DES MOINES, Iowa — A contentious law prompting schools to remove specific books from libraries and classrooms may face a delay in implementation following a hearing on Friday morning. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa is set to consider a temporary injunction on SF 496, potentially preventing the state from enforcing the law.
Advocacy groups, including Iowa Safe Schools, the ACLU of Iowa, and Lambda Legal, are urging the judge to block the law until a final decision is reached on the case. The ACLU contends that the law, if implemented, would restrict instruction on gender or sexual orientation, prohibit books depicting sex acts, and mandate schools to notify parents of requests for gender-affirming accommodations, such as name or pronoun changes.
Governor Kim Reynolds defended the law, emphasizing the aim to shield children from explicit content. She stated, “Protecting children from pornography and sexually explicit content shouldn’t be controversial. The real controversy is that it exists in elementary schools.”
Should the temporary injunction be granted, the portion of the law requiring the removal of books deemed inappropriate under the new standards would not go into effect as scheduled on June 1. Des Moines Public Schools, initially planning compliance by the deadline, may reconsider based on the court’s decision.
The Iowa Department of Education is also awaiting the court’s ruling before determining its course of action for the new year. Last month, the department provided guidance to schools on implementing the law and scheduled public hearings for feedback in January.
Following a final ruling on the case, any appeals will be handled within the federal court system, bypassing state courts. The legal challenge raises questions about the balance between protecting children and potential restrictions on education and literary access.