Changes

On April 3, 2009, in a unanimous decision, the Iowa state supreme court overturned a 10-year-old ban on same-sex marriage.  The decision states, "“This approach does not disrespect or denigrate the religious views of many Iowans who may strongly believe in marriage as a dual-gender union, but considers, as we must, only the constitutional rights of all people, as expressed by the promise of equal protection for all.”  The only way to overturn this decision is through an amendment to the state constitution, which would not be possible until 2012 at the earliest.<ref>The Des Moines Register, ''Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman'', by JEFF ECKHOFF and GRANT SCHULTE, April 3, 2009 [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090403/NEWS/90403010]</ref>

On April 3, 2009, in a unanimous decision, the Iowa state supreme court overturned a 10-year-old ban on same-sex marriage.  The decision states, "“This approach does not disrespect or denigrate the religious views of many Iowans who may strongly believe in marriage as a dual-gender union, but considers, as we must, only the constitutional rights of all people, as expressed by the promise of equal protection for all.”  The only way to overturn this decision is through an amendment to the state constitution, which would not be possible until 2012 at the earliest.<ref>The Des Moines Register, ''Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman'', by JEFF ECKHOFF and GRANT SCHULTE, April 3, 2009 [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090403/NEWS/90403010]</ref>

In 2017, the Iowa legislature, with massive GOP majorities,<ref>Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). [http://iowapublicradio.org/post/iowa-senate-turns-republican-tuesday-voting#stream/0 Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting]. ''Iowa Public Radio''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> passed and enacted legislation massively expanding [[gun rights]], including enacting and expanding a stand-your-ground law, providing legal advantages to gun owners, and giving additional rights to minors, among other provisions.<ref>De Lea, Brittany (April 13, 2017). [https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/13/iowa-passes-massive-expansion-gun-rights-more-states-to-follow.html Iowa Passes Massive Expansion of Gun Rights, More States to Follow?]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> The state also enacted [[voter ID legislation]],<ref>Klukowski, Ken (May 6, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/06/iowa-adopts-voter-id-law/ Iowa Adopts Voter-ID Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 6, 2017.</ref> defunded [[Planned Parenthood]],<ref>Hellmann, Jessie (May 19, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/334199-four-planned-parenthood-clinics-to-close-in-iowa-after-defunding Four Planned Parenthood clinics to close in Iowa after defunding]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref> and passed a law outlawing abortion if the child's heartbeat is detected.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iowa-abortion/iowa-governor-signs-fetal-heartbeat-abortion-ban-into-law-idUSKBN1I52ID Iowa governor signs 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban into law]. ''Reuters''. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref><ref>Freiburger, Calvin (May 4, 2018). [https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-iowa-governor-signs-bill-banning-abortions-on-babies-with-heartbea Iowa governor signs bill banning abortions on babies with beating hearts]. ''LifeSiteNews''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref><ref>Berry, Susan (May 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/05/04/iowa-bans-all-abortions-after-point-of-detection-of-fetal-heartbeat/ Iowa Bans All Abortions After Point of Detection of Fetal Heartbeat]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref> As Iowa governor, [[Kim Reynolds]], shifted Iowa's supreme court from having a liberal-leaning philosophy to being conservative.<ref>[https://www.apnews.com/357e55b3c4ca4432b8a460521f9034ff Iowa Supreme Court takes a right turn under Gov. Reynolds]. ''Associated Press''. July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.</ref>

In 2017, the Iowa legislature, with massive GOP majorities,<ref>Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). [http://iowapublicradio.org/post/iowa-senate-turns-republican-tuesday-voting#stream/0 Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting]. ''Iowa Public Radio''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> passed and enacted legislation massively expanding [[gun rights]], including enacting and expanding a stand-your-ground law, providing legal advantages to gun owners, and giving additional rights to minors, among other provisions.<ref>De Lea, Brittany (April 13, 2017). [https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/13/iowa-passes-massive-expansion-gun-rights-more-states-to-follow.html Iowa Passes Massive Expansion of Gun Rights, More States to Follow?]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> The state also enacted [[voter ID legislation]],<ref>Klukowski, Ken (May 6, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/06/iowa-adopts-voter-id-law/ Iowa Adopts Voter-ID Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 6, 2017.</ref> defunded [[Planned Parenthood]],<ref>Hellmann, Jessie (May 19, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/334199-four-planned-parenthood-clinics-to-close-in-iowa-after-defunding Four Planned Parenthood clinics to close in Iowa after defunding]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref> and passed a law outlawing abortion if the child's heartbeat is detected.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iowa-abortion/iowa-governor-signs-fetal-heartbeat-abortion-ban-into-law-idUSKBN1I52ID Iowa governor signs 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban into law]. ''Reuters''. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref><ref>Freiburger, Calvin (May 4, 2018). [https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-iowa-governor-signs-bill-banning-abortions-on-babies-with-heartbea Iowa governor signs bill banning abortions on babies with beating hearts]. ''LifeSiteNews''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref><ref>Berry, Susan (May 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/05/04/iowa-bans-all-abortions-after-point-of-detection-of-fetal-heartbeat/ Iowa Bans All Abortions After Point of Detection of Fetal Heartbeat]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref> As Iowa governor, [[Kim Reynolds]], shifted Iowa's supreme court from having a liberal-leaning philosophy to being conservative.<ref>Pitt, David (July 3, 2019). [https://www.apnews.com/357e55b3c4ca4432b8a460521f9034ff Iowa Supreme Court takes a right turn under Gov. Reynolds]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved July 3, 2019.</ref>

The state Constitution of Iowa, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the ''Sovereign Ruler of the Universe''.  It says in the preamble:

The state Constitution of Iowa, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the ''Sovereign Ruler of the Universe''.  It says in the preamble: