Medical care for minorsBan▾
MedicaidFederal funding ended (minors)▾
Medicaid doesn't pay for sex-change procedures at any age. A federal CMS rule ends federal Medicaid and CHIP money for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery for minors.
42 C.F.R. 441.800–802, 457.476 (91 Fed. Reg. 52406)
State employeesNo explicit policy▾
State-employee plans have no explicit rule on sex-change procedures.
Coverage Manual (das.iowa.gov)
SportsSex-based▾
Girls' sports are protected: state law keeps males out of girls' and women's teams (K-12 and higher education).
HF2416
FacilitiesSex-based (K-12 schools)▾
Bathrooms and changing rooms in K-12 schools are separated by sex, so males stay out of women's and girls' spaces.
Iowa SF482
Pronouns and parent noticeParent notice required▾
SF496 (2023) barred K–6 gender-identity and sexual-orientation instruction and added parental-notification rules. A federal district order in May 2025 narrowed “program/promotion” language and most notification text; the K–6 mandatory-instruction bar still stands. Written rule, court narrowing — Schools mixed. On 6 April 2026 the 8th Circuit vacated those injunctions (Iowa Safe Schools v. Reynolds, No. 25-2186), so the provisions are enforceable while the case goes back for trial.
Iowa Legislature (SF496 enrolled)
CurriculumSchools mixed▾
SF496 (2023) barred K–6 gender-identity and sexual-orientation instruction and added parental-notification rules. A federal district order in May 2025 narrowed “program/promotion” language and most notification text; the K–6 mandatory-instruction bar still stands. Written rule, court narrowing — Schools mixed. On 6 April 2026 the 8th Circuit vacated those injunctions (Iowa Safe Schools v. Reynolds, No. 25-2186), so the provisions are enforceable while the case goes back for trial.
Iowa Legislature (SF496 enrolled)
Sex definitionDefined by biology▾
ID markersBirth-certificate sex cannot be▾
Shield lawNone▾
No shield law.
No shield statute identified
AdultsRestricted (funding)▾
Adults: no taxpayer money for sex-change procedures (Medicaid exclusion at all ages, ban on public funds at any age).
Information Letters (secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us)
DetransitionNo state law▾
No special right for detransitioners to sue.
No state law identified
PrisonsBy sex at birth (primary factor)▾
Biological sex at birth is the primary factor in housing, with individual safety review.
Iowa DOC Policy HSP-704
Pending billsNo active bills▾
No active bills (checked 13 Oct 2026). The 2026 regular session has adjourned (or the legislature does not meet in 2026), so 2025-26 bills are no longer moving. LegiScan search linked.
LegiScan search, checked 13 Oct 2026 (adjourned legislature)
LitigationResolved▾
Iowa Safe Schools v. Reynolds: on 6 April 2026 the 8th Circuit vacated the preliminary injunctions against SF 496 (K-6 instruction limit, parental notification, library rules) and sent the case back for trial on the merits.
Iowa Safe Schools v. Reynolds, No. 25-2186 (8th Cir. 6 Apr 2026)
Key datesNone upcoming▾
No upcoming effective dates or court deadlines identified.
Review, Oct 2026
Sources
- Iowa Legislature (SF538)
- 42 C.F.R. 441.800–802, 457.476 (91 Fed. Reg. 52406)
- Official source: secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us
- Coverage Manual (das.iowa.gov)
- HF2416
- Iowa SF482
- Iowa Legislature (SF496 enrolled)
- SF 418
- Iowa DOC Policy HSP-704
- LegiScan search, checked 13 Oct 2026 (adjourned legislature)
- Iowa Safe Schools v. Reynolds, No. 25-2186 (8th Cir. 6 Apr 2026)