Iowa Senate File 496

Iowa Senate File 496 is a 2023 law in the state of Iowa that prohibits schools from providing books that include or describe sex acts and prohibits the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in such books until sixth grade. Portions of the law were blocked via an injunction by a federal judge on March 25, 2025, and as of July 2025 litigation is still ongoing in Penguin Random House v. Robbins.
Senate File 496 is commonly referred to as a Book banning in [the United States (2021–present)|book ban] and up to 3,400 books are known to have been restricted due to the law. The law also banned books such as 1984 and Ulysses, which was brought up by a judge when it was blocked again in March 2025 as being too broad.

Provisions

Senate File 496 prohibits school libraries from providing books through grades K-12 that depict sex acts. A separate provision prohibits school libraries from providing books through grades K-6 that depict or give instruction to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Reactions

Opposition

The American [Civil Liberties Union|ACLU of Iowa] and Lambda Legal have both fought Senate File 496 in court. Iowa Safe Schools, the Iowa State Education Association, and Penguin Random House were also involved in litigation against the law. Around 170 school districts in Iowa, including Des Moines Public Schools, have not enforced the law.