(Des Moines) The Iowa House passed a bill allowing school districts to use grant money for firearms and training to arm staff. The bill initially included a three-million-dollar estimate, but this was later removed, leaving the funding money amount to be determined. The bill aims to create a permitting process for school staff to carry firearms on school grounds. The bill has now moved to the Iowa Senate for consideration.
Another bill is causing disagreement between some criminal defense lawyers and lawmakers. The bill wants to change how defense attorneys can request evidence using subpoenas. If passed, defense attorneys would need court permission before issuing subpoenas for evidence, proving it’s necessary and admissible. Alfredo Parrish, a defense attorney, believes this bill would disadvantage underserved communities and give prosecutors more power. Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office, which proposed the bill, argues that it is about protecting witnesses, victims, and law enforcement.
Meanwhile, a bill in Iowa that could have affected fertility treatments has been stopped by Republican legislator Senator Brad Zaun. The bill aimed to increase penalties for causing termination of a pregnancy without the mother’s consent. Zaun decided not to move the legislation forward after concerns were raised about its impact on IVF procedures, preventing its consideration for the rest of the legislative session.
