partnership with the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Ring, an Amazon subsidiary that makes video doorbells and security cameras, to provide safety technology and resources to survivors of domestic violence across the state.

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Under the initiative, the coalition received up to 1,000 Ring X Line devices, each with a lifetime subscription, to distribute to eligible survivors on a first-come, first-served basis as part of individualized safety planning. Ring also pledged a $25,000 donation to support the coalition’s work statewide.

Bird said the partnership will help survivors and their families find greater safety and peace of mind, noting her experience working with victims as a prosecutor. Coalition Executive Director Maria Corona said technology can be a powerful tool in safety planning, while Ring representatives said the donation builds on the company’s national efforts to support organizations serving domestic violence survivors.

According to a press release, Ring has donated more than 35,000 Ring Video Doorbells and Outdoor Cams to more than 800 nonprofit organizations across the country and federally recognized tribal organizations whose primary mission is to support domestic violence survivors.

Bill would require counties to follow governor's flag lowering orders

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Public buildings in Iowa would be required to follow flag-lowering proclamations by the Iowa governor under legislation considered by Iowa House lawmakers Tuesday.

The legislation proposed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds follows the refusal by the chair of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to adhere to flag-lowering orders from Reynolds, honoring conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was killed in September.

State Rep. Dan Gosa of Davenport, the lone Democrat on the subcommittee, said he wanted to continue the conversation but said the legislation should implement guidelines for who the state chooses to honor by flying flags at half-staff, ensuring that those decisions don’t run along party lines.

The bill, House Study Bill 634, would also allow the Iowa attorney general to initiate legal action from reported violations of the legislation. The three-member subcommittee, including Gosa and Republican state Reps. Blaine Watkins of Fort Madison and Mark Thompson of Clarion, voted unanimously to advance the bill.

A representative for the Rural School Advocates of Iowa, which is registered undecided on the bill, said it supports the legislation but is concerned about school officials facing repercussions for forgetting to follow flag-lowering orders.

Watkins noted that Iowa governors have issued flag-lowering orders to honor people across the political spectrum.

“It's got nothing to do with political ideology. It's got to do with respect for anybody,” Watkins said.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau