Iowa legislation · 91st General Assembly
Iowa SF220: A BILL FOR An Act relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties
Status: In committee, January 15, 2026
An Act relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties.
What the bill says
A bill FOR An Act relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties.
From the introduced text, February 5, 2025:
A BILL FOR An Act relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1347XS (5) lh/ko S.F. Section 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Medical Ethics Defense Act". Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 135S.1 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. a. "Conscience" means the ethical, moral, or religious beliefs or principles held by a medical practitioner, health care institution, or health care payor. b. With respect to persons who are institutions, corporations, or other legal entities, "conscience" is determined by reference to that entity's governing documents including but not limited to published ethical, moral, or religious guidelines or directives, mission statements, constitutions, articles of incorporation, bylaws, policies, or regulations. 2. "Discrimination" means an adverse action, including but not limited to any penalty, disciplinary, or retaliatory action taken against, or a threat of adverse action communicated to, a medical practitioner, health care institution, or health care payor as a result of the refusal of the medical practitioner, health care institution, or health care payor to participate in a health care service on the basis …
Sponsors
- Jeff Taylor (R, 2) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2026 10:00AM Room 315.
- : Subcommittee: Taylor, Blake, and Green. S.J. 106 .
- : * * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
- : Referred to Judiciary. S.J. 1057 .
- : Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 688 .
- : Attached to HF 571 . S.J. 657 .
- : Amendment S-3024 filed. S.J. 552 .
- : Placed on calendar.
- : Committee report, recommending passage. S.J. 370 .
- : Subcommittee recommends passage.
Votes
- Committee report, recommending passage. S.J. 370 . (February 26, 2025): 14 yea, 6 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SF220?
- SF220 is a bill in the Iowa Legislature (91st General Assembly): A BILL FOR An Act relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties.
- What does SF220 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR An Act relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties.
- What is the status of SF220?
- In committee as of January 15, 2026. Latest action: Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2026 10:00AM Room 315. (January 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored SF220?
- Jeff Taylor (R, 2).
- Where is the official record for SF220?
- On the Iowa Legislature website: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=SF+0220&ga=91
Source: official Iowa record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.