New Laws Going into Effect July 1

(Des Moines) Several new laws are going into effect in Iowa on July 1st. The state government is restructuring, as the number of agencies will drop from 37 to 16. Educators cannot teach about gender identity or sexual orientation until seventh grade. Books that describe or show “sex acts” are banned from school libraries or curricula. The state auditor will have less power to investigate spending and access information. Iowans looking to get SNAP benefits must pass an asset test, and the state’s political parties are required to hold in-person caucuses.