American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Of Iowa

TO PROTECT THE BASIC FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES OF EVERYONE IN IOWA.

LEGAL PROGRAM SERVICES: FILED LAWSUIT THAT SUCCEEDED IN TEMPORARILY BLOCKING ENFORCEMENT OF STATE LAW PROHIBITING SCHOOLS FROM REQUIRING MASKS IN ORDER TO PROTECT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND UNDERLYING CONDITIONS PUTTING THEM AT HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATH FROM COVID-19. SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED LAWSUIT TO BLOCK STATE CAPITOL LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ISSUANCE OF PRIOR RESTRAINT ON PROTESTERS' FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WHICH HAD BANNED THEM FROM THE STATE CAPITOL FOR SIX MONTHS OR ONE YEAR, RESULTING IN REQUIRED TRAINING, PREVENTION OF FUTURE VIOLATIONS, AND AWARDING DAMAGES TO CLIENTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES. CONTINUED LITIGATING IOWA'S "AG GAG" LAWS THAT CRIMINALIZE PROTECTED SPEECH BY UNDERCOVER JOURNALISTS AND INVESTIGATORS TO GAIN ACCESS OR EMPLOYMENT AT AGRICULTURAL FACILITIES, INCLUDING PARTIAL 8TH CIRCUIT VICTORY IN FIRST "AG GAG" CASE PERMANENTLY BLOCKING A PROVISION OF THE STATUTE, AND WINNING SUMMARY JUDGMENT BLOCKING THE ENTIRE LAW IN SECOND "AG GAG" CASE BEFORE THE DISTRICT COURT. WITH FILING OF NEW LAWSUIT, CONTINUED YEARS-LONG STATE CIVIL RIGHTS CHALLENGE TO STATE LAW AND REGULATION AUTHORIZING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TRANSGENDER IOWANS IN MEDICAID, INCLUDING DISTRICT COURT ORDER FINDING BOTH REGULATION AND STATUTE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, WITH STATE DECLINING TO APPEAL ORDER DISALLOWING ENFORCEMENT OF DISCRIMINATORY REGULATION. CONCLUDED LITIGATION WHICH SOUGHT TO CHALLENGE LAW BANNING PROVIDERS OF ABORTION CARE AND THOSE WHO "ASSOCIATE" WITH PROVIDERS OF ABORTION CARE FROM PUBLICLY-FUNDED SEX-EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAMS. LITIGATED CHALLENGE TO IOWA LAW IMPOSING MINIMUM TWENTY-FOUR HOUR WAITING PERIOD AND SECOND, MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY CLINIC APPOINTMENT PRIOR TO ACCESSING ABORTION CARE, RESULTING IN DISTRICT COURT ORDER BLOCKING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW. CONTINUED LITIGATING CHALLENGE TO DENIAL OF POLICE BODYCAM AND DASHCAM VIDEO FOLLOWING SHOOTING OF UNARMED CIVILIAN UNDER STATE OPEN RECORDS LAW, RESULTING IN IMPORTANT WIN ON APPEAL REGARDING ACCESS TO VIDEO AND IOWA PUBLIC INFORMATION BOARD PROCEDURES, WITH CASE ONGOING. CONTINUED LITIGATION FOR FORMER STATE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON THE BASIS OF GENDER IDENTITY, ON APPEAL. FILED LITIGATION ON BEHALF OF NUMEROUS IOWA JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA GROUPS CHALLENGING IOWA GOVERNOR'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE TIMELY ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS. RESOLVED NUMEROUS MATTERS WITHOUT NEED FOR LITIGATION THROUGH DEMAND LETTERS AND OTHER ADVOCACY. FILED CASPA COMPLAINT WITH FEDERAL OSHA REPORTING FAILURES OF IOWA OSHA TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM COVID-19. SUBMITTED AMICUS BRIEF ON WARRANTLESS DNA SAMPLING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. SUBMITTED AMICUS BRIEF ON FREE SPEECH IN DEFAMATION ACTION.

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM SERVICES: ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS; BILL ADVANCED TO AN IOWA HOUSE COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST TIME. ADVOCATED FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT BY SUPPORTING AN ANTI-SLAPP (STRATEGIC LAWSUIT AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION) BILL. ADVOCATED FOR LGBT RIGHTS BY SUCCESSFULLY OPPOSING NUMEROUS BILLS AND AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY RIGHTS FROM AND ALLOW DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBT IOWANS; PROVIDED FRAMEWORK FOR OPPOSITION TO THE TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN SPORTS BAN. SUCCESSFULLY PREVENTED PROPOSAL THAT WOULD INADVERTENTLY MISAPPLY FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS TO DEFENSE OF CERTAIN CRIMES TO INCLUDE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. SUPPORTED LEGISLATION TO UPDATE IOWA'S OPEN RECORDS LAW TO INCLUDE PUBLIC POLICY EFFORTS BY GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS. SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR CHANGE IN LAW TO EXPAND IOWA'S OPEN RECORDS LAW TO CLOSE LEGAL LOOPHOLE USED BY CITIES TO AVOID COMPLYING WITH LAW. ADVOCATED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE REFORM THROUGH CONTINUING TO MANAGE THE BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO EXPUNGE UNPROVED EVICTION ALLEGATIONS, AND ALLOW FOR SOME COMPLETED EVICTIONS TO BE EXPUNGED, AN ISSUE WITH A SIGNIFICANTLY DISPARATE IMPACT ON BLACK WOMEN. ADVOCATED FOR EVICTION EXPUNGEMENT LEGISLATION, AND AGAINST ANTI-TRANSGENDER LEGISLATION THROUGH MESSAGES TO LEGISLATORS. ADVOCATED AGAINST ABORTION RESTRICTIONS THROUGH MESSAGES TO LEGISLATORS.

PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVICES: LED SUCCESSFUL LOBBYING/INTEREST GROUP EFFORT AGAINST NATIONAL ATTEMPT TO WEAKEN IOWA'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS OF DUE PROCESS AND RIGHT TO COUNSEL. CONTINUED THE MULTI-YEAR LOBBY DAY, EVERY DAY CAMPAIGN DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND INCLUDING FOUR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SKILLS TRAININGS. TOPICS INCLUDED HOW TO ENGAGE YOUR LEGISLATOR, HOW TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, AND HOW THE IOWA LEGISLATURE WORKS. APPROXIMATELY 300 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THESE EVENTS. CONTINUED TO PROVIDE LOBBY DAY, EVERY DAY TOOLKITS ON CITIZEN LOBBYING FOR ACLU ADVOCATES. PRESENTED INFORMATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE ON A VARIETY OF CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO VOTING RIGHTS KYR (KNOW YOUR RIGHTS) PRESENTATIONS, IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS KYR PRESENTATIONS, AND STUDENTS' RIGHTS AND RACIAL JUSTICE PRESENTATIONS. PRESENTED VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON AT RURAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SEMINARS. LED MULTI-DISTRICT PROGRAMMING TO REFORM POLICE PRESENCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CONVENED FOUR MONTHLY MEETINGS FOR COUNTY VOLUNTEER LEAD PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. SENT INFORMATIONAL EMAIL UPDATES AND ACTION ALERTS TO AN EMAIL LIST OF APPROXIMATELY 16,000. PRINTED AND MAILED OUR DEFENDER NEWSLETTER TO A MAILING LIST OF APPROXIMATELY 10,000 SUPPORTERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES. EDUCATED IOWANS WITH FELONY CONVICTIONS OF THEIR VOTING RIGHTS VIA RADIO ADS, DIGITAL ADVERTISING, AND MAILING INFORMATIONAL POSTCARDS TO 15,000 TARGETED HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. RESPONDED TO MEDIA INQUIRIES, HELD PRESS CONFERENCES AND CRAFTED MEDIA STATEMENTS ON OUR EFFORTS AND ON MATTERS REGARDING CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS.