(Radio Iowa) – The governor’s bill to require screening of all future state employees, to ensure they are legally able to work in the U.S., has cleared a House subcommittee. Reynolds issued an executive order requiring checks of citizenship and immigration status in the federal government’s E-Verify and SAVE systems before people may be hired by state agencies or get a professional license from the state. The bill would make that policy state law. The bill also would deny pre-trial release to anyone arrested in Iowa who is not in the country legally.

Molly Severn is the legislative liaison for Governor Reynolds. “With millions of Biden-era illegal immigrants in our country, public safety threats are a reality in every state,” Severn said. “The governor intends to codify executive action she has already taken and build on it so that all Iowans can continue to build a life in safety and security.” The Iowa Catholic Conference and trial lawyers are raising concerns about limiting bail for illegal immigrants.

Lisa Davis-Cook with the Iowa Association for Justice says under the state constitution, all people – not just all citizens – should be eligible for bail in cases that do not involve serious crimes. “When someone is arrested that’s only an accusation,” Davis-Cook said. “They have not been convicted, so keeping them in jail before a conviction has serious consequences.”

The bill would also add more language to voter registration forms, making it clear a person who falsely claims to be a U.S. citizen on the form can be charged with election fraud and deported.