DES MOINES. (August 19, 2024)—Today, the Humane Society Legislative Fund released its first ever Iowa Humane Scorecard, which grades Iowa state legislators on their efforts to promote animal welfare during the 2023-2024 legislative sessions.
Two pro-animal bills were signed into law, two more passed the Iowa House, and multiple attacks on animals were defeated, including an initiative to use an estimated $860,000 annual taxpayer dollars to fund a raccoon tail bounty in all Iowa counties.
“In recent years, advocates have spoken up in record numbers in favor of animal protection legislation–and lawmakers have taken notice,” said Preston Moore, Iowa state director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “It’s more important than ever for animal advocates to make their voices heard, and it’s equally important to recognize our state’s leaders when they take action to improve and protect the lives of animals.”
The following actions are scored in the 2024 Iowa Humane Scorecard:
- Bestiality: A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of HF 2318 or SF 2018, which update Iowa's bestiality code to include internet-based crimes, sales and distribution of bestiality pornographic material, and cases involving a minor. Passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor on April 10, 2024.
- Veterinary Tech Capabilities: A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of HF 670 or SF 541, which permit licensed veterinarian technicians to perform more duties in order to increase access to pet patient care. Passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor on June 1, 2023.
- Veterinarian Civil Immunity: A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of HF 472, which would provide civil lawsuit protections for veterinarians who assist law enforcement with animal cruelty crime investigations. Passed the House. Did not receive a floor vote in the Senate.
- Black Bear Hunting and Trapping: A ✓ indicates a vote against HF 175, which would list black bears as a fur-bearing species eligible for future hunting or trapping. Passed the House. Did not receive a floor vote in the Senate.
- Breed-Specific Preemption: A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of HF 651, which would prevent local governments from adopting or enforcing dog-breed-specific legislation statewide. Passed the House. Did not receive a floor vote in the Senate.
Attacks on Iowa’s animals in the 2023-2024 legislative sessions included attempts to amend Iowa’s constitution to “protect the right to hunt” as a preferred method of animal management, with proposed language to preserve “traditional methods” of hunting and trapping, including those which cause the most suffering and result in the greatest public outrage.
Additionally, legislation was introduced to create a taxpayer-funded bounty on raccoons in the state. As written, this bill would have required the Department of Natural Resources to hold regular raccoon tail collection events in all Iowa counties, and the DNR would pay $5 for each tail turned in. The total price tag for this program, according to the Iowa Legislative Services Agency, was $860,000 in taxpayer dollars a year. HSLF opposed this legislation, and though the bill advanced through a subcommittee and received two full committee hearings, it never received an Iowa House floor vote.
As the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal protection, HSLF has published a Congressional Humane Scorecard since 2006 to track the relevant votes, co-sponsorships, and other actions of federal lawmakers. This resource effectively records which members of Congress are animal champions and which fail to denounce cruelty. Now, the organization is increasing its release of state-level scorecards, to build on the progress made in animal protection at the state level and hold members of state legislatures accountable to animal advocates.
Voters in Iowa are encouraged to use this scorecard to make humane choices in 2024 at the ballot box and in future elections.
Media Contact:
Emily Ehrhorn | eehrhorn@hslf.org
