Parental Rights in Iowa

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Iowa Parental Rights News

Parental Rights Passes Iowa Senate, On to the House

March 23, 2023

Great news! SF 496 passed the Iowa Senate yesterday on a vote of 34-16! Your calls made the difference! This bill, which will protect fundamental parental rights and require strict judicial scrutiny whenever these rights are infringed, was transmitted to the Iowa House last night, where it will go through a subcommittee and committee on…

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Iowa State Law and Parental Rights

At Risk

Iowa does not have a state statute that explicitly defines and protects parental rights as fundamental rights.

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Iowa Courts and Parental Rights

"Strict Scrutiny" Applied to Parental Rights

The Iowa Supreme Court has consistently recognized that “the right to direct the upbringing of one’s children, is fundamental,” and “state action infringing on that interest must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest.” Spiker v. Spiker, 708 N.W.2d 347, 351 (Iowa 2006).

However, this precedent is subject to change.