Week in Iowa, Jan. 22, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Geofencing used in betting investigation: An attorney for two former Iowa State University football players charged with sports betting violations said Iowa investigators used geofencing software on at least one public campus, amounting to a "warrantless search“ that invaded student privacy. The claims come after a deposition of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Brian Sanger, who defense attorneys say violated players' privacy.

More than a dozen Iowa athletes were charged last year in a state DCI probe into illegal sports betting on Iowa's campuses. The attorney who made the motion asked a Story County judge to force state agencies to turn over documents related to the investigation.

AG pitches penalties for police assault: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is proposing a bill to increase the penalties for a person who assaults a law enforcement officer, firefighter, health care worker or other protected professional. Bird said the current laws are too lenient, and she believes raising the penalties would lead to fewer assaults.

Bill would mandate national anthem: Iowa Republican lawmakers advanced a bill this past week that would require public school students to sing the national anthem every day. Students would also be required to learn about the words and history of the anthem, and how to "love, honor and respect" the anthem. School officials said the bill was an unnecessary mandate.

Bill would strip civil rights protections for gender: A bill that will receive first consideration in the Iowa House this week would remove gender identity protections from the civil rights code, effectively stripping transgender Iowans of protections against discrimination. The bill would also add "gender dysphoria" to the definition of disability under the civil rights code.

LGBTQ rights activists said the bill would allow for discrimination against transgender people and that defining gender dysphoria as a disability is insulting and incorrect. The Republican chair of the committee said he has some concerns, but wanted to have a conversation about the proposal.

Bill would bar traffic quotas: Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban state and local law enforcement agencies from instituting quotas for traffic stops. State law already bars quotas for citations, but the law would extend that to prohibit quotas on traffic stops, regardless of whether a citation is issued.

Hinson endorses Trump: Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents northeast Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, endorsed former President Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary a week after Iowa's caucuses. She is the first and only Iowa U.S. representative or senator to endorse a presidential candidate.

They said ...

“First off, it’s insulting. To characterize people who are nonbinary and transgender as having a mental illness, essentially, which is what it does, to say that they're disabled mentally for being themselves, I think is just wrong.” -- Iowa Rep. Sami Scheetz on proposal to remove gender identity from civil rights protections

"I want to do all we can do to increase respect for law enforcement. You do a tough job. Respect for our first responders and others who do very difficult work and are just trying to help people." -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird on bill to increase penalties for assaulting law enforcement

Odds and ends

Property tax audit: Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand said this past week that low- and middle-income Iowans are paying the higher property taxes compared with wealthier Iowans. Sand released a report on the data, which he said was to inform lawmakers for future tax policy proposals.

Crisis pregnancy centers: A bill proposed by House Republicans would make it easier for the state to funnel $2 million to crisis pregnancy centers that discourage abortion. While the state has had trouble finding an administrator for the program, the bill would allow the state to administer it directly. Abortion rights advocates said the centers are unlicensed and unaccountable, and they don't have the same rules around patient privacy that medical clinics do.

Water cooler

Anamosa teen dies: A 13-year-old Anamosa boy died last week as a result of injuries sustained in a sledding accident earlier this month. Adam McWherter crossed over a road while sledding and was struck by an SUV on Jan. 10, authorities said.

Reynolds backs Texas: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds joined two dozen other Republican governors this past week who signaled their support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's defiance of President Joe Biden's administration and the U.S. Supreme Court over razor wire set up at the southern border. The governors said Texas has a "right to self-defense" under the Constitution and that Biden had failed to secure the border.